National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security—community engagement

Objective

Provide funding to eligible community organisations to conduct community-based projects that build on social cohesion, harmony and security.

Description

The Community Projects component of the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security (NAP) funds community organisations to run projects that meet its objectives. In addition, the projects help to build communities' resilience, leadership and capacity to meet the challenges they face, and encourage positive engagement between Muslim and non-Muslim Australians.

The community projects address NAP priorities, which in 2007–08 focused on increasing opportunities for participation in social and cultural projects to enhance leadership and connectedness among young people. Projects included leadership training and mentoring for young people and women, interfaith dialogues, fora, arts-based workshops to build and express identities, sports programs and the production and distribution of associated publications.

Performance

In 2007–08, a total of 16 projects were funded under the NAP Community Projects program: seven in NSW, five in Victoria, two in Queensland, one in South Australia and one in the Northern Territory.

An example is Leadership Australia—A New Generation, run by the Australian Multicultural Foundation. This project delivered intensive training in leadership, team building, mentoring and working with the media to reach young Muslim Australians from across the country. Participants engaged with, and contributed to, the wider community, creating greater understanding and awareness about the commitment and contributions of Muslims in Australia. The project helped participants reach their goals, develop role models and provide leadership in major community organisations.

Art-SLAM21, facilitated by the Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations is another example of a successful community project which is reaching marginalised Muslim Australian youths through a series of arts-based projects. These young people are being equipped with skills in leadership, assertiveness, communication and decision-making to assist in building their self-esteem, and help them cope with negative stereotyping and discrimination.

Table 88: National Action Plan to Build Social cohesion, Harmony and Security—community engagement—performance information

Measures	Results
Quality
Project activity completed according to agreement	Funding agreements met agreed milestones
Quantity
An estimated 10 to 20 funding agreements	16