Organisation: Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Job Title: Ethnic Liaison Officer
Word Limit: 6000 characters maximum
Location: Sydney
Ability to communicate effectively with ethnic communities and represent the Australian Government as required
As Program Coordinator for the Marist You Care (MYC) group, providing services to young people and their families, I have been instrumental in linking asylum seekers with their families. This includes considerable experience in establishing links with various ethnic communities to assist in providing support to our clients. For example, we received a group of clients from the Rohyinga State in Myanmar last year, many of whom had experience of torture and required support. Being able to speak the language and understand the culture, I was able to assist with connecting them to the wider community and provide the best possible support. This included meeting with the local community in Sydney to gain their support and, keeping in mind the appropriate policies regarding asylum seekers and the framework of the Status Resolution Support Services, was able to help them integrate within society, including learning the English Language and the Australian Culture.
Proven ability to develop and maintain productive working relationships and achieve results working with communities
As an example of my ability to develop and maintain productive relationships to assist with asylum seekers, I seek out volunteers within MYC from various ethnic communities to work with asylum seeker clients as mentors and social friends, to assist them integrate into Australian society. I often use my contacts and links at various churches, mosques and community centres to locate volunteers for these roles. The feedback I receive from these contacts indicates a positive enthusiasm to assist with our clients.
In addition, I shortlisted a diverse range of people covering all the ethnic communities and, with a group induction, demonstrated how they could assist with the needs of the clients and orient the clients in basic matters such as understanding their local area, shopping, locating accommodation, and generally aiding them to fit into the Australian Culture and be more independent.
Ability to manage a team undertaking projects or performing related roles including setting priorities, managing workflow, building team capacity and managing performance
In my role as Program Coordinator, I manage a team of Cultural Mentors as well as seven Case Workers. I provide clear instructions, assisting them to develop their expertise and perform their duties satisfactorily. This includes fortnightly and monthly meetings to monitor their progress and locate areas where their performance requires improvement.
To illustrate, a large number of MYC clients follow the Muslim faith and during the last Ramadan (Holy month of Muslim fasting between sunrise and sunset) I initiated an idea to arrange a fast breaking feast for our Muslim clients. After some discussion with management, I obtained the approval and budget and set about organising the event. As part of this activity, and as part of fostering good relations between various ethnic communities, I decided to include some other ethnic communities in the event as it would enable various communities to get to know each other and demonstrate that Australia is a home for many cultures to live side by side. I organised a team of four, including cultural monitors and case workers, and as Ramadan lasts for just 29 days, organised a dinner to be arranged for the 15th day of Ramadan. The result of this was a highly successful event with all the clients and community enjoying the dinner and meeting many other ethnic communities, case workers, MYC management, and others in the Sydney communities.
Demonstrated personal drive, discretion and integrity
Demonstrating a high level of motivation, personal drive and integrity, I have successfully balanced work with the ability to multitask and remain focused. My career has involved diverse responsibilities, such as mentoring and training, and embracing customer-based and team-based service delivery models, which have enabled me to develop excellent personal and professional skills. With a demonstrated record of commitment, consistency and a focus on quality service and outcomes, I possess practical experience and a range of professional skills and strengths that contribute to positive outcomes.
For example, as Program Coordinator at MYC, I manage a team of Case Workers from various backgrounds and ethnic groups. Ensuring we comply with the DIBP framework for SRSS means that sometime difficult decisions have to be made. In one instance it was brought to my attention that a client’s partner had passed away after an illness but there were no funds for the funeral. The client and her partner both had bridging visas and Immigration Policy states that funeral costs must be borne by the clients. As they did not have the necessary funds, I utilised my contacts within the community to assist, and a funeral was arranged.
My managers have expressed approval of my approach to working with the clients and ethnic communities and I have been commended several times on my initiative, discretion and integrity.
Ability to contribute to strategic thinking and assist in the planning of the work of the section
An example of my contribution to strategic thinking is reflected in the following. A family in community detention (Band 2 of the SRSS Program) requested relocation as the elder son was continually getting into trouble with the police due to his behaviour. The family considered that his actions were the result of the company he was keeping and that he had no case worker. Immigration Policy states that a relocation can be done in extreme cases; however, it was determined that this was not an extreme case and was the result of the mother not exerting proper control over her son. She was informed that she needed, with the assistance of MYC and Immigration, to address the problem with her son. This is now being done and an improvement in the son’s behaviour has resulted.
