1 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) The Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communication Strategy aims to increase CALD community engagement in Council s Annual Community Survey as well as other Council events including the Council Plan consultations which are often under represented by CALD community members. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2011 national survey confirms that in the City of Maribyrnong, the number of people from a non-english speaking background increased by 14.7%, between 2006 and 2011. The City of Maribyrnong is home to over 127 language groups. This increasingly diverse range of emerging language groups in our municipality requires an innovative CALD Communications Strategy. The CALD Communications Strategy was first endorsed by Council in 2008. Since then there has been an evaluation of the actions and a review of the best way forward. While some of the tools remain unchanged, there has been an inclusion of new communication tools which will ensure the need to improve the way Council communicates with CALD communities via their preferred communication methods. The CALD Communications Strategy 2013-2016 provides specific guidance for Council officers in how to engage with CALD communities. The strategy addresses ways to create more opportunities for CALD community members to be informed and gain access to Council programs, services and activities. The strategy aims to enhance the relationship CALD communities have with Council. CALD communities will be provided with better access to opportunities to take part in community engagement events and consultations. The Strategy will enable CALD residents to have a say on issues and help shape the City of Maribyrnong. The CALD Communications Strategy is also linked to Council s overall Multicultural Policy 2012-2017. The CALD Communication Strategy is based on investigative findings and consultation with the community and internal and external working teams. The City of Maribyrnong will continue to consult internally with cross Council representatives and externally with project partners and residents in order to develop and implement new CALD communication tools. The CALD Communications Strategy will ensure that Council moves forward with confidence that a broad range of opinions and expertise are collated.
2 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) External Communication Tool Welcome Booklets Strategy Engagement and Access Timeframe Collection of pictorial story boards will represent commonly accessed Council services with minimal text providing information in an easy to access format The simple English text will overcome the issues concerned with multiple language translations Storyboards can be used individually to highlight particular services or collectively as part of the Welcome Booklet to provide an overview of the services Maribyrnong City Council provides Welcome Booklets will be available for free from: Maribyrnong City Council s Customer Service desk Council Information Points including libraries, community centres and neighborhood houses Customer Service stands at events and festivals CALD service providers such as AMES and Newhope Welcome Booklets will be given to all new citizens at Citizenship Ceremonies Welcome Booklets will be launched during Refugee Week (June 2013) The Community Engagement Officer will be available to attend CALD community group s information sessions to distribute and discuss the Welcome Booklets in person Individual storyboards will also be made available from Council s website Student Workbook A collection of activity sheets will be developed into a Student Workbook The Student Workbook will aim to compliment the Welcome Booklet and strengthen a more detailed understanding of the role of Local Government Local ESL teachers and students will be asked to contribute to the development of the Student Workbook Student Workbooks will be distributed to class groups including: Primary Schools Secondary Schools ESL class groups at: AMES; Community Centres; Neighbourhood Houses and other Education Centres Student Workbooks will be available from libraries Student Workbooks will also be available to Consultation about the Student Workbook will begin in 2013 with an anticipated launch in 2015
3 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) all residents who take part in a Welcome Tour Welcome Tours Program A Welcome Tour Program will be devised to work in conjunction with the Welcome Booklet and Student Workbook Welcome Tours will aim to familiarise newly arrived residents with the City of Maribyrnong and will include visits to Council facilities, service areas and presentations from departmental representatives such as Local Laws officers The Welcome Tour Program will include a timetable of scheduled Tours which will be advertised through: Council website Council publications such as the Maribyrnong News Local print media CALD Service Providers The Welcome Tour Program will begin trails in 2014 Welcome Tours will help to introduce CALD residents to Council staff face to face CALD Community Presentations CALD Community Presentations welcome CALD community groups and school groups to arrange a visit either to the Footscray Town Hall or by a Council representative to their usual classroom setting The Community Engagement Officer will facilitate the CALD Community Presentations with a Power Point Presentation and other resources as requested Information about how to arrange a CALD Community Presentation will be available on Council s website CALD community networks will provide communication channels to encourage CALD groups to arrange a CALD Community Presentation Groups may request that these sessions be attended by the Mayor, another Councilor or another representative from a specific Council department.
4 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) Refugee Week Council has made a public commitment to be a Refugee Welcome Zone and will display Welcome Banners at Council s Main Offices and other facilities during annual Refugee Week celebrations Annual Refugee Week preparations include an invite for CALD community groups and partner organisations to work collaboratively with Council to develop an inclusive Refugee Week celebration Annually in coincidence with World Refugee Day (June) The Community Engagement Officer will work with CALD community groups and service providers to develop a Refugee Week calendar of events Council will collate and promote the details of Council events and others delivered by partner organisations. Working with external partners will continue to foster good relationships with local organisations, stakeholders, CALD service providers and CALD groups Primary School students will be invited to participate in the Refugee Week Art Competition Refugee Week events will be publicised through: Community Information Points Local print media Social media Council website External promotion opportunities including the Refugee Council of Australia website
5 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) Internal Communication Tool Staff Guidelines Strategy Engagement and Access Timeframe All Council staff and departments will continue to be encouraged to access the centralised language link funds to access translating and interpreting service providers Staff Guidelines will be updated and promoted regularly to inform staff of best practices and trends associated with: language selection, writing for translation and using interpreters Staff Guidelines will provide advice as to how best access target CALD communities and provide clear communication channels Council staff will have access to the Translating and Interpreting Guidelines as well as ongoing support from the Community Engagement Officer Council staff will be encouraged to become more familiar with the processes of using translating and interpreting service providers Where appropriate Council information will be translated to target particular cultural groups Interpreters will be called on to attend community consultation sessions where appropriate Council will work in consultation with translating and interpreting service providers to develop a range of CALD communication tools which will work across a range of departments e.g. the placement of the TIS logo in document footers CALD Information Program All Council departments will be encouraged to arrange a road show session with the Community Engagement Officer All Council staff and departments will be encouraged to attend periodical CALD Information sessions The CALD Information program will involve sessions about how to access translating and interpreting service providers and tailoring services to best support the work of each Council department Information sessions will be run internally by the Community Engagement Officer and from time to time external translating and interpreting service providers
6 CALD Communications Strategy (2013-2016) The Community Engagement Officer will support and advise in regards to whole staff training All CALD community members and project partners will benefit from Council staff improving their professional development in regards to issues of CALD communications and cultural competency CALD Media Promotion Opportunities A database of free CALD-related event listings will be maintained and updated Guidance from the Communications department in regards to the availability of multicultural media channels and the associated cost in promoting events using these channels will be available to all departments All CALD community members will have better access to Council information through a more diverse range of media channels on a project to project basis All Council departments and Council project partners including festival grant recipients will have access to these media opportunities Language Policy A Language Policy will be established to recognise the skills multilingual staff use in the workplace Staff will have the opportunity to be trained as Language Aides and better understand the associated limitations associated with translating and interpreting A database of trained Language Aides in the staff community will be maintained and promoted internally The Language Policy will involve a trial of staff from the Customer Service team Council departments including Customer Service and Human Resources will work together to create a database of bilingual staff which will be available to all other staff members The Language Policy will enable better face to face CALD communications at the Customer Service desk and other points throughout the organisation that require face to face communication A database of bilingual staff will offer better understanding of the diversity and strength of our staff cohort A draft Language Policy will be presented to the Executive Management Team in 2014