Projects funded in 2009
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has approved 19 new projects under the first round of its Community Policing Partnership Program (CPPP).
The CPPP is a national initiative by the Commission's, in collaboration with the Australian Multicultural Foundation, that aims to build relationships and improve trust between Muslim communities and police at the local level.
Building bridges between Muslim youth and our police (QLD: partnership between Al-Nisa Youth Group and Metropolitan South Region QLD Police) The project aims to bring Muslim youth together with policemen to tackle misconceptions on both sides and promote trust and improve relationships. The project also seeks to educate Muslim youth of their rights, responsibilities and avenues of complaints with the Queensland Police Service. For more information on Al-Nisa go to: http://www.alnisagroup.com.au/
Engaging the Imams (QLD: Crescents of Brisbane and Metropolitan South Region Queensland Police Service) TheProject aims to enhance relationships and communication between the Imams of Queensland and the Queensland Police Service. It involves conducting a workshop and interactive dinner forum to help create a better understanding of the services offered by QPS in relation to the kinds of problems being encountered by the Muslim clergy while conducting their religious duties and tending pastoral care of their parishioners. Some of the issues that will be addressed include: youth and family issues, domestic violence and burial procedures. For more information please go to http://www.crescentsofbrisbane.org/
Survival Skills in the Bush (TAS: Migrant Resource Centre, Tasmania and the State Community Policing Service, Hobart) The project aims to increase the safety of members of communities to promote social cohesion and counteract discriminatory views and intolerance towards Muslim Australians whilst educating participants on survival skills in the bush through: Increased awareness of knowledge of survival skills in the bush practices amongst the Muslim and wider community. For more information on the Migrant Resource Centre please go to: http://www.mrchobart.org.au/sett_home.shtml
Building Bridges with Muslim Youth (SA: Multicultural Youth South Australia (MYSA) and Adelaide Local Service Area – SA Police) The project aims to develop a youth specific resource which outlines pertinent issues relevant to Australian Muslims i.e. religious considerations, how to engage effectively with young people and contact details of culturally appropriate community service organizations available to support Muslim youth – to be distributed widely with SAPOL.
Career opportunities through a group tour with Muslim youth to SA Police Academy will be promoted and MYSA and youth leaders will coordinate a soccer carnival and Halal BBQ with 3 diverse community group soccer team and SAPOL team.
For information on MYSA please go to: http://www.mysa.com.au/
Multicultural Youth Inclusive project (VIC: Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services and Bendigo Police) This project will consist of a number of activities which include; a community forum and information session with newly arrived youth and services providers to ascertain needs, the development of programs and activities that come out of forum that youth will implement, leadership programs and assist young people with governance, sporting activities, educational field trips and community tours, a musical workshop, writers workshop to enhance skills in writing a story and am exhibition of project outcomes – a day event showcasing their talents stories etc.
For information on Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Servicesplease go to: http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/lcecc/brecc/index.htm
Banyule Interfaith/Intercultural Network Project (VIC: Four Division 1 Heidelberg West and Banyule City Council) The project aims to establish and develop a Banyule Interfaith / Intercultural Network Group which will be a vehicle to undertake practical projects to strengthen community cohesion, inclusion and celebrate diversity. Some of the activities proposed for funding by this grant include community gatherings with meals, cultural performances and story telling, targeted workshops, opportunities for education about religious and cultural beliefs across all faiths, visits to the local mosque and other places of worship.
For information on Banyule City Council please go to: http://www.banyule.vic.gov.au/
Project 3019 (VIC: Melbourne City Mission and Brimbank Proactive Policing Unit) This project was developed after a forum and BBQ with young people from Somali and Sudanese background and Police. This forum identified the need for young people and police to continue an open dialogue where police were also participants and learners. The project aims to break down stereotyping, build positive relationships between young people from Somali and Sudanese backgrounds and police educating young people about their legal rights.
For information on Melbourne City Mission please go to: http://www.melbournecitymission.org.au/
Attarwon (VIC: Hobson Bay Police Service Area and Newport Islamic Society) This project aims to promote mutual respect and understanding between police and young Muslim people in Hobsons Bay. By further cementing already good relationships between local Muslim and Police as a result of previous community activities such as Iftar dinners, forums and Mosque visits, this project is focused on sustaining these relationships ongoing with a new generation of local Muslim youth. The project will look at issues such as road safety and recruiting young Muslim people to the Police service.
Police & Muslim Youth Council (VIC: Police Region 5 Multicultural Liaison Unit, Dandenong and Victorian Arabic Social Services) The aim of the project is to establish a regional Police and Muslim Youth Council that will meet on a regular basis to discuss current issues and develop strategies to address them. The project involves the selection of suitable representative who will then accompany Police members from Region 5 Multicultural Liaison Unit to the Police Alpine Lodge in Merrijig. The 3 day event aims to bond the team through constructive discussion and team building recreational activities. The project creates a direct link between Police and Muslim Youth communities which will provide a more efficient and effective mechanism for the Police to engage with the community and vice versa.
