MULTICULTURAL NSW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGYweb2.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/2015_COMMUNITY... · Community engagement is a most important activity of Multicultural NSW and doing

MULTICULTURAL NSWCOMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGYLevel 8, 175 Castlereagh Street,Sydney NSW 2000

www.multicultural.nsw.gov.auOctober 2015

2015

http://www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/

ISBN 978-0-9807913-9-6Copyright © 2015Multicultural NSWAuthor:

In addition to any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cwlth), any reproduction of this publication for the purposes of education and research is permitted and encouraged. The copyright holder should be properly acknowledged in all extracts and reproductions.

This publication is also available on our website: www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au

Any enquiries regarding this publication should be made to Multicultural NSW:

Level 8175 Castlereagh StSydney NSW 2000

PO Box A2618Sydney South NSW 1235

Ph: (02) 8255 6767

2


MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER

For as long as I can recollect I have been a determined advocate of a multicultural NSW, that is inclusive of all of its citizens and all of its communities. Indeed, as I proudly announced during my inaugural speech to Parliament in 2007, a strong desire to ‘tear down the monolith of prejudice’ was at the forefront of my decision to run for Parliament. During that speech I also declared ‘Australia is a great society, a progressive society, a society that will embrace change’, and I am pleased to be part of the initiatives which will continue to make this happen.

The key principles of the NSW Government’s strategic plan Harmony in Action identify a determination to engage with all sections of society and reduce barriers to participation; to enable equitable access to services and programs; and to enrich social and economic capacity through cultural diversity as an asset of NSW.

It will be through this thoughtfully and collaboratively crafted Community Engagement Strategy that realisation of the key principles and implementation of our strategic plan will be possible. This Strategy for engaging with the people of New South Wales is premised on the NSW Government’s capacity to draw relevant community information and perspectives from a range of standing and issues-based forums, as well as through the establishment of new forums based on common interests, functions or characteristics. It also recognises the importance of localised responses, complimentary to statewide action.

It is my pleasure to commend to all readers the Multicultural NSW Community Engagement Strategy. I look forward to its implementation, which will be highly beneficial to enhancing social cohesion and community harmony within the state of New South Wales.

The Hon John AjakaMinister for Multiculturalism

3

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

The Multicultural NSW Strategic Plan 2014-17 Harmony in Action, this Community Engagement Strategy, and other strategies work together to enable Multicultural NSW to deliver its legislative objectives contained in the Multicultural NSW Act 2000.

Harmony in Action sets the strategic framework and key actions Multicultural NSW will implement through to 2017 and how it will measure its performance.

This Community Engagement Strategy outlines at a high level how we plan to manage community engagement to help achieve our strategic goals and actions. It is based on international best practice and provides information about how we will engage with communities using a variety of means, which are through:

• Multicultural NSW Advisory Board – our Advisory Board provides guidance and advice to Multicultural NSW and the Minister for Multiculturalism.

• Regional Advisory Councils – existing geographic based regional and metropolitan forums which advise Multicultural NSW about local issues and help address issues at a local level. The number of these forums will be expanded and extended to cover all of regional NSW and metropolitan Sydney. Members of these forums already include community and government representatives. Groups at local levels involved in diversity issues such as local government, and ethnic and multicultural councils will be encouraged to become ongoing members of Regional Advisory Councils.

• Multicultural Councils and Forums – new topic based forums, such as business, religion, arts, women and youth which can provide expert advice to Multicultural NSW. Members of these forums will include community, non-government organisations, business (peak and local chambers of commerce), academic and government representatives who have relevant expertise in these topics and experience in promoting and managing cultural diversity.

KEY POINTS

4


• Government Forums – existing forums where Multicultural NSW works with local, State and Federal government agencies to address issues facing communities and forms part of the broader policy development and implementation landscape.

• Direct Community Engagement – direct liaison with communities on specific issues, participation in cultural and other community events, Multicultural NSW events and calls for information and community responses and other means by which Multicultural NSW can be available to the community. A range of supportive measures such as guidelines and training for members of Regional Advisory Councils and Multicultural Councils and Forums, and ways for all these forums to share information will be implemented to equip these forums to engage effectively with communities.

Regular stakeholder surveys will keep us informed about how well the Community Engagement Strategy is working.


5


This is the first time Multicultural NSW has prepared and published a defined strategy to engage with the NSW community. It has been developed with extensive community consultation, including input from the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board.

Community engagement is a most important activity of Multicultural NSW and doing it well is a key goal in our Strategic Plan 2014-17 Harmony in Action.

