Sudanese Community Cross Cultural Training for Police

Overview

An innovative cross-cultural training package was developed by Victoria Police in consultation with the Sudanese community, to educate the police about this newly emerging community.

What are the aims of the project?

Victoria Police identified a need for cross-cultural training for their members because of the breakdown in communication and the discrepancies between police and community perceptions and actual crime statistics.

The project aims to break down cultural stereotypes in order to build a better relationship between the police and the Sudanese community.

What was involved?

Over the past five years Melbourne's Greater Dandenong and South East region has seen a fast growing Sudanese community. There has been considerable adverse media coverage, particularly in relation to Sudanese youth. This led to a false believe that crime rates had rocketed since the Sudanese arrived in the region.

In addition, because of deeply-held fears of police in Sudan, many in the community were reluctant to communicate with police. Trust needed to be built between the two groups.

Existing cross-cultural training packages were too general, so in 2007 the Dandenong Police Station’s Multicultural Liaison Unit (MLU) set out to design a package that was specifically focused on improving service delivery to the Sudanese community in Dandenong.

Consultations were held with community members to help police gain a realistic picture of how the community works. Youth were also invited to the meetings.

The MLU devised the training package which includes information on Africa, the pre-migration experiences of refugees, religions, cultural groups, gender issues, police in Sudan, statistics, issues facing young men and domestic violence.

Who participated?

The MLU has to date delivered over 200 presentations in Melbourne’s South East region. In 2008 they delivered presentations as often as four times a week.

The MLU plans to deliver the two-hour package once a month to all members of the Victoria Police, with the assistance of Multicultural Liaison Officers from across the state.

The training package has also been adapted for the MLU to deliver to other agencies providing services to the Sudanese community. These include Centrelink, Department of Human Services, the Magistrate's Court and teachers and local councils.

What were the outcomes?

The cross-cultural training package has helped police understand cultural adaptation hurdles facing both Sudanese women and men.

It is being continually improved and refined in response to feedback. A large part of its success is because the package has been written for police, by police.

The development of this unique package led to Senior Constable Joey Herrech, from the MLU, visiting Sudan and Thailand to further understand newly-arrived refugees to Australia and help them understand the role of Australian police.

Where can I get more information?

Further information on this project is available.

Senior Constable James Waterson
Dandenong Police Station
Email: james.waterson@police.vic.gov.au
Telephone: 03 9767 7510