7. Recommendations

Program Area

1. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Social Ecology

^{Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially}

inclusive and sustainable.

Strategies: self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, community.

Recommendation

^{Strengthen and support or establish programs which:}

 Expand mentoring opportunities, for example:

 focusing on mainstream and Muslim figures from arts, sports etc

 recognizing the important role of mosques, older family members (etc. – you have identified)

 while seeking long term relationships, also recognizing the significance of one off exposure through activities such as AFL/Muslim community round robins etc.

 Expand tutoring opportunities in local areas

 Encourage positive messages about being Muslim and Australian in community programs, and by supporting positive role models;

 Provide opportunities for safe, social and cultural interaction with the wider community, building pathways for social engagement, acceptance and inclusion;

 Build self esteem, resilience and skills, supporting educational and career aspirations, providing careers/vocational guidance;

 Provide appropriate counselling programs and support services that acknowledge cultural and spiritual dimensions, and the lifespan developmental nature of youth;

 Engage specialist skills (youth, health, welfare professionals) within the Australian Muslim community to assist young Muslims where feasible.

Evidence base

^{Direct research: mentoring and tutorial programs Melbourne & Darwin;}

consultations with stakeholders in Sydney, Melbourne & Darwin. Literature and Other: Aspire2Inspire; Mission of Hope; Yasmeen 2010; Akbarzadeh 2010 a and b;

Program Area

2. FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Social Ecology

^{Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, sustainable.}

Strategies: increasing skills & agency; transformative learning. Domains: individual, interpersonal, community, society.

Recommendation

^{Strengthen and support or establish programs which:}

 Utilise evidence‐based professional practice which include

‘whole of family’ and strengths based approaches to family relationships;

 Aim at building trust with parents who may be unfamiliar with

youth programs;

 Engage specialist skills (youth, health, welfare professionals) within the Australian Muslim community to assist young Muslim Australians and their families where available;

 Employ socially inclusive strategies to engage Muslim families within their programs.

Evidence base

^{Direct research: Young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney,}

Melbourne and Darwin.

Program Area

3. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, sustainable.

Strategies: Self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support and/or establish programs which provide:

 Youth leadership training and mentoring opportunities;

 Training in community development and managing sustainable organizations;

 Communication, media and advocacy training;

 Opportunities for engagement with different organizations and institutions in society e.g. political, educational, religious, legal, business and non government sectors;

 Support for aspirational roles in community leadership.

Evidence base

Direct research: Stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and

Darwin; young adults actively organising activities and supports.

Program Area

4. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive, sustainable.

Strategies: increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support or establish programs which:

 Promote cross cultural collaborations, engagements and partnerships between Muslim groups / organizations, other minority communities and mainstream organizations which encourage friendships, learning and active citizenship;

 Support Muslim organizations to effectively engage young people;

 Support volunteer initiatives, internships and activities for young Muslims people;

 Work towards community capacity building strategies and outcomes;

 Support and develop sustainable Muslim community infrastructures.

Evidence base

Direct research: Young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin.

Literature and Other: Living in Harmony / National Action Plan programs.

Program Area

5. SPORT AND RECREATION

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive, sustainable.

Strategies: Self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organizations, community, society.

Recommendation

^{Strengthen and support or establish programs which:}

 Encourage cross cultural collaborations, engagements and partnerships between mainstream sports and local Muslim communities, including interfacing with iconic Australian sporting institutions and personalities (e.g. ICV and AFL Community event).

 Provide culturally appropriate opportunities for young women in sport that are safe and inclusive.

 Seek parental trust and buy‐in.

Evidence base

Direct research: ICV and AFL Community Event, girls soccer teams, young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin.

Literature: McCue 2010.

Program Area

6. ART and CULTURE

Social Ecology

^{Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially}

inclusive, sustainable.

Strategies: Self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society, global.

