Page 4820 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 27 November 2018
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to gain meaningful employment. The ACT government is working with Randstad, a commercial recruitment agency, to extend employment opportunities to WESPÂ participants into the private sector in Canberra.
In April 2018 Multicultural Employment Services was granted funding to work with other ACT and regional settlement services to provide individual, case-managed employment support services. Further, in May 2018 the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services and the CIT were contracted to deliver English language programs for refugees, asylum seekers on bridging visas and ACT services access card holders living in the ACT.
The second objective of the framework relates to citizenship, participation and cohesion. Participation in the workforce is a significant enabler for people from multicultural backgrounds settling in Canberra. This is why the ACT government provides opportunities for people from multicultural backgrounds to be job ready or for those with international work experience to find meaningful employment that recognises their expertise. CIT has a dedicated cultural diversity coordinator to guide and provide advice on tutorials and inclusive activities for students from culturally diverse backgrounds and, importantly, career advice on training and employment needs.
West Belconnen is a significant population growth region for people from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. The Ginninderry community, which crosses the ACT and New South Wales border in west Belconnen, established SPARK, an employment and training initiative, to provide targeted employment support to the growing population in that region. SPARK programs are aimed at key disadvantaged groups: youth, Aboriginal, mature aged, long-term unemployed and culturally and linguistically diverse people who are disconnected from the labour force.
SPARK has partnered with a number of ACT agencies and the community sector to deliver a range of programs including accredited training within the horticulture and conservation land management sector, the hospitality sector and the early childhood education and care sector. Ginninderry is part of the wider community in west Belconnen. SPARK provides the opportunity for people living in the region to learn new skills and become economically independent.
The government is also committed under the second objective of the framework to providing opportunities for people from multicultural backgrounds to be informed of and included in decision-making processes related to policy and practice. The recently launched diversity register encourages participation by people with diverse experiences and backgrounds to consider joining a board or committee. The online platform allows boards and committees with vacancies in the community, businesses, private sector and ACT government to be advertised and provides training and networking opportunities.
Another example of the government engaging with multicultural communities in decision-making is the commitment to establish the Multicultural Advisory Council. It was established in November 2017, comprising 10 community members and five representatives from peak bodies, bringing their expertise and relationship skills to
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