This Community Engagement Strategy is a centrepiece of our plans. It represents the means by which Multicultural NSW will implement the high level community engagement goals and actions in Harmony in Action, and our governing legislation.

During the next three years we expect that our Community Engagement Strategy will evolve as it is implemented, as communications technology changes and as we learn more about what communities need and can contribute to build and maintain our socially cohesive and harmonious multicultural state.

The Multicultural Advisory Board thanks the Chief Executive Officer and staff of Multicultural NSW for preparing this strategy and all the stakeholders who have contributed to its development.

Dr G.K (Harry) Harinath, OAMChair

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

6


I am very pleased to present the Community Engagement Strategy for Multicultural NSW (2014-17). It, along with Harmony in Action, has been developed to help us achieve the objectives and functions of our agency articulated in the Multicultural NSW Act 2000.

This Community Engagement Strategy shows how we will involve our stakeholders in building and maintaining social cohesion and community harmony in New South Wales. The Community Engagement Strategy provides the framework for us to learn from communities and use this knowledge to shape the future directions of our agency and to feed into the development of a Multicultural Policy Centre of Excellence.

Multicultural NSW is the key government agency responsible for engaging the diverse communities of our State, one of the most culturally diverse in the world. Cultural diversity in our society has tremendous social and economic benefits, but it is also something that needs continuous attention and care so that it is embraced and enjoyed by all and we maximise its potential.

An effective Community Engagement Strategy is the fundamental basis for our capacity to provide this attention and care.

We have developed this Strategy in consultation with a very wide range of individuals, community leaders and representatives of non-government and government organisations.

I would like to express my deepest thanks to all contributors and look forward to implementing our strategy.

Hakan HarmanChief Executive Officer

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

7


This strategy sets out how and why Multicultural NSW will engage with all sections of the NSW community.

It describes the regular and issues-based structures and forums that the NSW Government will use to seek and discuss community views, resolve issues of concern to communities, link communities to service providers and promote the benefits of cultural diversity to the population of NSW.

It also describes the ways in which Multicultural NSW will operate to ensure that the various structures and forums for community engagement are clearly focused on outcomes, linked with each other so lessons and information can be shared, and connected with other key government decision making bodies.

PURPOSE OF THIS STRATEGY

8


To ensure that the Community Engagement Strategy will be as effective as possible, Multicultural NSW has developed it with the assistance of a wide range of community and government representatives.

Initial views about how Multicultural NSW should engage with the NSW community were gathered at the annual Multicultural NSW Symposium in August 2014, and through surveys and interviews with community, non-government organisations, government representatives, and with Multicultural NSW staff as well as members of Multicultural NSW Regional Advisory Councils. The Multicultural NSW Advisory Board has had significant input into this strategy and will play a critical part in overseeing its successful delivery.

These views were considered in the preparation of a draft Community Engagement Strategy, which was then shared with a selection of key community, non-government and government representatives. The opinions of these stakeholders helped to shape the final strategy.

This strategy will evolve as Multicultural NSW puts it into practice as part of its Strategic Plan: Harmony in Action 2014-17. Its evolution will be assisted by community feedback on how the strategy is working for them. Multicultural NSW will seek this feedback on a regular basis.

DEVELOPMENT AND LIFE OF THIS STRATEGY

9


This strategy has been developed to complement the Multicultural NSW Strategic Plan 2014-17, Harmony in Action.

Harmony in Action commits Multicultural NSW to develop and implement a proactive and transparent Community Engagement Strategy. This Strategy will enable the delivery of the following community engagement priorities identified in Harmony in Action.

Community Engagement Strategic Priorities in Harmony In Action

Multicultural NSW Actions

Access and Opportunity

• Equitable access to NSW Government services and programs.

• Increase engagement with priority and emerging communities.

• Engage effectively with regional communities.

• Drive a co-ordinated and targeted approach to services for newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants.

• Establish strategic partnerships to support groups including women and girls, and vulnerable youth from culturally diverse backgrounds.

Participation

• All individuals in NSW contribute to and participate in community life and public decision making processes.

• Increase collaboration across government and non-government sectors to extend the reach and effectiveness of community engagement activities.

• Effectively administer the grants program to meet the needs of our diverse communities, with measurable outcomes.

Visibly Effective Community Engagement Strategy

• Structured and transparent consultation mechanisms that are linked to other community facing institutions.

• Develop and implement a strategic community engagement framework so that all sections of the community may have the opportunity to engage and contribute.

• Assess the effectiveness of community engagement activities to inform policy and decision making and determine future priorities.

