Best practice models

Consultations with key stakeholders revealed a wide array of ideas about what works with young Muslim Australians and what currently happens in the field. Projects undertaken by young people or their mentors sought to enhance social engagement opportunities for young Muslims. These provided spaces for self‐expression, personal development and social connection, as well as being recreational and educational. They often developed spontaneously, and were haphazardly supported. In many instances such projects were self‐funded by the volunteers who organized them. Apart from the effort in organizing these events, effort was also required to establish and maintain parental trust and support for young Muslim participation.

It was evident from a review of the youth projects cited that those which engaged parents as a way of building trust were the most successful. This approach often transferred into active parental assistance and sponsorship for youth activities. This is particularly important as some parents were regarded as overprotective initially, but were then seen as ‘transforming’ their experience and those of their children into something positive and meaningful. The identification of such loci for transformative learning and interaction is essential to the social ecology framework underpinning this research.

In fact young people in all three fieldwork regions (Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin) were observed to be creatively identifying solutions for problems within their Muslim communities and in some cases were establishing social networks to assist other young Muslims or disadvantaged members of the community at large. Young Muslim Australians have taken proactive steps in creating ‘culturally compelling’, ‘culturally appropriate and effective’ strategies revealing resilience and active citizenship within their social ecological frame (see Panter‐Brick et al 2006).

The consultations with key stakeholders working in the field with young Muslim Australians or their families highlighted the importance of tutoring programs as well as mentoring and leadership programs to help young people discover and unlock their potential. They also suggested a combination of youth programs operating within Muslim organizations, mosques, or youth groups, through to programs that are run as partnerships in collaboration with mainstream organizations and the community at large. Such youth programs would need to offer different points of engagement for young people, to provide opportunities to create their own spaces, and to be inclusive in nature (as opposed to being exclusive programs). Indeed, projects which were adequately funded, which utilized specialist skills of Muslim professionals, that encouraged parental or family involvement and trust, and which worked to empower and skill young Muslim Australians, were all regarded as vitally important in mitigating the damaging effects of racism, discrimination and social marginalization and in reinforcing the extent to which young Muslim Australians participate in, and feel that they belong in, Australian society.