Living in Harmony Community Grants 1999

Victoria

North Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre (Melbourne)

West Heidelberg Cultural Exchange Project

$52,200 Awarded

Aims

This project, now completed, which operated in the "Olympic Village" public housing estate (originally built for the 1956 Games) in West Heidelberg, aimed to:

reduce racist violence and tension between public housing tenants from different racial backgrounds
address the increasing level of misconceptions and negative stereotyping about different racial groups in the area
facilitate social interaction between people from diverse cultural backgrounds to build a community spirit
develop neighbourhood cultural exchange within the "Olympic Village"

Background

The application noted that:

West Heidelberg is one of the most socially and economically disadvantaged communities in Victoria
the established community is primarily a traditional, "blue collar" Anglo-Celtic community
with "blue collar" jobs disappearing, diminishing life chances for residents’ children have led to an increase in social problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, problem gambling, family breakdown and depression
during the 1990s refugees fleeing civil war in Somalia (with many families headed by mothers alone as many males had perished in the war) were housed in the West Heidelberg public housing estate
many Somalis:

have experienced torture and trauma
suffered separation from family and friends
are strikingly physically different from the local Anglo-Celts
have a different religion (Islam)
still experience difficulty adapting to the foreign and alienating new environment

racial incidents are reported by members of the Somali community and there is evidence of misunderstanding and some resentment in the established housing estate community towards the new arrivals

Activities

In developing a "neighbourhood cultural exchange model" the project:

undertook a very comprehensive survey, completed by 100 households, of residents in the "Olympic Village" estate, including:

personal experiences of residents in their interaction with residents of different ethnic backgrounds
ideas for improving relations between people living in the village, particularly based on positive experiences (which were incorporated into the program)
ideas for specific events/activities to promote "mixing"
interest in participating in project activities and programs
opinions on enhanced management practices for the housing estate

organised a community harmony campaign, promoting social interaction and exchange between neighbours of culturally diverse backgrounds via neighbourhood events, residents’ meetings, and information sessions such as:

forum on Somali youth and Victoria Police (joint activity with the VICSEG LIH project),
cross cultural information sessions with several community agencies, including police
information booth about refugees at Austin Rehabilitation Hospital
cultural exchange booth as part of Eid Al Fitr (Muslim celebration marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan)
Keeping your Children Safe session for parents (with the Sexual Abuse Unit of Victoria Police and the local Child Protection Society) in response to sensitive issues of the alleged sexual abuse of a Somali child

targeted all residents, but particularly focused on Somali youth and women (reflecting the refugee demographics) with activities such as:

(highly successful) soccer events for young people
Mothers’ Day/Family Open Day at the Heidelberg United Soccer Club (first step to involve the whole Somali community in the Soccer Club and its programs – soccer is a national sport in Somalia)
party for Somali women

held a number of social/sporting/cultural events (essentially "cultural exchange activities") to start making Somalis feel welcome, and which were well attended by a good mixture of both Somali and other residents (after much initial persuasion at individual levels):

Australia Day party (free halal barbecue, multicultural choir, folksingers, roving entertainers)
Open Day at Olympic Leisure Centre (basketball, indoor soccer, abseiling, aerobics, water sports)
Olympic Village Heritage Day (historical tours of the Village)
West Heidelberg Alternative Show Day (a community fun day on traditional Royal Melbourne Show Day)

had a strong Harmony Day program, held as part of the local Banyule Council’s Festival, focusing on a Rap Song competition for young people, widely publicised through local schools, retailers, MPs’ offices, and community agencies
produced:

Muslims of Australia brochure
videos of Australia Day party, the Harmony Day Rap Song Competition and Supersensation, the winning song, by 17 yearold Somali girl Amal Mohamed
CD Cultural Diversity with Supersensation

Management Consortium

The project set up a broadly based consortium management group of agencies and business leaders to manage and coordinate events for the term of the project including:

Banyule City Council
Office of Housing, Department of Human Services
West Heidelberg Police Station (including Neighbourhood Watch officers)
Banyule Community Health Service
Austin Rehabilitation Hospital
Somali National Association
Somali Community Elders Network
Jenny Macklin MP (C’th Govt)
Craig Langdon MP (Victorian Gov’t)
Olympic Adult Education
Banksia Secondary College
Haig Street Primary School
Olympic Village Primary School
Bedford Street Tenancy Advice
North East Housing Service
West Heidelberg Mall Traders Association
West Heidelberg Community Legal Service

Outcomes

The project:

established that member agencies of the Consortium are much more aware of the of the culture, needs and approaches required in working with the Somali community, and that the Consortium will continue with the initiatives after the term of the original project
received "overwhelming" feedback from the party run for Somali women that it was a "great tool" to get people from different racial backgrounds socialising and helped to build community spirit
gained a substantial grant from Banyule Council to help establish a community garden within the estate as an inviting place for diverse residents to meet and relax together
attracted support from the local business community as well as from community organisations
achieved preliminary recognition that it would be an important step to have a Somali resident to become a member of the local Neighbourhood Watch Committee
believes that, as a result of the program:

members of the Somali community appear to be more confident and comfortable, and to have a more visible profile in the community
although the project has not eliminated racial tensions, or negative stereotyping, "it has been one of a myriad of factors and influences that have led to a positive shift in community attitudes"