Introduction

In addition to navigating the typical developmental tasks of adolescence, young people¹ from CALD backgrounds may also experience unique challenges such as a lack of social supports, a sense of displacement, recovery from torture and trauma, discrimination and migration stress (Kaur, 2012). This resource highlights the issues research has identified as commonly experienced by CALD adolescents. It provides links to evidence-based reports, resources and practice examples for hands-on application when working with CALD young people. Responses to specific issues are available throughout the resource to support professionals in the child, family and community welfare sectors.

The resource comprises three parts:

• Reports, policy papers and other resources;
• Intake/assessment with a young person from a CALD background; and
• Directory of key contacts for practitioners working with CALD adolescents.

This guide focuses largely on issues relating to refugee and newly arrived migrant youth. It has been recognised that negotiating adolescence involves additional complexities for these young people, compared to their Australian-born peers with CALD ancestries. This is particularly true in the context of family relations.

For CALD parents and their children, how they communicate and negotiate with each other will be affected by their changing environments. The dangers of the migration journey or anxiety in the settlement process are likely to affect parenting approaches, and can often contribute to intergenerational conflict (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2014a). For CALD youth born in Australia, communication difficulties with parents and feeling torn between different cultures may exacerbate anxiety or depression, as some teens adopt "secret lives" with conflicting attitudes and beliefs to what is expected by their families (Blackdog Institute, 2005).

For young refugees particularly, the fearful and traumatic experience of war, famine or persecution may increase their likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can result in recurring symptoms throughout their lifetimes (Thomas & Lau, 2012).

It is not uncommon for migrant and refugee youth to be unaware of their legal rights and the laws that protect them in Australia. For example, some cultures accept physical violence as reasonable disciplinary measures (McIntyre & Silva, 1992) and, as such, children and teens from these cultures may accept this behaviour as being "normal" and therefore may not report these experiences.

Despite these added stressors, adolescents from CALD backgrounds are recognised as demonstrating considerable strength, resilience and resourcefulness (Liddy, 2012). For workers, it is imperative to understand the protective factors that lead to resilience in CALD youth, such as kinship, cultural identity and hopefulness. A significant body of literature demonstrates the risk factors that can be minimised and protective factors that can be built on to support the development of resilience in young people from CALD backgrounds (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2014b).

The issues highlighted in this guide do not represent all of the challenges faced by refugee, migrant or Australian-born CALD adolescents. It must be noted, that while practitioners and researchers have identified common experiences among these cohorts, the individual circumstances of each young person must be taken into account when preparing a service response for them.

The following is a collection of resources from organisations and agencies across Australia. It is intended to be a toolkit for professionals working with young people from CALD backgrounds to dip in and out of, according to need.

As a stand-alone resource, professionals can gain insight in to the main issues affecting CALD adolescents, particularly newly arrived refugees and migrants. It is intended, however, that this information prompts further conversation in the field, and that workers contribute to the CFCA online discussion to share practice tips and tools.

Reports, policy papers and other resources

This compilation of reports provides practitioners and policy-makers with broader contextual information regarding the issues facing CALD adolescents, as well as the latest national data. Local research examines some of the reasons why CALD and refugee families may enter the statutory child protection system, and practice guidance outlines factors that support or inhibit professionals from working with CALD families and communities.

• Kids Matter. (2012-13) <http://www.kidsmatter.edu.au>. Cultural diversity and children's wellbeing <https://www.kidsmatter.edu.au/sites/default/files/public/KMP_C1_CDCW_CulturalDiversityAndChildrensWellbeing.pdf>. This resource provides an overview of influences related to cultural diversity that may affect the social and emotional development and wellbeing of children from CALD backgrounds. The role of schools in supporting CALD families is also highlighted.
• Kaur, J. (JK Diversity Consultants). (2012). Cultural diversity and child protection. A review on the Australian research of the needs of CALD and refugee children and families. This paper reviews the available research literature on CALD and refugee families in the Australian Child Protection System.
• Australian Centre for Child Protection. (2009). The Working with Refugee Families Project. This project examines why newly arrived families from refugee backgrounds are presenting in the child protection system in South Australia, and explores culturally appropriate strategies and models for working with families and communities.
• Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia (FECCA). (2011). Better beginnings. Better futures. A series of factsheets that provide a community perspective on some of the most pressing issues affecting new and emerging communities in Australia.
• Refugee Council of Australia. Offers extensive downloadable reports on issues related to housing, settlement, participation, education and training, and family reunion.
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria. (2011). Refugee status report. Explores how refugee children and young people in Victoria are faring.
• Youth Action. Issues for young refugees. While young refugees are a diverse group with many different experiences and cultural backgrounds, there are some common issues that many face. This webpage briefly explores these issues and provides links for services in NSW.
• Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth. (2007). Working with multicultural youth: Programs, strategies and future directions. This document discusses successful strategies and programs operating across Australia, and identifies gaps and their distribution, and strategies and programs that offer solutions to these issues.
• Office of Multicultural Interests. (2009). "Not drowning, waving": Culturally and linguistically diverse young people at risk in Western Australia <http://www.omi.wa.gov.au/resources/clearinghouse/Not_Drowning.pdf>. This paper explores initiatives identified through feedback received from Western Australian state government agencies, universities and non-government organisations. It provides a meta-analysis of research reports, consultations and strategies to address issues relating to CALD youth in WA.
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship. (2013). The settlement journey: Strengthening Australia through migration. This document provides an overview of government reforms on settlement programs, and discusses the current Strategic Settlement Framework, which includes a greater focus on the needs of young people.
• Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland. (2011). Policy fact sheets: Young people. This resource identifies issues and barriers to social, economic and political participation for Queensland's CALD youth population. Potential solutions are also identified.

Queensland Health. Building Resilience in Transcultural Australians (BRiTA) Futures programs. BRiTA Futures programs build on the existing resilience of children, young people and adults from a CALD background. These programs aim to promote resilience towards the stress of acculturation; promote wellbeing and self-esteem; and recognise and celebrate cultural and personal strengths as well as differences.

Practice guides

The following guides provide practitioners with support to deliver appropriate interventions to CALD youth and their families, as identified by professionals working directly with this cohort. This collection of information aims to provide easily accessible practical solutions for issues and challenges facing CALD young people.

• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2011). Good practice guide: Youth work in the family context < http://cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Youth%20work%20family%20context%202011.pdf>. This guide is designed to present an overview of the factors that impact on family relationships for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds and present key considerations for workers in supporting family connection.
• Youth Action & Policy Association NSW. (2006). Opening the doors: A "do it yourself" access and equity manual for working with young people. This guide provides multiple checklists for workers and organisations to review their performance on access and equity.
• Youth Action & Policy Association NSW. (2002). Access & equity guide for services working with young people. The aim of this guide is to assist social services working with young people to develop and implement an access and equity policy for their organisation.
• Youth Action & Policy Association NSW. (2006). Working with young women of non-English speaking backgrounds. This manual provides resources for working with young women from CALD backgrounds.
• Queensland Government. (2010). Working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (Practice paper). The purpose of this paper is to provide departmental officers with information and advice to assist them in working effectively with children, families and other people from CALD backgrounds.
• Settlement Services International Inc., Multicultural Youth Affairs Network NSW, Youth Action and Policy Association NSW Inc. (2012). Keeping their hopes alive: A good practice guide to case management with young people from refugee backgrounds. This resource has been developed as a guide for practitioners working with young people from refugee backgrounds in a case management context. The guide draws upon current and past research, and the evidence base as identified by practitioners in settlement services.
• Victorian Settlement Planning Committee. (2005). Good practice guide for working with refugee young people. This is a tool to assist services with limited experience working with refugee young people, and to support consistent and responsive services across Victoria.
• NSW Department of Community Services. (2005). Good practice guide: Working with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people and communities (NSW). Developed to provide practical information to assist departmental staff in their practice, this guide highlights the importance of ensuring knowledge, skills and attitudes in the workplace value culture and diversity, and embrace cultural competency.
• Youth Action & Policy Association NSW. Working with young people who are survivors of refugee trauma and torture. This webpage outlines some of the experiences of refugees and the effects of resettlement for adolescents such as anxiety, loss of relationships, and shame and guilt. Information for workers includes restoring safety and attachment to connections, restoring meaning and purpose to life, and restoring dignity and value.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2011). Culturally competent intake and assessment <http://cmy.net.au/publications/culturally-competent-intake-and-assessment>. This resource is designed to provide workers with guidance on how to undertake respectful and responsive intake and assessment with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
• Jesuit Social Services. (2009). Young people from other cultures. This information helps parents and carers from diverse cultures support their adolescent child through hard times. Information is also available in Arabic and Vietnamese.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2013). Working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds with caring responsibilities. This guide explores themes relevant to young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds with caring responsibilities and discusses strategies to support good practice when working with this group.
• Government of Western Australia. (2014). Engaging culturally and linguistically diverse communities: A guide for the WA public sector. This guide identifies key issues for public sector staff to consider for successful engagement with CALD communities.

Cultural competency in the workplace

It is widely recognised that engaging with clients in a way that is considerate of their attitudes, feelings and actions, supports a worker to better understand differences in an individual's culture, customs and beliefs, and ultimately provide a service that is respectful and relevant (Diller, 2011).

For practitioners, developing proficiency in cultural awareness requires an ongoing learning commitment. For organisations, cultural competency should be adopted in all areas of practice, including planning and evaluation, and should be noticeable across all operational systems (National Center for Cultural Competence, 2015). Programs and services should be promoted equitably, using translated materials or targeted networks, and workplace environments presented with consideration of CALD young people and their families.

A strengths-based framework has been found to be an effective model of cultural competency when working with young people (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2011). CALD young people should be regarded as being resilient and unique, and capable of participating in decisions that affect them.

• A series of tip sheets developed by the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, include A Framework for Cultural Competence, Organisational Values, Governance, Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation, Communication, and Staff Development. These resources are designed to provide organisations and workers with strategies to enhance the accessibility and responsiveness of their service when working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
• Jesuit Social Services. (2009). Working cross-culturally: Developing cultural competency. This help sheet provides considerations for workers and organisations to interact non-judgmentally and sensitively with young CALD clients.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2007). Inclusive local government guide <http://www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Inclusive%20local%20government%202009.pdf>. This document was developed to support the work of local councils in ensuring young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds are engaged, empowered and participate in local programs and services.
• Multicultural Mental Health Australia. (2010). National Cultural Competency Tool (NCCT). This is an organisational self-assessment tool for use by all mental health services within Australia to enhance the mental health workforce's capacity to operate transculturally.
• Department of Health. (2009). Review of current cultural and linguistic diversity and cultural competence reporting requirements, minimum standards and benchmarks for Victoria Health Services Project: Literature review <http://www.health.vic.gov.au/cald/reporting-requirements>. This report reviews CALD and cultural competence reporting requirements, minimum standards and benchmarks for health services.
• Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria Inc. (2006). Cultural competence guidelines and protocols. This guide provides information and guidelines on cultural competence for anyone seeking to foster constructive interactions between members of different cultures.
• Australian Drug Foundation. (2015). Building cultural competency in the alcohol & other drug (AOD) sector. This fact sheet outlines the National Heath and Medical Research Centre's resource "Cultural Competency in Health: A Guide for Policy, Partnerships and Participation", and provides an overview of some of the strategies that can be used in the AOD sector to improve cultural competency and better meet the needs of CALD communities.

Settlement and migration

The issues faced by new arrivals are complex and ongoing. They often have multiple disadvantages as a result of their experiences. Government-funded settlement services aim to enable greater independence of individuals and families, by identifying and addressing distinct needs.

Active participation in the economic, social and cultural life of Australia can support migrants and humanitarian entrants to experience a sense of connectedness to their community (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2013)

For migrant and refugee children, the journey from their country of origin to Australia can vary from a planned and uninterrupted trip, to an experience that was unforeseen, uncertain and unsafe. Once in Australia, experiences of resettlement can also vary immensely, depending on a person's support networks, mental health and wellbeing and English proficiency. Young refugees in Australia today are more likely to have had less involvement in formal schooling, have experienced extended periods in refugee camps and have had multiple relocations to various difficult settings, compared with earlier cohorts (Olliff & Mohamed, 2007).

Early intervention, as part of the settlement process, is recognised as a key contributor to reducing the risk of social exclusion and other issues commonly experienced by refugee youth such as homelessness, alcohol and other drug use, crime and other social problems. Risk factors for these young people are compounded not only by cultural but also by systematic barriers such as the lack of understanding by mainstream services of the circumstances and needs of young refugees and migrants. This can lead to inappropriate responses that can increase the vulnerability of CALD young people experiencing hardship (Centre For Multicultural Youth, 2010). Systematic challenges faced by refugees or migrants could include inappropriate interpreter usage by statutory child protection services; insufficient language support for students; or failure by police to engage interpreters at the earliest possible stage in investigations resulting in fundamental inaccuracies in evidence, as identified in a case study in Queensland (Multicultural Development Association, 2011).

For service providers, "understanding the effects of migration and settlement is fundamental to successful engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities" (Queensland Government, 2011). Beyond early intervention strategies, short-term, medium-term, and long-term interventions are required to support newly arrived adolescents and their families.

• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2007). Refugee young people in Australia's settlement system <http://cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Refugee%20Young%20People%20in%20Australia%27s%20Settlement%20System%202007.pdf>. This document contains definitions and examples of "good settlement" outcomes for refugee youth, following an evaluation of service systems and consultations with community workers.
• Jesuit Social Services. (2009). Settling into a new country: The impact of migration. This fact sheet, written for parents, explores the impact of migration on young people and families.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2007). Multicultural youth in Australia: Settlement and transition. This paper addresses identified issues facing multicultural young people, and highlights the differences in experiences and needs among the groups of multicultural youth - migrant, refugee and second-generation young people from CALD backgrounds.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2007). Settling in: How do refugee young people fair within Australia's settlement system? <http://www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Refugee%20Young%20People%20in%20Australia%27s%20Settlement%20System%202007.pdf.> This paper examines the challenges for, and resilience of, young refugees. It highlights their remarkable progress, despite their often extreme and violent past experiences.
• MYAN (Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network) WA. (2013). Humanitarian youth settlement in Western Australia fact sheet <http://www.myan.org.au/file/file/WA%20Youth%20Settlement%20Fact%20Sheet%20Feb%202014%20-%20FINAL.pdf>. This fact sheet was developed to provide a snapshot of data pertaining to humanitarian youth arrival in Western Australia between 2008 and 2013.
• MYAN (Multicultural Youth Affairs Network) NSW. (2013). Humanitarian youth arrivals to NSW in 2012 <http://www.myan.org.au/file/file/Settlement%20Fact%20Sheet%202012%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf>. A factsheet by MYAN NSW of statistics collated by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship based on the data records of people arriving in Australia under the Humanitarian Program, as at May 2013.
• MYAN (Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network) Qld. (2014).Humanitarian youth arrivals to QLD in 2013 <http://www.myan.org.au/file/file/MYAN%20QLD%20Factsheet.pdf>. The information presented in this fact sheet is derived from statistics collated by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection based on the data records of people arriving in Australia under the Humanitarian Program as at March 2014.
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship. (2011). Settlement outcomes of new arrivals. This study explored the relationship between settlement and variables in fields such as education, employment, income, accommodation, English proficiency, regional location and social connection.
• MYAN (Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network) (Australia). (2012). Unaccompanied humanitarian minors in Australia. This report presents an overview of national support arrangements and key emerging issues for this particular group of young settlers.
• La Trobe Refugee Research Centre, La Trobe University and the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture (Foundation House). (2009). Good starts for recently arrived youth with refugee backgrounds: Promoting wellbeing in the first three years of settlement in Melbourne, Australia. This report describes the key findings of a longitudinal study that examined the experiences of settlement among a group of 120 recently arrived young people.
• "They should know my story before they judge me": Listening to the voices of young people from refugee & migrant backgrounds in Perth. This report provides a summary of a consultation held with over 30 young people aged 14-31 years from refugee and migrant backgrounds in Perth in April 2014. The consultation was a partnership between MYAN (Australia), MYAN WA and the City of Stirling.

Family

Kinship is a key contributor to the support and resilience of adolescents, and in some cases, their survival. When the Australian Child Wellbeing Project asked young people from CALD backgrounds what the most important factor in their life was, "family" was most commonly reported as a key contributor to having a "good life", even where intergenerational conflict was present (Skattebol et al., 2013)

Research suggests that it is important for the young person's family to understand the purpose of a practitioner's relationship with their son/daughter, and for the workers to manage the expectations of the role of practitioners, from the outset. Parents from CALD backgrounds may not be familiar with the functions of a service, or the particulars of a practitioner's role. Working from an inclusive framework with families can increase access and attendance to services, and enhance families' understanding of the issues directly affecting their adolescent.

• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014). Migrant & refugee young people negotiating adolescence in Australia. This paper explores, from a young person's perspective, how the multiple and complex issues relating to resettlement impact on family relationships. It highlights the need to involve families and communities in developing a service response that acknowledges where young people and families are coming from.
• Refugee Council of Australia. (2012). The role of family links in settlement: An annotated bibliography <http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/r/rpt/2012-Family-bib.pdf>. This bibliography focuses on research relating to the effects of family separation or reunion on the settlement experiences of refugees.
• Carers Victoria Inc. (Carers Victoria), Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) and Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV). (2011). Working with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds with caring responsibilities. This guide explores strategies for enhancing the accessibility and responsiveness of services in supporting good practice when working with this group of young people.
• Victorian Government Department of Human Services. (2012). Adolescents and their families: Specialist practice guide. The "Culturally and linguistically diverse adolescents and their families" component of this resource outlines some of the challenges of working with refugee families.
• Department for Child Protection and Family Support (WA). (2013). Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) services framework. This document aims to support workers to be effective in engaging CALD communities through an understanding of cultural competencies, and by providing tailored responses to families from different cultural backgrounds.

Health and wellbeing

For refugees or migrant adolescents, adequate health care may not have been available to them in their homeland, or on their way to Australia. New arrivals may be unaware of how to access general health services.

Young migrants and refugees may experience barriers to accessing general and specialist health services through:

• a lack of awareness of services available to them;
• difficulties locating or accessing services;
• difficulties gaining permission to attend services from parents, carers or older siblings;
• actual or perceived language barriers;
• a lack of trust in providing "officials" with access to their personal information and body; or
• embarrassment at showing their body, which may be scarred or injured (Victorian Refugee Health Network, 2014).

Research indicates that people from refugee backgrounds require specific support to access general practitioner clinics, refugee health programs and other primary care services.

• The Victorian Refugee and Asylum Seeker Health Action Plan 2014-2018, by the Department of Human Services, outlines Victoria's long-term strategic vision for how the health system can best meet the wellbeing needs of people from refugee backgrounds and asylum seekers.
• The Refugee Health Program (Vic.) initiative is delivered in local government areas of high refugee and asylum seeker settlement across Victoria. It includes the expertise of nurses, allied health professionals, interpreters and bicultural workers in community health centres.
• The NSW Kids and Families. (2015). Youth Health Resource Kit: An essential guide for workers. This kit for health practitioners outlines the profound effects of cultural identity and life experiences of CALD youth on their health and wellbeing.
• Australian Child Wellbeing Project Phase One Report: Understanding children's perspectives on wellbeing. (2013). Young people from CALD backgrounds ranked family as the most important area in their lives, and as a significant contributor to their wellbeing in research conducted by Flinders University of South Australia, the University of New South Wales, and the Australian Council for Educational Research.
• Victorian Refugee Health Network. Promoting refugee health. While not youth-specific, this guide for doctors, nurses and other health-care providers presents a comprehensive overview of the social and clinical aspects of refugee health.
• Refugee Health Research Centre. (2008). Promoting sexual health amongst resettled youth with refugee backgrounds. This report explores how resettled youth with refugee backgrounds access, interpret and implement sexual health information.

Torture and trauma

The refugee experience is, by definition, traumatic. (Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues [CMYI], 2006)

Research suggests that the majority of young humanitarian migrants and refugees have experienced (or witnessed) torture or trauma. This could include fear and suffering through torture, physical and sexual assault, family separation or massacre, illegal arrests, imprisonment or destruction of personal property such as housing or legal documents (NSW Refugee Health Service & NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, 2004). Disruptions to schooling are likely to have occurred (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, 2008).

These experiences have a profound, long-term effect on the wellbeing of the young person, their sense of safety and belonging, their ability to trust others and develop relationships, as well as a myriad of physical, mental and spiritual concerns. Some common long-term effects of torture and trauma include:

• cognitive impairment;
• chronic pain and poor mobility, difficulties in walking;
• mutilation of body parts, and subsequent scars or disfigurement;
• sexual and gynaecological dysfunction;
• loss of trust and meaning;
• diminished capacity to trust others;
• sensitivity to injustice;
• jumbled moral concepts;
• identity confusion or disruption;
• grief and loss; and
• mistrust in, or fear of, authority (Murray, Davidson, & Schweitzer, 2008).

Absence of visible signs of abuse on clients does not indicate that physical torture has not taken place.

The following resources support professionals to recognise and respond to the long-term effects of torture and trauma among newly arrived young people, particularly refugees.

• NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS). Learn about torture and trauma. This resource provides an in-depth explanation of the experiences of refugees, and the long-term effects of these experiences.
• Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture Inc. (1998). Rebuilding shattered lives. This guide aims to assist services to improve their support to young people and adults who are survivors of torture and trauma.
• Australian Human Rights Commission. (2002). Psychological well being of child and adolescent refugee and asylum seekers: Overview of major research findings of the past ten years. This article shares knowledge gathered about the psychological health and wellbeing of child and adolescent refugee/asylum seekers.
• Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture Inc. (1996). A guide to working with young people who are refugees. A comprehensive guide for practitioners who provide individual counselling or group work to refugee young people.
• Earnest, J. (2005). Adolescent and young refugee perspectives on psychosocial well-being. This study provides recommendations, strategies and a framework for further research and interventions into school psychosocial health promotion and intervention for adolescent refugee children who have been victims of torture or trauma.
• Hutchinson, M., & Dorsett, P. (2012). What does the literature say about resilience in refugee people? Implications for practice. This literature review identifies a number of internal and external factors that contribute to resilience in refugee people, and highlights important practice implications for reinforcing refugee resilience rather than focusing only on pathology and trauma.

Mental health

The diversity of people's understanding and responses to mental illness is formed in part by their cultural heritage and life experiences (US Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 2001). Social, biological, religious and psychological factors contribute to cultural explanations of mental health. This is particularly true for people when interpreting, and responding to, suicidal thoughts or behaviour (Department of Health and Ageing, 2007). For many cultures, the Western approach to mental health and treatment can be seen as unsuitable, and often does not resonate with individual's experiences. To avoid stigma, adolescent refugees are more likely to seek help from peers than from professionals (National Mental Health Commission, 2013).

For some, unresolved grief and loss from the trauma of oppression or war may result in a multitude of psychological and emotional symptoms, as well as physical manifestations of their stress. For CALD adolescents, uncertainty regarding the whereabouts of their parents or kin, due to migration, war, death or family separation, can exacerbate existing trauma or symptoms of anxiety (Refugee Council of Australia, 2003).

CALD adolescents, particularly refugees or migrants who have been exposed to human rights violations, are at a higher risk of psychological harm (Australian Centre for Child Protection, 2009), yet it has been observed that people from CALD backgrounds are less likely to seek formal support to address mental health issues, in comparison to members of the mainstream community (Diversity Health Institute, 2011).

The resources below include some information that is not youth-specific but still of relevance for professionals supporting CALD young people.

• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014). Mind matters policy paper: The mental health and wellbeing of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds <http://cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Mind%20Matters%202014.pdf>. This review of Victoria's mental health system highlights multicultural youth mental health concerns and recommendations for sector improvement.
• Blackdog Institute. (2005). Recognising the signs of depression and tips for young people in self- managing and seeking help <http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/CALDpaper.pdf>. Provides information on some of the key challenges for CALD young people and their families, and how to identify some of the signs of depression in young people. It includes tips to assist young people in self-managing and seeking help.
• Centre for International Mental Health (University of Melbourne), the Centre for Multicultural Youth, the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture and the Royal Children's Hospital. (2010). Young people of refugee backgrounds share their thoughts on mental health issues and services. Notes from a roundtable discussion with young people, service providers, academics and policy-makers that looked at effective strategies for mental health services to engage young refugees.
• Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. (2013). Mental health impacts of racial discrimination in Victorian culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This report documents the link between self-reported experiences of racism and poorer physical and mental health.
• National Mental Health Commission. (2014). Strengthening community understanding. This webpage includes a section on CALD experiences of engaging with mental health services, including the shame or fear some young refugees experience that can hinder their willingness to access health services.
• Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. The MHIMA project is a national project aimed at providing advice and support for providers and governments on mental health and suicide prevention for people from CALD backgrounds.
• MHiMA's Knowledge Exchange web directory provides quick access to online information, tools and resources with a focus on mental health and suicide prevention in multicultural Australia.
• MHiMA. A mental health research agenda for people of refugee background in Australia: A consensus study. This report outlines a response to the need to develop a comprehensive and coherent mental health research agenda to guide the development of policy and practice relevant to mental health research for people from a refugee background.
• beyondblue and MHiMA. (2013). Engaging people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in relation to depression and anxiety. A joint position statement that focuses on engaging with people from CALD backgrounds, their families and communities in relation to anxiety and depression.
• The Australian Psychological Society. (2008). Psychological wellbeing of refugees resettling in Australia. A literature review aimed at providing a broad overview of concerns related to refugee mental health and wellbeing within the Australian context.
• MHiMA. (2013). Mental health research and evaluation in multicultural Australia: Developing a culture of inclusion. This study examines national data on the mental health of immigrant and refugee communities in Australia, and acknowledges the compounded challenges for adolescents in the migration and settlement processes.
• Living Is For Everyone. (2015). The Community connections component of this website provides resources to assist service providers to work more effectively with people from CALD backgrounds, and supports Tasmania's newly arrived communities to build capacity in their responses to suicide.

Alcohol and other drugs

Navigating adolescence can be tricky for the average Australian young person. While stress is not unique to the migration experience, it is now recognised that a large portion of refugee youth suffer from PTSD, following traumatic events in their lives. For refugee or migrant young people, psychosocial influences or difficulties specific to the refugee experience (such as conflict between cultures, and difficulty finding their place in a new community) are likely to contribute to higher rates of substance misuse and its associated problems (DrugInfo Clearinghouse, 2010)

For CALD young people, there are likely to be cross-cultural misunderstandings of alcohol and other drugs and their effects, as well as systemic and personal barriers to accessing services for intervention or prevention. Barriers could include a lack of familiarity with the models of counselling and treatment available (State Government of Victoria, 2008) or reluctance to seek treatment for fear of being ostracised by families or the wider community (Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association, 2014).

These resources investigate reasons for drug misuse among CALD communities, and offer strategies for prevention intervention and treatment.

• DrugInfo Clearinghouse. (2014). Best practice in developing translated information <http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/information-for/best-practice-in-developing-translated-information>. Provides resources for community education in alcohol and other drug awareness, as identified by workers.
• Australian Drug Foundation. (2006). Newly arrived refugees and drug prevention. This report analyses ten telephone interviews, conducted with key informants employed within health and drug services who work closely with communities from the Horn of Africa. Drug misuse in this community is explored, as are opportunities for service responses.
• DrugInfo Clearinghouse. Browse Alcohol and Other Drug handouts and online resources for CALD communities <http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/information-for/free-resources-for-culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-communities>, for publications available from the Australian Drug Foundation.
• Mental Health in Multicultural Australia. (2011). Responding to challenges of misuse of alcohol and other drugs by young people of refugee backgrounds. This paper shares reflections from two projects in Melbourne's western suburbs, and provides recommendations for policy-makers, service providers and staff around engaging and working more effectively with young people from refugee backgrounds, who may be vulnerable to alcohol and other drugs misuse.
• Australian Drug Foundation. (2007). Making treatment services and prevention programs accessible for culturally and linguistically diverse clients <http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/fact-sheets/making-treatment-services-and-prevention-programs-accessible-for-culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-clients>. This fact sheet looks at some of the reasons why CALD clients appear to be under-represented in alcohol and other drugs treatment services, such as a lack of awareness of services, and a lack of understanding or trust in the effectiveness of treatments.
• Australian Drug Foundation. website (2007) Culturally and linguistically diverse communities resources <http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/topics/culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-communities> including: factsheets on treatment services, and other background information for workers.
• Australian Drug Foundation. (2007). Prevention in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Part of the Prevention Research Quarterly series, this resource includes a reading list, case studies and examples of CALD community drug education programs.
• Australian Drug Foundation. A Drugs and their effects pamphlet is available in Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Farsi (Persian), Somali, Tigrinya and Vietnamese.

