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THE HON BRENDAN O’CONNOR
MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
THE HON KATE ELLIS
MEMBER FOR ADELAIDE

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday 8 October 2009

FUNDING SUPPORTS YOUNG AFRICAN MIGRANTS

Minister for Home Affairs Brendan O’Connor and Member for Adelaide Kate Ellis today announced funding of $324,418 for Baptist Care (SA) Inc to help young African migrants to adapt to life in Australia.

“The Imagine the Future intervention project will work with newly arrived youth and their families from sub-Saharan Africa to curb youth crime,” Mr O’Connor said.

“This project will take those children aged 10 to15 who are showing anti-social behaviour and give them peer support and mentoring.

“It will also provide information sessions with the South Australian Police to increase awareness of Australian laws, and encourage a positive relationship with police.

“Teenagers and their families who come to Australia as humanitarian entrants have often left countries where they suffered from violence and discrimination.

“Projects like this can help young people adjust to life in Australia and help them make positive life choices.

Ms Ellis said: “Through this program and the support of the community, newly arrived young people and their families can assist in their transition to becoming participating members of the Australian community and create positive lives for themselves.

“This project will provide young people who settle in Adelaide with additional services, support and mentoring to help them develop important life, social and conflict management skills.”

The grant is one of a number to be made under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) which enables money from assets confiscated under Commonwealth law to be returned to the community. More than $6 million of funding under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) will be distributed to community groups for crime prevention and Indigenous prisoner projects.

Media Contact:         Kylie Skotnicki         0402 298 728

Download Press Release Funding Young African Migrants here.

BC(SA) recently was advised by the Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations that we were successful in our bid to provide a range of specialist services under the new employment support regime known as Job Services Australia.

The Australian Government announced it would be introducing new, simpler and more effective employment services nationally to commence on 1 July 2009. The new services will provide opportunities for job seekers to train in areas of skill shortage. There is also a greater emphasis on helping employers find work ready job seekers.

Under the new services, job seekers will receive individual support in the form of the right mix of training, skills development and work experience.

The new employment service is designed to increase employment participation, play a greater role in addressing skills shortages and to assist individual job seekers, particularly disadvantaged job seekers to obtain sustainable employment.

Under the new funding arrangements BC(SA) Employment Services will provide services in the metro area, Eyre Peninsula and in the far north (refer below) to job seekers, particularly youth at risk, indigenous people, people experiencing mental health issues, and those either homeless or at risk of homelessness.

The exciting opportunities that this funding opens up for those who seek support from BC(SA) are significant. Services are much more oriented to supporting a person with both vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment than the employment services which have previously been available. It will allow BC(SA) to engage with people in a much more holistic manner.

In coming months BC(SA) will be recruiting approximately 30 to 40 staff in various leadership, administrative and service delivery roles, and establishing new service sites across South Australia. For more information contact Lee-Anne Cox on 1300 654 450.

Services will be established in the following areas:

Eastern Adelaide SA Specialist -

• Homeless or at risk of Homelessness
• People with a Disability

North Country SA Specialist -

• Indigenous Australians
• People with a Disability
• Youth at Risk

Northern Adelaide SA Specialist -

• Homeless or at risk of Homelessness
• People with a Disability
• Youth at Risk

Port Lincoln/Ceduna SA Specialist -

• Homeless or at risk of Homelessness
• Indigenous Australians
• People with a Disability
• Youth at Risk

Southern Adelaide SA Specialist -

• Homeless or at risk of Homelessness
• Youth at Risk