• Develop partnerships with the business community.

Outcomes Focus

• Community engagement activities build social cohesion.

• Develop appropriate measures to assess social cohesion in NSW.

• Develop effective online and direct community engagement initiatives for specific communities.

WHAT WILL THIS STRATEGY ACHIEVE?

10


From November 2014 Multicultural NSW has new legislation, the Multicultural NSW Act 2000 (The Act). Under the Act, Multicultural NSW is required to formally establish and administer Regional Advisory Councils (RACs). RACs are made up of representatives from communities, non-government organisations and government agencies and enable community issues to be heard and carefully considered at a local level. RACs are the frontline in community engagement for Multicultural NSW and have the capacity to directly resolve local issues or refer issues for consideration and action by Multicultural NSW.

Multicultural NSW is determined to engage regularly with the NSW community and as widely as possible, Harmony in Action also envisages a range of Multicultural Councils and Forums that are based around different interest groups as well as specific issues. The Multicultural Councils and Forums will offer the community and Multicultural NSW additional ways to hear, consider and work together on issues and concerns. They also offer the NSW Government further avenues to gain advice on policy development and to remain firmly connected to the community.

As a starting point this Community Engagement Strategy includes several Multicultural Councils and Forums. The flexible nature of the Multicultural Councils and Forums means that we can create new forums on a needs basis. Multicultural NSW will also use a range of NSW Government forums to facilitate outcomes for communities consistent with its objectives to increase access, opportunity and participation.

In addition to these we will continue to engage with the community through events, such as our annual symposium, youth leaders day, cultural festivals, awards programs, and Multicultural March incorporating the Premier’s Harmony Dinner. We will continue to seek stakeholder involvement through surveys, requests for views and submissions and direct dialogue on specific issues.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN PRACTICE – OVERVIEW

11


THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRUCTURE OF MULTICULTURAL NSW

Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Direct Community Engagement

Regional Advisory Councils

Multicultural Councils & Forums

Government Forums

Geographic basis for community representation and consultation:

• 7 Regional RACs

• 5 Metropolitan RACs

Issue based and fall within:

• Celebrating and promoting cultural diversity

• Multicultural community representatives

Pathways for Multicultural NSW to facilitate outcomes and decisions from NSW and Commonwealth government policy and service agencies.

Multicultural NSW AgencyFacilitates and leads Community Engagement Activities and Strategies

Chair RACs, participate in community engagement and provide guidance &

expert advice

• Dialogue with communities to resolve general and specific issues

• Promote collaboration with and between NGOs, communities and business

• Annual symposium and other events

• Support for cultural festivals

• Surveys and calls for submissions

MINISTERMINISTER

12


The structures and activities that comprise the Community Engagement Strategy will be integrated and co-ordinated by Multicultural NSW to achieve common objectives. The engagement forums are designed to inform, consult, involve, collaborate with and empower communities, and our efforts will reflect international best practice.

Engagement Structures and Activities

Purpose and Outcomes International Best Practice Principles

Multicultural NSW Advisory BoardRegional Advisory CouncilsMulticultural Councils & ForumsFormal structures for community participation and advice to Multicultural NSW.

Consult, collaborate with and empower communitiesProvide formal ways to promote broad and inclusive participation in social, economic and cultural life and public decision making.

Empower: Communities have opportunities to shape decisions.

Collaborate: Communities are partners in decision making, including development of options and identifying a preferred solution.

Involve: We work directly with communities to ensure concerns and aspirations are understood and reflected.

Consult: Communities provide feedback and concerns are heard and acknowledged.

Inform: We provide balanced and objective information to help communities understand problems, alternatives and opportunities.

Government ForumsFormal mechanisms for whole of government (collaborative) responses to community issues from the NSW and Commonwealth governments.

Collaboration with government to empower communitiesEnable Multicultural NSW to advocate and find whole of government solutions to cultural diversity issues on behalf of communities.

Direct community engagementDialogue, events and communication that help to resolve specific community issues and promote the benefits of a multicultural society.

Inform, involve and collaborate with communitiesEnable NGOs, communities and Multicultural NSW to share ideas, lessons and concerns and find common ground.

Enable communities to learn about, get involved in and promote cultural diversity and resolve issues.

THE PURPOSE AND BEST PRACTICE IN OUR ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY

13


MULTICULTURAL NSW ADVISORY BOARD

Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Role

Advisory Board members are appointed by the Government and are experienced members of the community with a passion for cultural diversity.

