Improving Outcomes with South Sudanese A co-design project to build on community strengths and initiate new solutions

September 2018 Acknowledgement of traditional land owners

As guests, vistors, migrants and refugees we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land. We offer our deepest respect to the ancestors and elders of these traditional lands, and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island peoples past and present. Written by Farida Machar, Co-designer

Acknowledgement of the South Sudanese Australian Community

It was a great privilege for us to work with and hear the stories of all participants within the South Above: Young women who participated in co-design consultations Sudanese Australian Community. This work would not have been possible without their generosity in sharing experiences, insight and wisdom. The pathways presented on the following pages reflect what was heard from and created by members of the South Sudanese Communities of Western Metropolitan .

We pay our respects to South Sudanese Australian Community leaders and elders of the past present and future and are committed to collaboratively working toward a better future for all.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 2 Community Co-designers

The work presented here was conducted in cohealth is a not-for-profit community health collaboration with a Community Co-design organisation that provides vital local health and team: support services including medical, dental, allied Ariik Arok, Anyuop Dau, Farida Machar, Flora Chol, health, mental health, aged care and counselling, John Jok, Sebit Gurech and Ez Eldin Deng. and many specialist health services across Melbourne’s CBD, northern and western suburbs. Community Governance Group Caz Healy / cohealth Michael Apout, Natalina Acinkoc, Poni Peter [email protected]

Lee Kennedy / cohealth [email protected]

The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) partners with government, not-for- profits, philanthropy and business to develop and spread innovations that change lives. We believe The Department of Health and Human Services the best solutions emerge from working with develops and delivers policies, programs and the people facing the challenges we’re trying to services that support and enhance the health resolve. and wellbeing of all Victorians. Our vision is to achieve the best health, wellbeing and safety of all tacsi.org.au Victorians so that they can lead a life they value.

Mark Stracey / DHHS TACSI Project Team [email protected]

Lauren Weinstein / Project Director, TACSI Celia Gahan / DHHS [email protected] [email protected]

Lucy Fraser / Project Manager, TACSI Richard Deng / DHHS [email protected] [email protected]

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 3 Contents Glossary

Glossary 4 Moving forward 47 DHHS The Department of Health and Human Services, Strategy for next steps 48 Executive Summary 5 (Project Commissioner) Initiatives and Outcomes 6 Appendix 49 Consultation Cohorts 50 cohealth Overview of the four initiatives 7 (Project provider) Research Methods 50 High Demand 8 Other opportunity Areas 51 TACSI Talk with me 12 The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (Project What works in collaboration 52 working team) Culture Curators 16 The South Sudanese Australian Community Community Lab 20 In this document, ‘The South Sudanese Australian Key expected and unexpected outcomes 24 Community’ refers specifically to those living in Western Metropolitan Melbourne. Many of the challenges and Project Background 26 opportunities, however, would be similar for those living in other cities in Australia. Community Context 27 Initiatives Background, intent & stakeholder 27 The initiatives co-designed in this project Focus on Transitions 27 The project Project approach 28 “Co-designing better outcomes with the South Sudanese Australian Community of Western metropolitan Co-design and Collaboration 28 Melbourne” Project Stages 29 Co-designers Who we’ve consulted 29 South Sudanese Australian staff employed by TACSI on the working team Learning from The South Sudanese Austra- lian Community 30 The Governance Group Members from The South Sudanese Australian Stories from The South Sudanese Australian Community, cohealth, The Australian Centre for Social Community 31 Innovation and The Department of Health and Human Insights from The South Sudanese Australian Services who informed key project decisions Community 31

