Youth Voice the Future

SEQ 2021 is a regional planning project for South East Queensland (SEQ) aimed at developing strategies for emerging regional issues. As the region is projected to grow by almost 1000 people a week for the next 20 years, government and community are working together to develop a long-term vision and strategy for a sustainable SEQ.  It is a response to the expected continuing high population growth.

The Department of Local Government and Planning approached QPASTT to consult with young people from refugee backgrounds about the important aspects that will impact on their lives in the future.  An Education Officer from SEQ 2021 met with 6 young people from Sudan, Ethiopia and Kurdistan.  Participants were given a brief overview of SEQ 2021 and the six regional planning challenges the project had identified. Two of the many issues discussed at the workshop include; Cultural Assimilation of young people and Education. Some of the comments and recommendations from the young leaders consulted at QPASTT are recorded below.

Cultural assimilation of young people

• people from Sudanese backgrounds often come to Australia and lose their culture so we need support for parents and children after they arrive.
• young people adopt Aussie culture and lose their own. Adults and teenagers are caught in two cultures
• parents discipline in traditional ways and teenagers answer in the Australian way. Attitudes to child-raising and ideas on authority are different
• schools and police intervention is not always seen as appropriate by multi-cultural families
• young people seek support from outside and parents feel they are losing their children
• children are sometimes seen as disrespectful and are thrown out of their homes

Recommendations:

• bridge generational and cultural differences by meeting and informing parents about Australia, its laws and way of life
• provide culturally appropriate training for policing and involve the communities
• sit with and listen to the communities
• use community leaders to help find the way

Getting a fair start through education

• It is important to have intensive English language schools like Milpera. Without them you can face a lot of problems in high school and get behind in classes. When someone first arrives here they can’t speak English and don’t know anyone. It is a “foundation for building,” which gives you the confidence to talk out and practice the language before starting high school.
• The change to mainstream schools and mainstream subjects is still difficult and it is age based for exiting. Presently 11-18 years olds are all together. Milpera is a long distance for some students to travel and it takes time to travel to by public transport, particularly for young children from new families (up to 2 hours).

Recommendations:

• retain intensive English language schools like Milpera and provide for students to be able to stay on a long time if needed before entering high school.
• consider 2 stages of schooling by providing a transition between Milpera and mainstream school
• there is a need for more high schools with ESL and more facilities for ESL at mainstream high schools and homework help is needed. There are libraries and spaces in the community but often parents are not educated to provide the support needed.

To obtain more information about the SEQ 2021 Strategy visit www.seq2021.qld.gov.au/home.asp