Recommendation

^{Strengthen and support or establish programs which:}

 Encourage artistic expression through skills acquisition, training and recreational activities for young Muslim Australians, across the various genres including poetry, writing, comedy, drama, visual arts, music, graphic design and multi‐media etc, which accommodate cultural sensitivities and affirm diversity of cultural identities;

 Recognize and support volunteer initiatives within the Muslim community;

 Provide opportunities, events and/or venues to showcase such expression and or performance;

 Create linkages for young people to allow greater participation in the arts and cultural scene, including interfacing with mainstream Australian icons and arts institutions.

Evidence base

^{Direct research: Art and cultural activities organised by community}

workers/organizations and volunteer mentors in Melbourne; Melbourne stakeholder consultations; Sydney stakeholder consultations; Darwin story telling programs and cultural activities.

^{Literature and Other: Pennycook, 2007; Swedenburg 2001; Brothahood;}

Diafrix; Alim, Ibrahim and Pennycook (eds) 2008; Kaya 2001, 2002,

2003; IAM; Fun‐Da‐Mental’s, Too Phat, Pietro Felix; Salam Café; Fear of a Brown Planet;

Program Area

7. RACISM, PREJUDICE and DISCRIMINATION

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive.

Strategies: Self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society, global.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support or establish programs which:

 Provide for socially inclusive strategies and education;

 Youth programs which develop anti‐discrimination awareness and support;

 Sustain and sanction socially inclusive social messages within the public arena;

 Encourage cross cultural collaborations and partnerships with young Muslims, as well as Muslim organizations, which broaden friendship circles and networks in the wider community;

 Seek greater protection under the law against Islamophobia, religious discrimination and vilification;

 Training/awareness programs for civic rights & responsibilities, and effective advocacy.

Evidence base

Direct research: Young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin; survey results.

Literature: Yasmeen 2010; Dunn, Klocker, et al. 2007; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1991 and 2004; Committee on Discrimination Against Arab Australians 1992; McMahon 2005; Poynting and Mason 2006; Jakubowicz 2010.

Program Area

8. MEDIA and REPRESENTATION

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive, sustainable.

Strategies: increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society, global.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support or establish programs and campaigns which:

 Provide training for young Muslim Australians in communications, media production and public relations (e.g. better managing of image creation, control and messaging);

 Challenge stereotypes of Muslims through positive social messages and role models;

 Seek greater accountability and regulation of media organizations using sensationalist and harmful social messages;

 Seek greater accountability for negative political messages about Islam, Muslims, migrants, and refugees;

 Showcase Muslim contributions to society, culture and nation building.

Evidence base

Direct research: Young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin; survey results.

Literature: Manning 2004 and 2006; Poynting et al 2004; Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1991 and 2004; Dunn 2003; Abood

2005.

Program Area

9. CYBER MEDIA

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive.

Strategies: Self‐efficacy, increasing skills and agency, transformative learning, bonding and bridging.

Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society, global.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support or establish programs which:

 Promote youth training and awareness of filtering software,

safe place and parental care in regards to cyber media or cyber‐

safety;

 Seek greater protection under Australian law against cyber‐

bullying, Islamophobia, religious and racial vilification.

Evidence base

Direct research: young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin; survey results.

Literature and Other: Everett 2008; Jakubowicz 2010; Australian Human Rights Commission Cyber‐Racism Summit 2010; State of Australia’s Young People Report 2009.

Program Area

10. FUNDING MODELS

Social Ecology

Principles: culturally appropriate, affectively compelling, socially inclusive, sustainable.

Strategies: increasing skills and agency, bonding and bridging. Domains: individual, interpersonal, organisation, community, society.

Recommendation

Strengthen and support or establish funding models which:

 Encourage a mix between culturally sensitive, inclusive programs undertaken within mainstream and multicultural services, and ethno‐religious specific funding for activities undertaken within the Muslim community;

 Provide longer term (3 to 5 year) funding for Muslim community initiatives which fit within national priorities areas e.g. mental health (counselling services), education (homework help,

tutorial programs), labour market (careers/vocational guidance);

 Allow for small fund allocations to help community volunteers/mentors and organizations to offer repeated one‐off activities e.g. sporting, recreational, art and cultural activities.

Evidence base

Direct research: Young people and stakeholder consultations in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin

Literature and Other: Living in Harmony program / National Action Plan;

various NGO sector funding, State and Federal funding programs