Education and employment

Education

Students from refugee backgrounds in schools, especially those with disrupted or no previous schooling, require additional support to develop the English language and learning skills they need to succeed in Australian schools. (Victorian Department of Education and Training, 2014)

In Australia, the system of age-appropriate placement in schools can further compound challenges for refugee and migrant students. Being placed in grades that reflect their age, rather than level of comprehension, can be confusing for children and young people (Multicultural Development Association, 2011).

Understanding the breadth of issues for newly placed CALD students requires an understanding of the refugee or migrant experience, including the journey to Australia, settlement issues, an individual's capacity to learn and any additional demands outside of the school environment. For older adolescents, schooling can compete with the young person's potential to earn additional income and relieve financial burdens on the family.

• The Refugee Council of Australia's Education & Training web page identifies issues, beyond learning English upon arrival, which school-aged refugee young people face in pursuing education and training pathways in Australia.
• Liddy, N. (2012). Multicultural young people in Australia: Exploring structural barriers to education and employment <http://www.fecca.org.au/mosaic/archive/mosaic-issue-12-december-2012/multicultural-young-people-in-australia-exploring-structural-barriers-to-education-and-employment?format=pdf>. In this paper Nadine Liddy, the National Coordinator of MYAN, advocates the benefits of a targeted response of policy and service delivery to address structural barriers for CALD youth's participation in Australian society.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2006). The education needs of young refugees in Victoria. This CMY report explores issues relating to educational outcomes and enhanced emotional wellbeing for young people from refugee backgrounds.

Employment

In addition to the usual challenges that adolescents may face when looking for work such as a lack of experience, mistrust or stereotyping, young CALD jobseekers may confront additional barriers to employment such as a limited knowledge of workplace culture and expectations and racial discrimination in interviews (Liddy, 2012).

• MYAN NSW. (2014). Employment and multicultural young people: A report from the MYAN NSW Forum November 2013. The report includes a summary of discussions and recommendations on ways to improve employment outcomes for young people.
• Liddy, N. (2012). Multicultural young people in Australia: Exploring structural barriers to education and employment <http://www.fecca.org.au/mosaic/archive/mosaic-issue-12-december-2012/multicultural-young-people-in-australia-exploring-structural-barriers-to-education-and-employment?format=pdf>. In this paper, the National Coordinator of MYAN advocates the benefits of a targeted response of policy and service delivery to address structural barriers for CALD youth's participation in Australian society.
• The Ucan2 program was developed in response to the substantial number of young adults and older adolescents from refugee backgrounds who have experienced barriers to successful educational or employment pathways after completion of an on-arrival language program. See the Evaluation of UCan2: Promoting social inclusion for refugee youth.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014). Facilitating the transition to employment. This report reviews the recent data on experiences of humanitarian migrants in education and in their transition from education to employment. The paper explores "what works" in assisting young refugees to navigate a pathway between education and employment.
• Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA). (2014). Youth employment in new and emerging communities. This fact sheet aims to provide information on key issues identified by newly arrived young people as the main barriers to employment.

Legal issues

The public perception of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds is often associated with crime or offending behaviour. (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2014b)

Refugee and migrant youth face significant disadvantages in understanding how the law and the justice system operate in Australia, and are often uninformed until they are presented with a crisis (Legal Services Commission of South Australia, 2015). Limited awareness of their legal rights and responsibilities, or discriminatory targeting by police can create anxiety of the justice system or a fear of police.

Young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds are particularly vulnerable to community stereotypes of being "trouble makers", or members of gangs, given they are both "ethnic" and "young" - two factors commonly associated with criminal behaviour (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2014c).

In relation to family law, there are factors associated with the process of resettlement itself that present serious challenges for CALD young people, affecting their family relationships and further threatening their safety and wellbeing (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, 2013).

Although not youth-specific, the following resources provide professionals with an overview of common legal issues experienced by newly arrived refugees and migrants.

• Working with new and emerging communities is a resource list of sites and organisations from Legal Aid NSW related to the law and justice.
• The Law and Justice Foundation provide a directory of resources for lawyers and practitioners to better understand the communities they are working to support, including a Checklist for working with CALD communities.
• Family Law Council. (2012). Improving the family law system for clients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This report outlines barriers to accessing legal support for people from CALD backgrounds, and the family law needs of newly arrived communities. Successful practice models outside the family law system are listed.
• The NSW Legal Assistance Forum has developed a catalogue of legal resources for newly arrived migrants and refugees. Accompanying the catalogue is a flowchart <http://www.nlaf.org.au/public_resource_details.php?resource_id=289> that maps the settlement process in Australia.
• Women's Legal Service NSW has developed a user-friendly Checklist for working with interpreters in legal settings.
• What's the law? Australian law for new arrivals from Legal Aid NSW covers ten stories dealing with common legal issues experienced by recently arrived migrants and refugees.
• A series of free DVD resources from the NSW Department of Justice introduces the justice system in NSW and provides legal information in seven African languages.

Out-of-home care (OOHC)²

Specific issues related to the needs of CALD young people in out-of-home care have been identified. A literature review of the Australian research on CALD and refugee children and families found three preliminary exploratory studies undertaken between 2006 and 2011 of CALD and refugee children and young people placed in OOHC.

Key findings from these studies focused on three priority areas in relation to culture and practice when working with CALD young people in this setting (Kaur, 2014):

• family connectedness;
• finding a culturally suitable carer; and
• ensuring culturally appropriate strategies for placement, where a culturally matched carer is not available.

The literature review identified the following difficulties affecting OOHC casework practice when working with CALD families:

• a lack of multicultural carers and caseworkers;
• a lack of CALD-specific training and resources for carers; and
• a need for more cultural competence professional development for caseworkers.
• Kaur, J. (2014). Culturally sensitive practice in out of home care. This practice guide includes support strategies, and discusses challenges and issues for workers supporting children and young people of CALD backgrounds in OOHC care in NSW.
• Commission for Children and Young People. (2013). Residential care matters: A resource for residential care workers, supervisors and manager caring for young people. This Victorian guide provides an overview of "culture", refugee trauma, settlement issues and a visual framework for cultural capability within the residential care setting.
• Department for Child Protection (WA). (2011). Residential care manual (Residential group homes; Family group homes). Chapter 3: "Referral, admission and transition" provides clear practice requirements, including appropriate communication and interviewing techniques when working with young people from CALD backgrounds.