• Advice to the Agency and the Minister for Multiculturalism on issues relating to the objectives or strategic directions of Multicultural NSW.

• To review and advise on the Annual Report of Multicultural NSW to be tabled by the Minister in Parliament.

The Multicultural NSW Advisory Board plays a significant role in the success of our Agency. Advisory Board members interact with the community, bring community issues to the attention of the Minister and Multicultural NSW, and advise on resolving and managing issues. The Advisory Board also has a key role in promoting the benefits of a multicultural society in NSW and connecting communities.

14


REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) Role

RACs made up of community, non-government and government representatives in regional NSW and covering all of metropolitan Sydney are focused on identifying and resolving issues at a local level.

The capacity of RACs to advise on improving access to government services for communities and increasing consideration of multicultural issues by government agencies at a local level work on the connections between RACs and public sector leaders.

To improve these connections, the boundaries of RACs will be better aligned with the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Regional Leadership Groups which are responsible for overseeing the delivery of services and economic development objectives in NSW regions.

• Frontline community engagement for Multicultural NSW.

• Advice to Multicultural NSW on local issues affecting local communities.

• Pursue links with the Regional Leadership Groups administered by NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

• Consider, discuss and propose solutions to cultural diversity issues to address specific community issues within regions.

15


Multicultural NSW RACs play an important role as a frontline community engagement mechanism and also as a way to engage with local and state government service delivery managers at a local and regional level. Coverage of RACs will improve their capacity to deliver and act in response to consultation feedback.

• New RACs will be created to represent all geographic areas of metropolitan Sydney for the first time.

• New RAC boundaries will be drawn for regional NSW to improve the alignment with the Regional Leadership Groups, chaired by NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

This will significantly improve our engagement with local communities and maximise the opportunities to link the objectives of Multicultural NSW and priorities of communities both local and regional.

RAC DPC Regional Action Plan Local Government Areas

Hunter and Central Coast Central Coast Gosford, Wyong

Hunter Cessnock, Dungog, Gloucester, Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, Upper Hunter

Illawarra/South East NSW Illawarra Kiama, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Wollongong

Southern Highland and Tablelands

Goulburn Mulwaree, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribe

South East NSW Bega Valley, Bombala, Boorowa, Cooma-Monaro, Eurobodalla, Harden, Palerang, Queanbeyan, Snowy River, Yass Valley, Young

IMPROVING THE ADVISORY CAPACITY OF THE RACs

REALIGNED REGIONAL COUNCIL BOUNDARIES

16


RAC DPC Regional Action Plan Local Government Areas

Northern NSW Mid North Coast Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Greater Taree, Kempsey, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Lord Howe Island

Northern Rivers Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed

New England/North West New England/North West Armidale Dumaresq, Glen Innes, Gunnedah, Guyra, Gwydir, Inverell, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Tamworth regional, Tenterfield, Uralla, Walcha

Western NSW Orana Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett, Warren, Wurrumbungle, Wellington

Far West Broken Hill, Central Darling, Unincorporated Far West

Central West Bathurst, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Lachlan, City of Lithgow, Mid-Western regional, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Weddin

Murray – Lower Darling Murray – Lower Darling City of Albury, Balranald, Berrigan, Conargo, Corowa, Deniliquin, Greater Hume, Jerilderie, Murray, Urana, Wakool, Wentworth

Riverina Central West Bland, Carathool, Coolamon, Cootamundra, Griffith, Gundagai, Hay, Junee, Leeton, Lockhart, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Temora, Tumbarumba, Tumut, Wagga Wagga

17


MULTICULTURAL NSW REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCILS

LEGEND

Riverina Northern NSW

New England/North WestWestern NSW

Hunter and Central CoastIllawarra/South East NSW

Murray – Lower Darling

18


NEW METROPOLITAN COUNCIL BOUNDARIES

Colour code

Sydney Metropolitan Area

Regional Action Plan Areas

Local Government Areas

North Sydney Northern Sydney + Northern Beaches

Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Ku-ring Gai, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Ryde, Willoughby Pittwater, Warringah, Manly, Mosman

East Sydney Eastern Sydney/Inner West

Ashfield, Botany Bay, Burwood, Canada Bay, Canterbury, City of Sydney, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Randwick, Strathfield, Waverly, Woollahra

South Sydney Southern Sydney Hurstville, Kogarah, Rockdale, Sutherland Shire

West Sydney Western Sydney Auburn, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Holroyd, Parramatta, Penrith, The Hills

South West Sydney South Western Sydney

Bankstown, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Wollondilly

Sydney Metropolitan Area

19


MAXIMISING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF RACs

As the RACs perform a frontline role in community engagement it is important that they are equipped to be as effective as possible. We will improve the operation of our RACs so that they can effectively engage with communities and provide the best advice to Multicultural NSW. Some of the key planned changes are highlighted below.

