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Overview

This project involved the development of an innovative 26-minute DVD, introducing new entrants to Australian law, available in 13 community languages including English.

What were the aims of the project?

This 'self-education' tool allows people with poor English language skills or illiteracy in their own language to understand, the system of law that we have in Australia. It covers essential aspects of the law that apply in Australia.

What was involved?

A steering committee comprising relevant stakeholders including the Department of Immigration and Citizenship set the project and its plans in place. Promotion of the DVD was via email and posting on the Ethnic Communities Council of WA website.

The DVD took over a year to produce, and over 7500 copies have been distributed. There is no cost involved in ordering the DVD.

The DVD production was funded by the Federal Attorney-General’s Department and the Law Society of WA’s Public Purposes Trust.

Who participated?

The DVD has been distributed through agencies dealing largely with humanitarian entrants. The languages identified were based on humanitarian entrant numbers over the last five years and the projections for the next few. Local government authorities have been distributing the DVD’s via citizenship ceremonies. The DVD has been requested by every state in Australia and some from overseas.

What were the outcomes?

This has proven to be a highly successful project with a huge number of favourable comments from viewers who have indicated how much they learned.

Where can I get more information?

Further information on this project is available.

Suresh Rajan
Executive Officer
Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia
Telephone: 08 9227 5322
Website: Ethnic Communities Council of Western Australia
Email: eccwa@iinet.net.au

Having friends from different ethnic backgrounds from such a young age inspired Senior Constable Vaughan Cubitt to pursue his passion through the police force.

"My very first friend in school was Egyptian. I was the only kid at infants school with blonde hair," Senior Constable Cubitt said.

"I had friends from so many different backgrounds. Most of my high school friends were Muslims."

Senior Constable Cubitt grew up near Parramatta in Sydney, then in Penrith. His grandmother is Italian and has always made the family aware of their heritage.

Before becoming a Multicultural Liaison Officer (MLO) with ACT Policing, Senior Constable Cubitt had many experiences that shaped his future. He worked as a volunteer helping migrants and refugees settle in Australia, and worked at the Refugee Review Tribunal, as an administrative officer.

"That was my first paid job. I went to a lot of hearings and listened to many refugee stories."

Senior Constable Cubitt even tried working as a migration agent before joining Customs at Sydney airport.

"That job led to me joining the Australian Federal Police.

"I then worked as a federal agent in Sydney and was led to Canberra after working on the Bali Bombing investigation for a year."

Senior Constable Cubitt said the most challenging part of his current role as MLO, which he started in February 2009, is the vast diversity.

"It is so much to take in. There are 384 organisations represented in Canberra alone!"

But the challenges are far outweighed by the rewards he gets each day in his role as MLO.

"It gives me a lot of satisfaction to know we’re giving the community information which empowers them. Information they wouldn’t normally have.

"Humanitarian entrants arrive with culture shock, and are bombarded with so much information. We go and talk to them rather than relying on them to look up brochures for information.

"They ask us so many questions about everything from driver’s licences to disciplining children, to general questions about life in Canberra."

Senior Constable Cubitt said he gets a lot of satisfaction out of the information sessions he conducts.

He has given information sessions at a range of venues including universities and colleges in Canberra, primary schools and high schools, community and religious forums and for the local Sudanese community.

"We talk about a range of practical things like what to do in an emergency and personal safety. We encourage communities to invite us out to speak about these issues.

"One of our biggest priorities is to make people feel comfortable with police. This is a major problem because many new arrivals come with a range of emotions including intimidation and fear."

Senior Constable Cubitt said he has had many rewarding opportunities since becoming an MLO.

"I feel like I have travelled the world in the past couple of months. This job has really opened my eyes. I have seen and heard things I never had thought of before.

"You can never know too many people from so many different backgrounds."

See:
AFP Multicultural Liaison Officers' story