Housing or accommodation

For newly arrived adolescents, navigating barriers such as lack of social capital or unfamiliarity with complex housing systems (Liddy, 2012) can jeopardise access to long-term, appropriate housing, and further compound stress faced by this group. Homelessness is common, with refugee youth being "six to ten times more likely to be at risk of homelessness than Australian-born young people" (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2010). Young people residing with their families may also experience difficulty attaining safe housing due to discrimination in the property market, financial hardship and family separation or breakdown (Refugee Council of Australia, 2013).

• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2010). Finding home in Victoria: Refugee and migrant young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness <http://www.myan.org.au/file/file/FindinghomeinVictoria.pdf>. This report explores factors that contribute to homelessness among young refugees and migrants in Australia, and discusses the systemic barriers to housing and support services for this population. Holistic solutions to identified needs are explored.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2010). Working with newly arrived young people who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. This information sheet provides guidance for settlement workers, and workers in the housing sector, to effectively engage with CALD youth at risk of homelessness.
• Refugee Council of Australia. (2013). Housing issues for refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. This literature review highlights the housing-related concerns identified by community members and settlement or housing support workers. The report explores housing availability and affordability and barriers for refugees in securing housing.
• Asylum Seekers Centre of NSW. An overview of NSW's hidden homeless: Issues surrounding asylum seeker homelessness <http://www.homelessnessnsw.org.au/uploads/50463/ufiles/Resources/ASC_Asylum_Seeker_Homelessness_Paper_final_21032012.pdf>. This paper presents an overview of the difficulties community-based asylum seekers encounter in accessing affordable, sustainable and safe housing in NSW. Challenges faced by workers supporting asylum seekers are discussed, as are key resources when working with this client group.
• Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors. (2008). Hidden homelessness: The impact of refugee homelessness on newly arrived youth <http://www.myan.org.au/file/file/Hidden%20Homelessness%20ASeTTS.pdf>. This report assesses the extent, nature and impact of homelessness among young people aged between 16 and 25 years, who have been resettled in Australia through the humanitarian program.

Young women

Young CALD women may experience specific issues that differ from those experienced by women from non-CALD backgrounds. For some, contradictory attitudes to gender roles in their families and communities may limit their access to activities or events outside of the home, and strict domestic responsibilities may be demanded of them (Centre for Multicultural Youth, 2013). Parents may feel threatened by their daughters' exposure to the values of a culture that is new and unknown to them, and may prohibit them from accessing programs or services that they are not familiar with (NSW Kids and Families, 2014).

Across the globe, there are diverse understandings of what constitutes sexual violence, and the cultural values and norms around violence against girls and women. In contrast to Australian law, refugee and migrant women often arrive from countries with limited rights of control of their own bodies (Allimant & Ostapiej-Piatkowski, 2011). Further to this, there is evidence that the majority of refugee women have suffered experiences of rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence (Pittaway & Rees, 2005-06).

• The Australian Muslim Women's Centre for Human Rights and 1800RESPECT. (2014). The Human rights framework for improving service delivery to CALD women incorporates both the need for cultural competence and the rights of CALD women and their children to be safe from sexual assault, domestic and family violence.
• Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service. (2014). The right to refuse: Examining forced marriage in Australia. This report includes outcomes of a cross-sectoral forum on forced marriage by researchers; a review of relevant literature; and key findings relating to the forced marriage of young girls in Australia.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2013). Girl's space: Good practice principles <http://cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Girls%27%20Space%20Good%20Practice%20Principles.pdf>. These guiding principles aim to support workers to ensure that youth programs and services engage and include new arrival young women.
• Allimant, A., & Ostapiej-Piatkowski, B.. (2011). Supporting women from CALD backgrounds who are victims/survivors of sexual abuse: Challenges and opportunities for practitioners. This publication of the Australian Institute of Family Studies explores circumstances of refugee and immigrant women who are survivors of sexual violence, as they establish new lives in Australia.

LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered or intersex)

While little research has been undertaken to distinguish the experiences of LGBTI refugees or migrants in Australia, it is recognised that young LGBTI people from CALD backgrounds would benefit from specific support and services (Youth Action and Policy Association [YAPA], 2007). Cultural and religious groups vary in the way they concern themselves with gender and sexuality, ranging from anti-homophobic to extreme homophobia (Pallotta-Chiarolli, 2005).

Young LGBTI people from CALD families are less likely to disclose their sexuality to their parents than adolescents from non-CALD backgrounds, and if they do, are less likely to receive a supportive response (Hillier et al., 2010). In the 2014 Growing Up Queer report that explores issues facing young Australians who are gender variant and sexuality diverse, 18% of the 1000 respondents reported having experienced a conflict between their cultural background and sexuality/gender identity (Robinson, Bansel, Denson, Ovenden, & Davies, 2014). In many cultures, identifying as "gay" is seen to conflict with religious or cultural ideals. Of the young people interviewed in the Growing Up Queer project who practiced a religion or faith, 56% reported having experienced a conflict between their religion/faith and their sexuality/gender identity.

Practitioners should be aware that CALD LGBTI young people have reported experiencing high rates of homophobic abuse and related feelings of danger, excessive drug use, self-harm and higher than national averages rates of suicide. (Hillier, Turner, & Mitchell, 2005)

Access to information for CALD LGBTI adolescents and their parents or carers may be limited due to language barriers, lack of understanding of supports available or associated shame. Parents from CALD backgrounds may benefit from targeted education to support them with their feelings and responses to their child's disclosure.

Further research is required to better understand how to support and promote the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTI people from CALD backgrounds (Suicide Prevention Australia, 2009).

• Noto, O., Leonard, W., & Mitchell, A. (2014). Nothing for them: Understanding the support needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people from refugee and newly arrived backgrounds. A report by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society.
• In my shoes <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoWsXJ-kcA4>. A short animation about age, culture and sexuality. Conceived by young people from multicultural backgrounds, this film is designed to raise awareness of the issues of sexual diversity within multicultural communities. Produced as part of CMY's Animate Change Project.
• Hillier et al. (2010). Writing Themselves In 3 (WTi3). The third national study on the sexual health and wellbeing of same-sex attracted and gender questioning young people, including specific information on CALD young people.

Intake/assessment with a young person from a CALD background

Although there is no one rulebook when interviewing culturally and linguistically diverse adolescents, research has demonstrated a number of effective culturally aware practices for working with young people from CALD backgrounds, as showcased throughout this guide.

Each young person adopts and expresses their culture/s differently, and practitioners should adapt a flexible approach to their work to promote dialogue that is sincere. The effectiveness of an Intake interview in building trust and receiving information is affected by the worker's ability to ensure the young person is comfortable, and to be responsive to the individual's communication needs.

The intake/assessment process is critical to establishing a trusting relationship with clients and demonstrating a capacity to identify and respond to issues they present with. If clients feel unsafe or unwelcome, or do not clearly understand why they are attending the service, they may be reluctant to share information. It is important that professionals assure the young client that a translator is available to them; that their private information is protected; and that their family is welcome to participate in the Intake process, should it benefit the young person.

As with most young people, the CALD adolescent's connection to family is crucial to navigating adolescence. For this group, however, cultural beliefs, gender roles, and compliance to religious practice can place additional demands and expectations on their time and behaviour, and potentially their capacity to participate in a service. Workers who take the time to understand how the young person and their family identify problems (and how they seek help) will more competently support the client to engage in treatment.