Operations and Management

Guidelines will bring the ways in which the RACs operate in line with our Strategic Plan and other strategies and policies; of particular note, the guidelines will:

• Clearly indicate that the primary purpose of the RACs is their frontline role in Community Engagement for Multicultural NSW.

• Emphasise the need for community members of RACs to actively represent all the multicultural communities and their issues of concern at RAC meetings.

• Emphasise that the primary role of government representatives on RACs is to assist local multicultural communities become engaged, enriched and enable them to fully participate through equitable access to services and programs.

• Establish a mechanism to enable RACs to share their issues, experiences and successes.

Training for RAC Members

The effectiveness of RACs is often dependent on how well members understand their role, and how to engage with communities and stakeholders within and outside government to achieve solutions. To equip RAC members to be as productive and effective as possible we will provide members with an induction and training to assist their participation, prior to them taking up their positions.

Chairs of all RACs will also be given training to equip them to optimise the participation of RAC members. Chairs of all RACs will be supported by Multicultural NSW to ensure they can appropriately address community concerns and guide outcomes.

20


RACs in Communities

As part of their frontline role it is important that RAC members are visible within their communities.

Each RAC will be required to actively participate in community forums throughout the year to increase their connection with local communities and raise their profile and that of Multicultural NSW. This may include RAC members participating in or attending major multicultural events and each RAC combining at least one meeting per year with local community wide festivals in locations across their region.

Multicultural NSW will also put in place systems to encourage RAC members to work with each other between RAC meetings as well as working with service providers to enhance the representation of communities and improve the speed and quality of outcomes associated with issues raised by communities.

To maximise their capacity to make a difference RACs will need to work closely with other non-government organisations representing communities at a local level. To facilitate this we will encourage representatives of the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW or the relevant Multicultural Communities Council, in regional areas where available, to join each RAC on an ongoing basis.

Representatives of NSW government agencies already participate on RACs, but local government involvement is also important, particularly as RACs are often faced with issues that need local solutions. To facilitate this we will also encourage representatives from Regional Organisations of Councils or senior local government representatives to be ongoing members on each RAC.

Our RAC Guidelines establish clear links between the activities of RAC members and their contribution to the objectives contained in the Act and Harmony in Action. They also emphasise the imperative of seeking to solve local issues through the network of local non-government and government agencies and service providers.


21


MULTICULTURAL COUNCILS AND FORUMS

Multicultural Councils and Forums Role

Will be made up of community, non-government and government representatives from across NSW.

Will include some existing community reference groups, public sector groups and NGO reference groups that we have relied on in the past as well as the creation of new bodies.

The Councils and Forums will be structured so that they can represent and consider cultural diversity issues important to the whole NSW population and across whole sectors of activities.

• Consider, discuss and propose solutions to cultural diversity issues that can address specific and general community issues.

• Focus on aligning cultural diversity issues with government, business, youth, gender, arts and culture and other sectors and priorities.

• Promote the whole of NSW benefits associated with cultural diversity.

As envisaged in Harmony in Action, our Councils and Forums will provide integrated advice and have key roles in relation to their relevant areas of interest. We have grouped these into two areas that are important to delivering the objectives of Multicultural NSW and promoting cultural diversity. These two areas are:

• Multicultural community representation.

• Celebrating and promoting the benefits of cultural diversity.

The list provided in Harmony in Action can be expanded with additional Forums and Councils as considered appropriate and feasible to establish by Multicultural NSW.

22


MULTICULTURAL COUNCILS AND FORUMS IN PRACTICE

Categories of Multicultural Councils and Forums

Existing and New Councils and Forums

Multicultural community representationForums for Multicultural NSW to directly hear concerns and opportunities about cultural diversity. Essential to establishing community links, enhancing access to services and enriching the lives of both emerging communities and established communities alike.

• Consular Corps (new)

• Women and Girls (new)

• Religious Leaders (established new in 2014)

• Peak Community Organisations(existing – Ethnic and Multicultural Community Councils)

• Youth (existing – Multicultural Youth Network)

• Issue specific (existing)

Celebrating and promoting the benefi ts of cultural diversity Forums that have a key role in identifying role models and case studies about the benefits of cultural diversity and the capacity to promote these.

