MYSA - Multicultural Youth South Australia

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MYSA was originally known as the Multicultural Youth Network of South Australia (MYN-SA). MYN-SA was formed in response to a national project undertaken by the Australian Youth Policy Action Coalition (AYPAC) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA). The project aimed to encourage the multicultural and youth sectors of each state to work together to establish a network to focus on CALD youth issues. The network worked to raise the profile of issues facing Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) young people and encouraged peak and government bodies to take action on specific issues and areas of concern.

In 1999 MYN-SA held the Multicultural Youth Speakout which provided CALD young people an opportunity to express their views and concerns directly to relevant government ministers and policy officers. The Speakout also marked the beginning of an ongoing process of communication between CALD young people and state and local government representatives.

Recommendations from the Speakout have been utilised by the then Department of Human Services in its Youth Participation, Policy and Planning Framework 2002.

In 2002 we became incorporated and changed our name to Multicultural Youth SA (MYSA). We are now the state representative advocacy and service delivery body for CALD young people in South Australia.

Multicultural Youth South Australia Incorporated (MYSA) will take a leadership role in ensuring that young people from CALD backgrounds have equal access and participation within the wider South Australian community and that their voice is heard and drives all levels of decision making.

MYSA Aims and Objectives

Support and empower CALD young people by providing opportunities where they can present their views openly without prejudice or discrimination.
Promote and raise the profile of CALD young people and the issues affecting them throughout the wider South Australian community.
Celebrate the achievements and contribution of CALD young people and acknowledge the strength of their diversity.
Advocate and provide policy advice to government and non-government sectors on behalf of young people from CALD backgrounds.
Foster and encourage a strong working relationship and promote positive information exchange between MYSA members and the multicultural communities sector.
Communicate and collaborate with mainstream youth and other community sectors to action issues of importance for CALD young people.
Identify and access potential human and financial resources for advancing positive change for CALD young people.
Promote the activities of the organisation and continue to increase its membership base.

MYSA is managed by a Management Committee of culturally diverse young and older people with a wide range of skills, experience and expertise. The role of the Management Committee is to provide strategic direction for the organisation and to ensure that its the vision, aims and goals are realised.

Management Committee
Chairperson Mofeed Shahin
Committee Members Jerusha Carrabs Esther Daniell Stephanie Bittoto Aaron Chong
MYSA staff
Helena de Anstiss Director E-Mail Helena	Carmen Garcia Assistant Director E-Mail Carmen
Maylin Superio Settlement Services Manager E-Mail Maylin Monday -> Friday	Nicolette Fluris Community Projects Officer E-Mail Nicolette Monday -> Friday
Elmina Joldic Senior Youth Worker E-Mail Elmina Monday -> Friday	Ben Stewart Research and Project Officer E-Mail Ben Monday -> Friday
Frank Morris Youth Worker E-Mail Frank Wednesday -> Friday

Although still a new organisation with limited resources, we have been very active in service provision and have covered a wide range of service areas:

Student and Volunteer Placements

MYSA offers students on placement an opportunity to:

Learn about the role, function and operation of a state representative advocacy body for CALD young people;
Work with and learn from trained professionals;
Become involved in a diverse range of services areas;
Gain practical experience to become effective workers;
Develop knowledge and skills in specific areas of interest;
Network and establish contacts in the field.

Youth Policy Development and Planning

CALD youth agencies, community organisations and peak bodies have an important role to play in responding to policies, strategies and directions that impact on CALD young people’s lives. As such, we have actively participated in the development of a range of youth policy and planning initiatives including:

Policy and Planning Framework for Children and Young People (DHS);
Youth Views (DHS);
Activ8 (Premier’s Youth Challenge);
National Police and Ethnic Youth Partnerships Forum;
Office of Recreation and Sport Consultations.
Youth Affairs Council of SA Policy Platform Reference Group

Best Advice and Best Practice

In 2003 we received funding from the then Department of Human Services for 12 months to provide Best Advice on issues affecting CALD young people. With this funding now depleted, we have been fortunate to receive new funding for the 2004-2005 financial year from the Department for Families and Communities to provide advice and support on Best Practice to agencies servicing CALD young people. Our role is to:

Assist agencies to develop strategies and approaches to improve access to services for CALD young people;
Provide information and policy advice on operational and management issues that affect CALD young people;
Establish and maintain service networks that will assist in the promotion of best practice as it pertains to CALD young people;
Assist agencies in the establishment of an environment of continuous service improvement;
Promote services that are inclusive and recognise the needs of CALD young people.

We will be consulting with networks comprising:

CALD organisations, including informal organisations;
Agencies representing young people from CALD backgrounds;
A broad range of consumer groups and peak bodies including the Youth Affairs Council SA and its member organisations.

Networking

We have established working relationships and networking contacts with a wide range of government and non-government organisations, with the overall aims of raising the profile of CALD young people, improving understanding of the issues affecting them and increasing equity and access in service provision. Areas of involvement include physical, sexual and mental health, employment, education and training, housing, law and family and social relationships.

Information, Training and Support

In keeping with our commitment to improve equity and access in service provision to CALD young people, we provide information, training and support to mainstream organisations to increase cultural awareness, promote understanding and develop and strengthen cross-cultural knowledge and skills.

Projects

In addition to our advocacy and sector development activities, we have developed and implemented a range of projects for and with CALD young people.