Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues

The Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (previously known as the Ethnic Youth Issues Network) was established in 1989 in response to an identified need for a collective voice for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. Young migrants and refugees are often disadvantaged and experience barriers to participation in education, employment, community services and programs. They require support and assistance in order to participate and have their voices heard about issues concerning them.

The Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) undertakes a range of programs, projects and policy initiatives aimed at enhancing life opportunities of CLD young people.

CMYI’s policy work incorporates advice to government, resource development, research, policy submissions, training, support to workers and media commentary on issues affecting CLD young people. Core policy areas include: youth participation, sport and recreation, police and justice, family and community, refugee youth resettlement, education, training and employment.

CMYI delivers the ‘Young Leaders of Today’ Program, a Multicultural Youth Mentoring Program and regularly supports the participation of young people in projects with other organisations. CMYI also delivers programs to support newly arrived young people and their families. This is provided through regionally based services that assist young people to build connections with home, school and community and to access pathways to education, training and employment.

CMYI has also established an exciting new project in partnership with Environment Victoria called Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability. Commencing in Feb 2007 it will provide training and support to young people (25 years and under) from migrant and refugee backgrounds to establish environmental sustainability projects within their own community.

• Apply to get involved in our Multicultural Leaders in Sustainability project run in partnership with Environment Victoria. More information and application forms (closes 31st January 2007) can be downloaded from www.cmyi.net.au or www.envict.org.au
• Join CMYI’s Youth Participation Register and get involved in a range of activities and events that CMYI undertakes in partnership with government departments and organisations wishing to involve CLD young people. Projects young people (16-25 years) have been involved in through CMYI include: Being interviewed for The Bulletin magazine about resettlement issues facing Sudanese young people; Volunteering as planning committee members for a statewide multicultural and multifaith youth conference; Facilitating YWCAs Girl Story leadership training for young women.

• Participate in our Multicultural Youth Mentoring Program, which offers one-to-one mentoring, and peer support for CLD young people aged 16-21 years. The program seeks the involvement of young people looking for opportunities to develop professional and/or personal skills and potential and who are interested in issues concerning young people and the community.

• Contact us about getting your school involved in our Young Leaders of Today Program, which provides training to CLD young people who are in year 10.

• Come along to our quarterly Statewide Network Meetings and meet with workers engaged with CLD young people.

• Publicise your CLD youth group on our database and get a copy of our free ‘Youth Participation Kit: A resource for youth leaders’ which offers advice on topics such as recruiting members, organising activities and managing finances.

CMYI believes that it is the right of young people to be meaningfully included in decision making processes that impact on their lives.