Appreciating that culture, religion and individual life experience affects each person differently, is a key principal of cultural awareness. Examples of cultural considerations when working with CALD adolescents include:

• accepting that communication and authenticity is a fundamental key to providing a welcoming and trusting environment;
• awareness of personal cultural biases, and avoidance of benchmarking others' behaviours or beliefs against personal experiences;
• understanding adolescence to be a time of identity formation and that not all young people share the beliefs of their family's cultural or religious background;
• appreciating that culture itself is fluid, and the young person and their family may be undergoing transformations through the migration experience;
• avoiding generalisations about culture, language or ethnicity. Cultural particulars should be confirmed or conveyed by the client.

In an Intake interview, workers can begin to build trust through dialogue that explores the client's understanding of the service being provided and the role of the worker. This is also an opportunity for the client to better understand their obligations and expectations when participating in the service, such as arriving on time, or attending court or related appointments, which is particularly important if the intervention is mandated.

How to use this component of the resource

The information in the following practice examples was developed by identifying key messages through existing literature on cultural awareness when working with CALD adolescents. Links to Australian research and practice-related literature are presented throughout this resource.

The following extracts of a typical Intake scenario are intended to highlight the sensitivities and awareness required to create a welcoming environment for young CALD clients. Each practice example includes evidence-based reasoning, a "Worker checklist" of pre-interview considerations, and some examples of relevant questions or statements for the young person. Workers are encouraged to use the scenarios as suggestions only, and to trust in their existing professional interpersonal skills. It is recommended that workers gauge the need for an interpreter prior to an initial meeting with the young person or their family.

Support the young person to attend the appointment

Many cultures operate within a different concept of time and clients may not be aware that timeliness and "appointments" are very much a part of the service delivery system in Australian culture.

Clients that are not aware of the notion of appointment times may arrive late and be surprised that they are unable to access the service, or that their meeting time has been cancelled.

Arriving after the specific time allocated for an appointment may have consequences for the young person and may jeopardise any statutory obligations in place.

Establish trust through a comfortable and welcoming environment

The initial meeting with a service is critical to building trust with a young person.

Young refugees and migrants often have complex issues, and may be asked to recall traumatic experiences. Allowing time for such responses - not rushing the client - will demonstrate empathy and respect.

Clients will present with their own biases, influences and judgments. They will form an opinion of practitioners' experience based on their own values or life experience, which may influence how they respond to questions, or participate in the service. It is critical that practitioners present themselves in an impartial, approachable manner.

Be yourself

While practitioners are trained to be open-minded and impartial, it cannot be expected that they be void of emotions, or refrain from expressing empathy in their communications with clients. Speaking informally and genuinely, and articulating compassion and empathy to clients can be particularly useful in building rapport with young people. By presenting in a sincere and caring manner, clients (and their family) are more likely to feel safe and trust practitioners with their life story.

The language of the service may often include acronyms or sector-specific slang or jargon. Using simple and common words will support the client's understanding of the situation and encourage participation.

Young people and families will be naturally cautious and curious of new practitioners. Be prepared for personal questions to be asked, often as a way to establish credibility, or to measure their trust.

Ensure your client understands the purpose of intake and assessment, and how it will be delivered

Clients must be aware that the intake/assessment process involves being asked personal questions and depends on their ability to respond to them truthfully. By providing context to the Intake process, the adolescent (and any family members) will better understand the need to gather information, and how it directly relates to service provision.

Adolescent refugees or migrants may have experienced dangerous or distressing interactions with "officials". They may be suspicious of answering personal questions, seeing note taking, or anxious about their information being recorded.

Young people and their families may find the worker's enquiries into their family histories and personal matters to be disrespectful or culturally inappropriate. The questioning component of an assessment may be associated with interrogation; seen to be authoritative; or daunting to young people or their families.

It is essential that clients understand that formal records will be kept, and how they will be stored and used.

Avoid assumptions about the young person's cultural identity, connection to family or community, cultural influence and experiences

Asking specific questions that relate to the client's ethnicity, language, family and support systems will prevent typecasting and ensure accurate information is received. Asking specific questions will demonstrate respect and compassion for the unique experiences of your client.

Interviewing from a family-aware approach acknowledges and addresses the role of the family in the young person's life and advocates that families (where appropriate) could be, and should be, part of the young client's support (Jesuit Social Services, 2009).

By working from this approach, the practitioner can demonstrate cultural sensitivity and acceptance of young people and their families, and can empower clients to share their own perspectives.

Acknowledging young people's connection to culture will empower them to balance their family's expectations with their own interests, and to develop an understanding of their cultural identity.

Highlight protective factors using a strengths-based interviewing technique

Strengths-based practice is an approach that recognises the resilience of individuals and, rather than focusing on limitations or challenges, centres on the person's capacities and potential (Scerra, 2011). Refugee and migrant young people often present with remarkable resilience and bravery, even when they have experienced or witnessed extreme violence and deprivation. Encouraging discussion of achievements, friendships, resilience or good fortune may inspire the young person to reflect on positive factors in their life.

For young people, connectedness to family and culture can be a significant protective factor in fostering their overall wellbeing. These connections should be recognised, and supported where possible. Where suitable, encouraging connection with family, community and culture can contribute to the health and wellbeing of the young person.

Directory of key contacts for practitioners working with CALD adolescents

This directory presents a summary of organisations and peak bodies across the nation that support professionals working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. CFCA recognises that there is a multitude of programs and projects that support CALD children, young people, families and communities as a whole, across different sectors.

The work of some of the organisations or agencies below, as well as many other contributors to research, advocacy and community development can be found throughout this resource. Workers are encouraged to share related information, data and resources through the CFCA information exchange , or by providing feedback through CFCA's research and information helpdesk.

National

• Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF) 
  AMF initiates programs and projects that raise awareness of Australia's cultural diversity, to advance its social and economic wellbeing.
• Federation of Ethnic Communities' Council of Australia  (FECCA) 
  FECCA is the national peak body representing and advocating for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. One of its online resources includes a community perspective on pressing issues affecting new and emerging communities in Australia.
• Raising Children Network 
  This page provides links to a range of national and state resources, services and support organisations for multicultural and CALD communities.
• Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors (ASeTTS) 
  ASeTTS provides services to people who are humanitarian entrants or are from a refugee background and who have experienced torture or trauma in their country of origin, during their flight to Australia, or while in detention.

ACT

• Multicultural Youth Services ACT (MYS) 
  MYS provides services to young people of migrant and refugee backgrounds in the ACT, including direct one-to-one support, group sessions, life skills development, family relationship support, recreational activities and community development with young people.
• Multicultural Youth Affairs Network 
  This service seeks to improve supports for multicultural young people, strengthen local multicultural youth services, strengthen connections between "mainstream" and multicultural youth services, and raise the profile of multicultural youth issues in the ACT.
• Companion House 
  Companion House is a not-for-profit organisation that works with people who have sought refuge in Australia from persecution, torture and war-related trauma. In addition to community development and therapeutic services, they provide training and professional development sessions focused on refugee issues, working with survivors of torture and trauma and cultural diversity.