• Business (existing and shared with NSW Department of Industry)

• Sport (new)

• Arts and Culture (new)

Maximising the Effectiveness of Councils and Forums

To enable the Councils and Forums to give the most effective advice to Multicultural NSW, a range of measures will be introduced including:

• Each will have appropriate Terms of Reference to enable the councils and forums to have a clear focus on their specific role according to their category.

• Multicultural NSW will facilitate the sharing of information, issues, lessons and solutions amongst members to ensure they are delivering integrated and consistent advice.

23


• All councils and forums will have standing agenda items to enable government, community and NGO members to report on their community activities and raise issues that may require a collective response.

• Members of all councils and forums will be provided with an induction kit to assist their participation, prior to taking up their positions.

• Chairs of councils and forums (where they are non-agency staff or non-Advisory Board members) will be given training to equip them to optimise the participation of other members.

• Chairs of all councils and forums will be appropriately briefed by Multicultural NSW to ensure they can appropriately address community concerns and guide outcomes.

• Members of councils and forums will be encouraged to attend a range of community-wide and multicultural community events each year to engage directly with communities so that their advice continues to be reflective of emerging and contemporary community needs.

• Subject to the issue covered and the structure adopted the most appropriate membership cohort will be developed and where appropriate this will include:

Senior peak local government representatives where co-ordination with local councils is required.

Relevant community, NGO and government representatives.

Local chambers of commerce and other parts of the business community will also be encouraged to participate to maximise the opportunity for partnerships to promote cultural diversity in workplaces.

• Multicultural NSW will develop appropriate tools to facilitate the co-ordinated management of up to date information gathered directly from communities to enhance the functioning of councils and forums.

MULTICULTURAL COUNCILS AND FORUMS IN PRACTICE

24


GOVERNMENT FORUMS

Within the NSW Government, Multicultural NSW is an agency with sector wide responsibility for policy development and advocacy in relation to cultural diversity issues. At the same time it has a legislated responsibility to ensure that the NSW Government’s commitment to multicultural practice is being implemented effectively and all communities have access to services.

The key instrument that Multicultural NSW can use to influence responses from within government agencies is the Multicultural Policies and Services Program (MPSP), which all NSW government departments are required to implement.

Most of the services that communities need are the primary responsibility of other government agencies like police, health, transport and community services. Therefore the capacity of Multicultural NSW to influence outcomes on behalf of communities depends on how well it is collaborating within government and working with other NSW government agencies.

In addition, Multicultural NSW will keep government agencies advised of issues arising in RACs and other forums so that whole-of-government outcomes can be pursued at local levels where required.

NSW Government Committees Focused on Cultural Diversity Issues

Role

Immigration and Settlement Planning Committee

Monitor and respond to migrant settlement issues.

Working Group on Migrant Skills Monitor and respond to skilled migration and migrant employment and training issues.

Metro and Regional Multicultural

Co-ordinators Forums

Consider public sector policy and service issues associated with the implementation of the Multicultural Policies and Services Program in NSW government agencies.

Multicultural NSW also participates on other Commonwealth government forums relevant to multicultural issues. This includes for example, being the NSW representative on the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters and the Senior Officers Settlement Outcomes Group.

Education and Language Promote and build on programs that advocate increased social cohesion and community harmony through cultural competence and language skills.

25


DIRECT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Maintaining and promoting cultural diversity and harmony in NSW is a significant task.

While both state and local government have a key role to play in the pursuit of successful cultural diversity and multicultural practice, government is not the sole player. Peak business groups, individual businesses, peak community and non-government organisations, community members, community service providers, and community and mainstream media are all essential to maintaining and promoting social cohesion and community harmony.

Government can provide state-wide frameworks, principles and directions that facilitate outcomes, but multicultural practice works best when embedded and demonstrated in workplaces, as part of service delivery models applied by all business and not-for-profit providers, and in the ways in which local communities and neighbourhoods operate and interact.

That is why one of the most important elements in the Community Engagement Strategy will be the way it directly involves, collaborates with and harnesses the efforts of all non-government contributors.

The RACs and Multicultural Councils and Forums are essential ways that the NSW Government can engage with and seek advice from individuals, communities and organisations in the non-government sector. This ensures that the direction of our future activities is informed by contemporary issues.

We also consider that it is equally important for us to continue to engage directly with communities through various mechanisms to encourage the participation of all sections of the NSW population.

Our multicultural state works well when the whole community has opportunities to learn about, get involved in and promote the benefits of cultural diversity.

