Upload
others
View
3
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Learning from the Voices
of FiCT Bicultural Facilitators
Ma. Antonina B. Or tega
Introduction
Families in Cultural Transition (FiCT) is one of STARTTS’ foundational
group based psychosocial education programs that has assisted people
from refugee backgrounds over many years to increase their social
connections and understanding of Australian systems and way of life.
The program’s strength lies in its delivery by bicultural workers drawn
from the same community as the refugees, speak their language and
understand both their culture and the Australian environment. Most of
the facilitators come from a refugee background, practised their
profession in their country of origin but had difficulty finding
employment for the same field when they came to Australia. Since the
program began, a total of 186 facilitators from more than 27 ethnic
communities, were trained as FICT facilitators.
Evaluation outcomes using the Social Capital methodology suggests
stronger connectedness among refugee families and communities as a
result of their participation in the FiCT program. They develop support
networks that help them overcome grief, anxiety and social isolation. It
has helped build on their strengths– resilience, adaptability and
motivation – to help communities foster social connectedness, promote
wellbeing and create a better life in Australia. STARTTS however, have
not evaluated the FiCT program in terms of its effects on the bicultural
facilitators, if any. Thus, this evaluation.
Methodology The qualitative evaluation of FiCT was conducted to enable STARTTS to
better articulate the outcomes and benefits of the program on the
bicultural facilitators. How has FiCT helped build facilitators’ social capital?
Specifically, it seeks to explore: 1) the impact of undergoing FiCT Facilitator
Training on the individual facilitator; 2) the impact of delivering workshops
on the individual Facilitator; 3) the FiCT facilitators perception of the flow
and effects this has had for their families and communities.
Results
Evaluation outcomes using the Social Capital methodology suggests that
the facilitators’ involvement in FiCT opened up opportunities to
employment, education and community engagement. Through FiCT, the
facilitators gained insights on communicating with refugee groups, which
led to their further
understanding of the
community’s needs,
strengths and poten-
tials. This changed their
way of thinking, becom-
ing more receptive to
other perspectives, and
respectful of people’s
culture. As a result, this has increased their confidence and self-esteem,
and motivated them to be involved in community development either as
volunteers, community leaders, support workers, or resource speakers.
This has further led to new job opportunities, or aspirations for further
studies. FiCT has not only benefitted refugees, but has also provided
positive outcomes for its bicultural facilitators.
Conclusion The project demonstrates that FICT does not only benefit
people from refugee backgrounds but the FICT bicultural
facilitators as well. Resources should be invested in continuously
upgrading their skills as they play an important role as community
leaders, change agents and intermediaries between service
providers and their communities. Continued support and
mentoring , updating of FICT-related materials, and professional
development is necessary to enhance their skills.
Straight from the facilitators
“I came to Australia as a migrant. Being a migrant, I understand how other refugees and asylum seeker have gone through their lives, experienced hard times and suffered from trauma, torture as I have experienced it too. And that motivated me to work for these people”
Afghan facilitator
“Through FiCT training, I came to know the things that I need to do,
how to get involved with our communities, life in Australia… It was
useful to me as an individual …gave me an insight. The way I think
when I was in Nepal is now different from how I think now.”
Bhutanese FiCT facilitator
“One participant said “I do not hold a
diploma, but I do hold knowledge
that will stay with me forever, cor-
poral punishment, domestic vio-
lence”, and they say it with pride. And
it makes me feel good when they say
that.” Tibetan facilitator