NSW

• Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network NSW (MYAN NSW) 
  MYAN is a network of services committed to improving the opportunities and outcomes for multicultural young people in NSW.
• Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW (MDAA) 
  MDAA is the peak organisation for people from CALD/non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB) with a disability, their families and carers in NSW.
• NSW Service for the Treatment And Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) 
  STARTTS provides treatment and rehabilitation to torture and trauma survivors through a range of services supporting individuals and communities to empower themselves to heal.
• Youth Action (Formerly Youth Action & Policy Association NSW; YAPA) 
  Youth Action is the peak organisation representing young people and youth services in NSW.
• Ethnic Communities Council of NSW (ECC) 
  ECC is the peak body for all culturally and linguistically diverse communities in New South Wales.

NT

• Multicultural Affairs 
  This department assists migrant and multicultural communities, and promotes cultural and linguistic diversity by sponsoring grants and awards programs; and provides information, such as fact sheets, calendars of events and other publications.
• Multicultural Services of Central Australia (MCSCA) 
  MCSCA provides services, representation and leadership for the CALD community in Central Australia.
• MyNT: Multicultural Youth NT 
  MyNT is a youth-led organisation, which builds the capacity of young Territorians to be active members of their community.
• Multicultural Council NT Inc. (Nican) 
  The council was established as a non-government community-based organisation with a role of advocacy, information and representation.
• Melaleuca Refugee Centre Torture Trauma Survivors Service of the NT 
  Melaleuca Refugee Centre provides an environment for resettlement and healing of refugee survivors of torture and trauma, their families and community through confidential, high-quality and holistic services.

QLD

• Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) 
  ECCQ is the peak body in Queensland for ethnic communities and cultural diversity, engaged in policy research and development, sector collaboration and community education and training around leadership and better health outcomes.
• Partners in Cultural Competence (PiCC) 
  PICC helps organisations, professionals and individuals develop cultural competence through active diversity management strategies that include effective cross-cultural training and consulting.
• Access Community Services 
  This service focuses on settlement and employment initiatives, and community development. Personal support programs address the needs of disadvantaged youth and community groups, including migrants, refugees, humanitarian entrants and visa holders.
• Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Queensland (MYAN QLD) 
  This organisation provides opportunities to work collaboratively to improve settlement outcomes for young people through community advocacy and sector development.
• The Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT). 
  This service provides flexible and culturally sensitive services to promote the health and wellbeing of people who have been tortured or who have suffered refugee-related trauma prior to migrating to Australia. QPASTT run youth-focused programs.

SA

• Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc. (MYSA) 
  Multicultural Youth South Australia Inc. (MYSA) is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides a diverse range of services and programs to support multicultural young people and young families living in South Australia.
• Multicultural SA 
  Multicultural SA is the agency responsible for advising the government on all matters relating to multicultural and ethnic affairs in South Australia. Their website provides a list of programs for newly arrived children and young people across the state.

TAS

• Migrant Resource Centre (Northern Tasmania) 
  This Migrant Resource Centre offers a Family Support Program for families from CALD backgrounds, and runs community education programs on parenting and relationship issues and cross-cultural awareness training for workers.
• Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network TAS (MYAN TAS) 
  This informal network of services works to promote the needs and issues of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Tasmania. MYAN TAS operates in partnership with the Migrant Resource Centre, Southern Tasmania Inc., Multicultural Tasmania and the Youth Network of Tasmania.

VIC

• Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) 
  CMY supports young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to build better lives in Australia. CMY works to support organisations and decision-makers, through publications, programs and consultation on strategies and policies.
• Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) 
  CEH provides specialist information, training and support on cultural diversity and wellbeing to health and community service professionals. Several resources on cultural competency for workplaces are available online.
• Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV) 
  ECCV is the peak body for ethnic and multicultural organisations in Victoria. EECV helps build the capacity of new and emerging communities and develop policy on a wide range of issues including undertaking original research.
• Migrant Resource Centres: Metropolitan Victoria 
  These organisations provide settlement services in various locations across Melbourne to improve access to participation in community life.

WA

• Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre, WA (MMRC) 
  MMRC provides needs-based support and advocacy for youth through sports, arts and youth development activities.
• Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN WA) 
  The MYAN WA aims to provide a forum for those who work with multicultural young people, to network, share information and address sector issues.

References

• Allimant, A., & Ostapiej-Piatkowski, B. (2011). Supporting women from CALD backgrounds who are victims/survivors of sexual violence: Challenges and opportunities for practitioners (ACSSA Wrap). Melbourne: Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault, Australian Institute of Family Studies. Retrieved from <www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/wrap/wrap9/w9.pdf>.
• Australian Centre for Child Protection. (2009). The Working with Refugee Families Project. Adelaide: University of South Australia. Retrieved from <earlytraumagrief.anu.edu.au/files/124112%20accp_refugee%20report.pdf>.
• Blackdog Institute. (2005). Information for culturally and linguistically diverse young people and their families: Recognising the signs of depression and tips for young people in self- managing and seeking help. Randwick, NSW. Retrieved from <www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/docs/CALDpaper.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2010). Finding home in Victoria: Refugee and migrant young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Finding home in victoria 2011.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2011). Good practice guide: Culturally competent youth work. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Culturally%20Competent%20Youth%20Work2011_0.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2013). Girl's space: Good practice principals. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Girls%27 Space Good Practice Principles.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014a). Migrant & refugee young people negotiating adolescence in Australia. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Negotiating%20Adolescence%202014.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014b.) Mind matters: The mental health and wellbeing of young people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <www.cmy.net.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/Mind%20Matters%202014.pdf>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth. (2014c). Fair and accurate? Migrant and refugee young people, crime and the media. Melbourne: CMY. Retrieved from <www.cmy.net.au/publications/fair-and-accurate>.
• Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues. (2006). Refugee young people and resettlement. Melbourne: Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues. Retrieved from <www.scoa.org.au/resources/460984_72752_RefugeeYouthResettlement_Sept06.pdf>.
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. (2008). Strengthening outcomes: Refugee students in government schools. Melbourne: Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Retrieved from <www.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edulibrary/public/teachlearn/student/strengtheningoutcomes-rpt-v1.pdf>.
• Department of Education and Training. (2014). Support for refugee students. Melbourne: Department of Education and Training. Retrieved from <www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/teachingresources/diversity/eal/pages/ealsupportrefugee.aspx>.
• Department of Health and Ageing. (2007). Living is for everyone (life) framework. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from <www.livingisforeveryone.com.au/uploads/docs/LIFE_framework-web.pdf>.
• Department of Human Services. (2008). A new blueprint for alcohol and other drug treatment services 2009-2013: Client-centred, service-focused. Melbourne: Department of Human Services. Retrieved from <docs.health.vic.gov.au/docs/doc/9228A36CB98A6417CA2578A10013A10E/$FILE/blueprint09-13.pdf>.
• Department of Immigration and Citizenship. (2013). The settlement journey: Strengthening Australia through migration. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved from <www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/12_2013/settlement-journey_access.pdf>.
• Diller, J. V. (2011). Cultural diversity: A primer for the human services, (4th ed.). California: Brookes/Cole.
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