• Reporting to: Youth Project Manager HOST International
• Location: Remote working with meetings and training located in Western Sydney
• Availability: Full day training 20th and 21st May 2021, 40 hours paid work in July /August (times to be confirmed)
• Some additional days and hours outside this timeframe may be required
• Status: Casual
• Salary: Term: SCHADs 2.1 Award Level

Background

HOST International has partnered with Western Sydney University to support young people from a refugee background to explore issues relating to cultural transitions for youth and their families when resettling in Australia.

Young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds in NSW have identified that tension exists between meeting cultural obligations from parents or communities and forging their own independent identity in a new culture (Mackay 2019). This view is supported by migrant services who regularly encounter conflict between youth and their families as a result of cultural tensions and related mental health and wellbeing impacts. Yet little is understood about why this occurs or how to best respond to these matters and the stories and experiences of migrant youth are lacking.

The object of the Cultural Transitions project

• To support youth from refugee and refugee like backgrounds to document the settlement experiences of their peers and their families with specific reference to family relationships and cultural expectations during the early years of settlement
• Improve young people's access to and inclusion in community and culturally diverse activities.
• Provide young people with the knowledge and skills to strengthen their ability to fully participate in their local community by addressing settlement and cultural transition barriers through open and culturally sensitive communication.
• Develop culturally sensitive and multilingual audio visual and written resources that can support better understanding of the core issues and experiences of migrants.

About the position

HOST International and WSU will work with up to 10 Youth Peer Researchers to develop an evidence base to break-down barriers and increase young people’s access to and inclusion in the community. The evidence will build capability and capacity within migrant communities and service providers to address settlement stressors

WSU, in collaboration with HOST and two Youth Project Managers will assist the Youth Peer Researchers to conduct participatory action research, using a range of methods to reach out to a range of 16-25-year-old young people from refugee and refugee like backgrounds. Research will focus on three key themes: Cultural transitions, Family wellbeing, and Community wellbeing.

Before conducting the research, Youth Peer Researchers will be trained in a range of research and vocational skills such as interviewing techniques, collecting and analysing data, interpersonal and written communication and formal presentation skills. They will also be asked about the best ways to engage harder to reach young people through social media about their concerns, needs and aspirations.

Main Responsibilities

The Youth Peer Researchers will perform the following tasks with the support of HOST and WSU:

• Attend two full days of training to learn participatory action research methodologies
• Co-facilitate workshops and interviews for young people. This includes but is not limited to preparing questions, monitoring groups, leading discussions and encouraging participation.
• Participate in the planning of workshops
• Develop a social media outreach strategy
• Contribute to project reports after workshops have been delivered
• Present findings at a workshop in March 2022 to relevant stakeholders and decision makers.

Selection Criteria (to be referred to in your application, or at interview)

Essential requirements. You:

• Are from a refugee or refugee-like background and between 18-25yrs old
• Have demonstrated interest in current issues affecting young people from a refugee and refugee like background
• Have an interest in human rights issues, social justice and/or community wellbeing
• Are punctual and reliable
• Have excellent communication (verbal and written) and organisational skills
• Have a willingness to present on research during and after the project is complete
• Must be available to attend two full day trainings on 20th and 21st May and 40 hours of researcher work throughout July and August.

Desired skills. You:

• Are bilingual or multilingual
• Are willing to learn and try new things
• Have the ability and willingness to talk to young people from a refugee and refugee like background different to your own
• Have skills in delivering group activities and events
• Are confident contacting people by phone and email that you may not know
• Have a working knowledge of social media groups such as Facebook and Instagram
• Have creative media design skills (such as use of photoshop & videography)

Desired experience. You:

• Have volunteer or work experience with youth at a non-government organisation, community group, school etc
• Have talked in front of school assemblies or community groups

If you have any questions about the position, the application process or any information contained in this application package, please email [email protected], using the subject line: Youth Peer Researcher enquiry via EthicalJobs, or call 02 8660 1000