For information on the Victorian Arabic Social Services please go to: http://www.vass.org.au
Shepparton Police and Community Project (VIC: Ethnic Council of Shepparton. UnitingCare Cutting Edge and Vic Police Region 3, Shepparton) Those who are newly arrived are in their second stage of settling, needing to build confidence and knowledge about Australian systems with a focus on the relationship with police, developing networks etc.
The project will be focus a two way flow of information sharing, for police and newly arrived communities – learning about culture, religion etc for police and roles and responsibilities of police for communities.
Project planning and strategies will be developed in partnership between MLOs, Ethnic Council staff and community elders and in consultation with the community.
‘Steppin In’ (NSW, Wollongong: Southern Illawarra Police and Illawarra Muslim Women’s Association) The aim of the project is to increase contact among police and Muslim communities, break down barriers of fear, increase police awareness of Islamic faith and culture to increase the Muslim communities knowledge of NSW Police roles and responsibilities.
Busting the myths Habibi (NSW: Campsie Police Local Area Command, Canterbury Bankstown Migrant Resource Centre and the Riverwood Community Centre) This project will bring Muslim communities together with police to explore the stereotypes and perceptions that are held by each other. This will be done through a number of activities including outdoor trust building activities and a quiz show. A DVD will be produced to be used as a resource to other Police LAC’s and community services to demonstrate ways to engage the Islamic community that work to strengthen community relationships.
For information on the Canterbury Bankstown Migrant Resource Centre please go to: http://www.cbmrc.org.au/
A Day in the Life (NSW: Auburn Youth Centre, Auburn Police Flemington Local Area Command and Auburn Council)This project will produce a short film focusing on ‘a day in the life” of police, Muslim young people and youth workers in the Auburn area. The film will depict the individual experiences and perceptions these groups have of each other by exploring fictional situations and scenarios, based on personal experiences and how this impacts on their existing relationships. The script will be developed by the three groups, with the young people the main driver. The film will be showcased at a special event and copies made available at libraries, schools and community organizations. Also it will be loaded onto online video sharing sites such as YouTube.
For information on the Auburn Youth Centre please go to: http://www.ayc.org.au/
Friends (NSW: Miller Technology High School and Auburn Police Local Area Command School Liaison) The aim of the project is to make a short film, documenting the anticipated change in attitude of a number of Muslim students from Miller Technology High School during the course of a series of workshops. The workshops will be co-run with police and a teacher from MTHS. We aim for maximum student engagement, within an open yet challenging forum. This project was developed by the school captain, a young Muslim who is passionate about empowering disaffected Muslim students.
For information on Miller Technology High School please go to: http://www.miller-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/
Police / African Islamic communities Learning Circle (NSW: African Australian Islamic Association and Blacktown Police Local Area Command) Regular Learning Circle meetings between African Muslim community leaders, NSW Police and other interested stakeholders. The project will commence with workshops, one from NSW Police to community leaders and one from community leaders to Police, followed by 4 Learning Circle meetings over 12 months.
Police / Afghan Hazara communities Learning Circle (NSW: Flemington Police Local Area Command and the Australian Afghan Hassanain Youth Association) The project will consist of Regular Learning Circle meetings attended by Hazara community leaders, NSW Police and other interested stakeholders. There will be workshops from community leaders to police and visa versa and a number of learning circle meetings over 12 months which will include presentations on crime prevention, domestic violence, motor vehicle safety and other community issues.
M.a.A.P in Harmony ( Muslim and African Police in Harmony Project (NSW: Granville Multicultural Community Centre and Rosehill Police Local Area Command) This project will engage with young African and Muslim background people who are already known to Police in crime prevention strategies as well as early intervention work to address the potential at-risk and anti-social behaviour of some young people in African and Muslim communities. The Project will bring a target group together in social and sporting events to develop and form relationships with Police to break down miscommunication, mistrust and stereotypes of both groups.
For information on the Granville Multicultural Community Centre please go to: http://www.gmcc.org.au/
STAND TALL Be Counted. Be Proud (NSW: Bankstown Police Local Area Command, Bankstown Multicultural Youth Services, Creating Links, Bankstown Council and PCYC) Young males and young females will be recruited through high schools and community organizations for 3 day camp. One camp will be for males and one for females. Participants will be youth at risk. The camp activities will include topics on sense of identity, relationships, societal attitudes towards both groups, sport, group discussion and information sessions on Domestic violence, career opportunities and safe driving. There will be an art exhibition developed from photos. This adds value to and builds on to their initial project funded last year ‘tie the knot” as well as other projects.
For information on Bankstown City Council please go to: http://www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au/
Police and African Muslims Partnership Program (NSW: SydWest Multicultural Services and Blacktown Police) African Muslims will engage with police to develop trust building projects and build confidence between the groups. There will be a minimum of 3 information sessions and 1 community open day to inform African communities about role of police, rights and responsibilities. Regular consultations with African community to strengthen project will take place and thee will also be training for community leaders to equip them for participation in the policing projects. The final outcome will be a report on key learning’s and a training manual for the community and the Police.
