Access & Equity Guide - Open Doors Youth Service

1 How to develop and implement your own Access and Equity policyDeveloped and produced by Youth Action and Policy Association (YAPA)iAccess & Equity Guidefor services working with young peopleAccess and Equity Guide [Third Edition]First Published 1996 Second Edition 1997 Third Edition 2002 ISBN 1 876661 07 0 YAPA This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under theCopyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any processwithout written permission from of this policy Guide are available from: Youth Action and Policy Association:Suite 405, Level 4 Elizabeth StreetSurry Hills 2010Ph: (02) 9281 2344 Fax.

2 (02) 9211 2037 Comments on this Guide are welcomed and should be directed to YAPA at the above and Second Edition written by Sandra Napoli and Debbie WongThird Edition updated by Beatriz LeonciniEdited by Myriam Bahari, Debbie Draybi and Beatriz Leoncini Published by Youth Action and Policy Association (NSW) IncThe Access and Equity Guide for Services Working with Young People was originally developed as a jointproject between the Youth Action and Policy Association NSW Inc (YAPA) and the MulticulturalDevelopment Project (MDP) based at Botany Migrant Resource Centre Third Edition has been updated to incorporate recent policy and legislative changes which coversservice provision to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)

3 To the Third Edition2 Aim of this Guide3 Government Policy4 What is social justice What is Access and Equity Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Youth services, including Federal and State Government legislation, policy and accountability What is an Access barrier What do these policies mean for Community-based Services YAPA S Response6 YAPA s social justice and Access and Equity Statement of IntentDeveloping the Background for Your Access & Equity Policy12 Key points about implementing Access & Equity Identifying gaps and barriers in your serviceWriting Your Access & Equity Policy Step by Step16 What is Policy Seven StepsGeneral Design and Layout of the Policy19 Sample Action Plan 20 Resources (including internet links)

4 27 Statistical Information Directories Networks and Forums Reports/Research Language Services Cultural Awareness/Cultural Diversity Trainers Other Useful Resources 1 Access and Equity Guide [Third Edition]vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv8 PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITIONIn 1996,YAPA first published the Access and Equity Guide for Services Working with Young People . Thefocus of the Guide is specifically on addressing the Access barriers facing young people from culturally andlinguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly young people from a non-English speaking background(NESB1).

5 The development of the Guide was contingent upon funding and links between YAPA and theethnic Guide , in its first edition, was originally a joint project between YAPA s NESB Youth DevelopmentProject and Botany Migrant Resource Centre s Multicultural Development Project with funds received bythe then Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (DILGEA).This third edition aims to maintain the format of the original 1996 & 1997 Guide , with additionalinformation to make it a contemporary document and reflect the current Access and is acknowledged that many of the issues, strategies and processes mentioned in this Guide are alsoapplicable to other groups of young people in society such as Indigenous young people, young peoplewith disabilities, young women, and gay and lesbian young people, who also face barriers in accessingservices.

6 However, it is not feasible to adequately address these other areas within this can assist specific groups within the broader community with Access and Equity issues through anumber of funded projects it manages as part of its overall services to young believes that this Guide can be a starting point for YAPA, in partnership with relevant services andgroups in the community, to produce similar resources for the Youth sector to ensure that all youngpeople receive a fair go and fair share .2 Access and Equity Guide [Third Edition]vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv1 The term NESB is specifically applied to people from non-English speaking backgrounds, as opposed to the term 'migrant' or culturally andlinguistically diverse (CALD) because these last two can include people from English speaking backgrounds and does not necessarily identify the needfor language assistance.

7 The NSW Government adopted the use of the term NESB, in relation to the identification of language barriers and theprovision of language OF THIS GUIDEThe overall aim in developing an Access and Equity policy is about being creative in terms of the areas,target group and services the organisation covers and provides as well as being is little point in developing a policy that incorporates a number of strategies for which resourcesare not made available or a policy which is very limited in what it does because the organisation does notimmediately identify the resources needed to successfully implement and implementing an Access and Equity policy, like any policy, requires a planned approach.

8 Feedback and a considerable thought process to adapt it to the needs of the organisation s current andpotential clients, as well as the organisation s aim of this Guide is to assist Youth services to develop and implement their own Access and Equity (A&E) policy for their organisation. The Guide :1. Explains what social justice and what Access and Equity is and why it is important for youthservices;2. Assists services to identify policy gaps and Access barriers within the organisation in relation toculturally and linguistically diverse young people, including young people from NESB; and3.

9 Assists with the development of a policy and action plan by providing examples of practicalstrategies to address identified barriers and that it is essential for each organisation to develop and own their Access and Equity policy, theobjectives and strategies provided in this booklet are intended as a Guide or sample and Equity Guide [Third Edition]vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvviGOVER NMENT POLICY & LEGISLATIONG eneral OverviewThe Federal Government s social justice and Access and Equity strategies were originally developed toensure that all Australians receive a fair go and fair share of services and resources, to which they areentitled.

10 In the late 1990s, both the Federal and NSW Government introduced contemporary policy andlegislation, to develop a benchmark for cultural diversity in government Service provision and enshrinethe principles of cultural diversity in legislation (NSW), current legislative and policy framework for social justice , Access and Equityand Cultural Legislation:Federal Policies: Racial Discrimination Act (1975) Access and Equity (1985, 1989 and 1996) Sex Discrimination Act (1984) Multiculturalism Disabilities Discrimination Act (1992) social justice Strategy Charter for a Culturally Diverse Society (post 1996) State Legislation: (NSW):State Policies.