South Australia

Multicultural SA organised consultations with a range of communities on behalf of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission (SAMEAC) between 2006 and 2008. An African Families Forum was held in partnership with other government agencies, including the South Australian Department of Families and Communities and federal agencies, Centrelink and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

The forums raised concerns including uncertainty about the consequences of using physical punishment to discipline children and managing the impact on family life of Centrelink payments to young people within the family. Information was provided verbally by agency officers at the forum, and then in documented form as a special part of the Multicultural SA website.

At some SAMEAC Community Consultations, community groups expressed concerns about engaging and maintaining the interest of young people. As a result, Multicultural SA organised a Multicultural Youth Breakfast Forum with Afghan, Burmese and Sudanese youths during National Youth Week 2008. A range of ideas aimed at improving knowledge about and access to services and programs for youths in South Australia were investigated.

A Muslim Reference Group developed an action plan that included adding pages of Islamic information, resources and contacts relevant to Muslim South Australians on the Multicultural SA website and producing a resource pack to introduce Islam to school students.

South Australia’s Strategic Plan contains a target of increasing the number of women on government boards and committees. Between 2006 and 2008, Multicultural SA organised two free Women’s Leadership Courses for women from diverse backgrounds. A total of 28 women graduated with a TAFE Certificate III in Business (Frontline Management). The courses were the result of a partnership between Multicultural SA, the South Australian Office for Women and TAFESA Workplace Education Services.

Since the inception of the Women’s Leadership Program in 2002, run by Multicultural SA, more than 150 women have participated in training with about a third attaining or increasing leadership responsibilities. The courses are part of an annual, ongoing initiative.

The Interpreting and Translating Centre (ITC), a part of Multicultural SA, has continued to identify the need for the training and accreditation of interpreters and translators in certain languages. Between 2006 and 2008, ITC delivered 74 training sessions throughout the metropolitan area to client agencies on how to work effectively with interpreters.

In 2006–07, ITC recruited and trained 42 new interpreters and translators based in Adelaide, the country and interstate in 34 languages. In 2007–08, ITC recruited a further 35 new interpreters and translators.