In the past the NSW Government has conducted and supported various events to achieve these outcomes. This will continue under the new Community Engagement Strategy, but will be better structured to support, integrate and reflect the ongoing work of the RACs and Multicultural Councils and Forums.

An increased focus will be placed on holding events in the regions of NSW.

This approach will enable us to ensure that community issues and the ways they are being addressed can be communicated and discussed more broadly so that information is shared, action is coordinated and outcomes can inspire.

26


ENGAGEMENT IN PRACTICE

Engaging Communities and Promoting Benefits of Cultural Diversity

New Community Engagement Strategy

Annual Symposium to bring communities, government agencies and service providers together to share lessons and discuss future priorities.

This will continue and its agenda will better reflect the issues and work flowing from RACs and Multicultural Councils and Forums.

Youth Day to connect young people with a passion to understand, contribute to or lead initiatives and activities in their communities or across the whole of NSW.

Expansion of the Youth Leaders’ Day into a broader Youth Day. This recognises the reality, need and importance of engaging all youth, not just those who wish to lead.

Community Events that celebrate important occasions which represent the community values of the whole of NSW, as well as occasions that mark the cultural traditions of local areas and multicultural communities.

Increase the role of Multicultural NSW and all diverse communities in celebrating the various whole of State and community specific occasions to build the connections and understanding that cultural diversity thrives on.

Information and ideas for and from the public and communities that can improve and promote the development and implementation of our multicultural principles. This includes Multicultural NSW investment in published research.

Multicultural NSW will invest in a new on-line presence to publish information and collect ideas on a regular basis. It will also increase its use of and presence in general and community based media.

General and issue specifi c community liaison and meetings to maintain harmony, resolve problems and understand matters requiring advocacy.

Continued focus of Multicultural NSW but with added support of new information technology systems to effectively record information and actions.

Seeking community views through surveys, calls for public submissions and special forums on specific issues and initiatives.

Continued use of these measures, but in a more targeted way to support the role of the Multicultural Councils and Forums, and other community based forums.

27


POSSIBLE FUTURE MEASURES

Other measures that Multicultural NSW will consider as we implement the Community Engagement Strategy are to:

• Identify and engage ambassadors who can be role models for the success of cultural diversity.

• Develop a cultural diversity alumni including all past Commissioners / Advisory Board Members.

• Require grant applicants and recipients to better demonstrate their contribution to social cohesion and community harmony and their linkages to the Harmony in Action performance indicators.

• Increase the utilisation of social media and other communication platforms to better engage with each of our stakeholder groups participating in our community engagement programs and activities.

• Develop, publicise and promote a comprehensive local community event list in consultation with other agencies and organisations.


MEASURING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OUTCOMES

Monitoring the success of Multicultural NSW’s engagement with the NSW community is an important part of this strategy. Outcome measurement will be pursued in the following ways.

Outcome Measurement

Meet objectives of the Multicultural NSW Act 2000

• Annual Report tabled in NSW Parliament

• State of Multicultural NSW Report tabled in Parliament each year

Contribute to NSW State Priorities Harmony In Action Performance Dashboard will be mapped to NSW State Priorities.

Effective community engagement strategy • All RACs and Multicultural Councils and Forums monitored in accordance with the Multicultural NSW Performance Dashboard

• Annual surveys of

– RAC members.

– Participants at Annual Symposium.

• Success of and number of events and opportunities for community engagement.

• Evaluation of the Community Engagement Strategy in 2017.

• Multicultural NSW Annual Report and Annual State of Community Relations Report.

The Multicultural NSW Performance Dashboard in relation to community engagement is providedon the next page. It details goals of Multicultural NSW community engagement and how the goals will be measured. Gathering community and stakeholder views about the performance of the engagement strategy is a key part of the measurement process.

29


COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

POLICY AND RESEARCH

ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITYEquitable access to NSW Government

services and programs

MULTICULTURAL POLICY CENTRE OF EXCELLENCEAcknowledged centre for multicultural policy with

professional high quality outputs

Improved MPSP performance by NSW agencies as assessed by Multicultural NSW

Increased customer satisfaction with services

Evaluation of Policy Framework

Improved satisfaction with advice and policy outputs

NSW 2021 GOALS:

03 2724 32

NSW 2021 GOALS:

01 30

PARTICIPATIONAll NSW residents are able to contribute to and participate in community life and the

public decision making process

MPSP FRAMEWORKSimplify the program framework with improved

tools for the public sector and beyond

Increase participation in Multicultural NSW community engagement initiatives by 10%

High stakeholder satisfaction with Multicultural NSW engagements

Evaluation of the MPSP Program

Positive stakeholder assessment of MPSP tools

Utilisation of the MPSP beyond the public sector

13 2724 31 32 04 30

VISIBLY EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY Structured and transparent

consultation mechanism is implemented

COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Effective and structured collaboration at Local, State and Federal Government level

High stakeholder satisfaction with consultation processes

Ongoing evaluation and improvement

High priority collaborative initiatives achieved

High stakeholder satisfaction with level of collaboration

01 2724 30 32 01 06 30

OUTCOMES FOCUSCommunity engagement activities focus

on building social cohesion

EVIDENCE-BASED DECISIONS Quality research data for informed decision making

by Multicultural NSW and the public sector

High social cohesion rating for NSW

Continued community support for a multicultural society

Multicultural NSW recognised as a key source of information

Priority information gaps filled through research

High stakeholder satisfaction with Multicultural NSW research projects

13 2724 30 32 30

OUR PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD

30

OUR PERFORMANCE DASHBOARD


INNOVATION, LANGUAGE SERVICES AND COMMUNICATION

SUSTAINABILITY

CAPABILITY RICHAdopt innovative approaches to our work including

maximising online opportunities

REPUTATION AS A LEADERMulticultural NSW is renowned locally and internationally for multicultural leadership

Increased use of website and e-resources

Growth of existing and development of new value added services such as EmailLink and MediaLink

Increased international access to our e-resources

Initiatives to develop NSW as an internationally recognised leader in cultural diversity are implemented

NSW 2021 GOALS:

30 31

NSW 2021 GOALS:

27 30

INDUSTRY LEADING LANGUAGE SERVICESMulticultural NSW is a pillar of support for and

incubator of a high quality interpreting and translating profession

FINANCIALLY SOUNDMulticultural NSW has the resources needed

to achieve its objectives

New operating model established for Language Services

Increased customer satisfaction evidenced by surveys

Government financial targets are achieved

Revenue generation opportunities are developed

01 06 1804 13 2815 30

DIVERSITY CELEBRATED AS AN ASSETWidespread support for our multicultural

society with a common core of rights and responsibilities

ROBUST SYSTEMS Demonstrated effective and efficient corporate

governance processes in place

Growing number of nominations for awards

High level of stakeholder satisfaction with events

Continued community support for Multicultural NSW

80% of risk register issues resolved within agreed timeframes

Compliance with NSW Government policies

24 27 30

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITYTransparent accountability and effective leadership

throughout the organisation

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTReduced environmental impact through

improvements to facilities and processes

Engagement factor higher than the public sector and cluster average

High effective leadership rating by staff

Clear Advisory Board and governance policies are developed and implemented

Increased recycling and reduced energy consumption

Monitor and report on our environmental footprint

06 30 22

The following dashboard of our strategic priorities, desired outcomes and key performance indicators, mapped to NSW 2021 Goals, will be utilised to report

on and monitor our success in building and maintaining a cohesive and harmonious multicultural society that enriches the lives of all the people of NSW.

31

The following dashboard priorities, desired outcomes and key performance indicators will be utilised to report on and monitor our

success in building and maintaining a cohesive and harmonious multicultural society that enriches the lives of all the people of NSW.


GLOSSARY OF TERMS

Harmony in Action –the Multicultural NSW Strategic Plan 2014-17

Community Engagement Strategy – how Multicultural NSW plans to manage community engagement to help achieve our strategic goals and actions.

Communication Strategy – how Multicultural NSW will seek information from and inform communities as part of community engagement.

Multicultural Advisory Board – Board to provide guidance and advice to Multicultural NSW and the Minister for Multiculturalism.

Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) – geographic based forums which advise Multicultural NSW about local issues and to help address issues at a local level.

Multicultural Councils and Forums (MCFs) – topic based forums which can provide expert advice to Multicultural NSW.

Government Forums – forums where Multicultural NSW works with local, State and Federal government agencies.

Direct Community Engagement – events, direct dialogue and other means of community liaison.

Multicultural NSW Performance Dashboard – sets out how Multicultural NSW delivery and performance will be measured.

32

245 ANCESTRIES

215LANGUAGES

125 RELIGIOUSBELIEFS

UNITY IN DIVERSITY

For all the people of NSWmulticultural.nsw.gov.au


35

www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au


MULTICULTURAL NSW COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGYweb2.multicultural.nsw.gov.au/2015_COMMUNITY... · Community engagement is a most important activity of Multicultural NSW and doing

Documents