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 4 Executive Summary

The South Sudanese Australian Community is a strong, Together, these stakeholders co-designed four initiatives and striving community, and Melbourne is home to to improve outcomes in The South Sudanese Australian the largest South Sudanese Australian population in Community. The initiatives, shared below, focus on the country. However, the South Sudanese Australian supporting people and building their resilience so that Community faces many, complex challenges, including when challenges arise people have the resources and those faced by other migrant groups. In the years leading strengths they need to negotiate a way through. up to, and throughout this project, The South Sudanese Australian Community experienced increasing scrutiny The initiatives require collaboration between The from media, public and political spheres, in a way that The South Sudanese Australian Community, providers and South Sudanese Australian Community felt was divisive, government, including in human, financial and cultural racist and harmful to their success in Australia. resources. In this report we share a social outcomes and business case for each initiative to be taken forward for This project, ‘Co-designing better outcomes with development and delivery. The initiatives complement the South Sudanese Australian Community of each other, making it ideal for them to be progressed Western metropolitan Melbourne’ looked to increase simultaneously, however each can work alone. understanding between The South Sudanese Australian Community, providers and government, and collectively In this report you will also find useful insights and stories propose initiatives that would support people to thrive. from The South Sudanese Australian Community. These can support providers as well as leaders in the community Using co-design methodologies informed by community to better understand and serve those whose outcomes development practice, The Australian Centre for Social they are trying to improve. Innovation (TACSI) worked with The South Sudanese Australian Community, The Department of Health and Finally, the report includes reflections on what worked Human Services (DHHS) and health provider cohealth to well in the project process that might inform future understand the obstacles and opportunities, and design collaboration between community and government. and test solutions.

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 5 Initiatives and outcomes

Above: Young creatives who shared their ideas for better supports for their peers

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 6 Overview of the four initiatives

The co-design process used in this project identified 1 High Demand 2 Talk with me opportunities to leverage community strengths for improved outcomes. They are based on insights from the project research, have been designed with The Four unique service offerings Mending an intergenerational South Sudanese Australian Community and elements leveraging community expertise divide through conversations of each have been prototyped in Western metropolitan Melbourne. to lift the whole community throughout life transitions Each initiative places supports that help community members to navigate life transitions with more confidence. We heard from The South Sudanese Australian Community that small obstacles during transitions can spiral into major setbacks such as missed work opportunities or being expelled from school. These initiatives work toward transitions that create opportunities for South Sudanese Australians.

Individually, the initiatives work toward improved outcomes, however together, the four initiatives create some of the conditions for the South Sudanese Australian Community, and the broader community around them, to 3 Culture Curator 4 Community Lab thrive together. Leveraging community talent to A neutral community team that Next steps for the initiatives The four initiatives have the support of community promote a new, positive, strength works with Government to improve members and leaders. The following pages are overviews based media message about connection to and outcomes for of the design and business case for the start up of these initiatives. They now need resource partners to fund, start the South Sudanese Australian the South Sudanese Australian up, trial and deliver them. Community Community

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 7 High Demand Connecting to the right supports at the right time

Four unique service offerings that leverage community expertise to lift the whole community throughout life transitions. The High Demand Team helps individuals and services access and connect to mentorship, cultural training, mediators, and a crowd- sourced online resource.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 8 “Younger women have it easier because they have me - I’ve been through it already” Young mum who mentors her younger peers

Above: A co-designer and participant after a conversation about community leadership

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 9 Developed in response to: Alignment to African Action Plan Key participants • The need for feedback loops for ongoing Paid Roles improvement of services and culturally appropriate Employment Staff: South Sudanese Australian staff who have complements to the mainstream service structure. • Better support to assist unemployed people to find experience negotiating Australian culture and systems. jobs • Without a deep understanding of South Sudanese Audience culture and established relationships with Education & Training South Sudanese Australians: people who could benefit community, it can be a challenge for services to • Families are actively involved in their child’s learning from support to navigate Australian culture and systems provide the right supports at the right time. from early childhood to tertiary Service providers: Organisations or agencies who want • South Sudanese communities in Australia are Health & Wellbeing to strengthen their engagement with the South Sudanese negotiating two worlds: navigating Australian Australian Community systems and honouring South Sudanese values. • Tailored and responsive services meet the needs of Victorians of African heritage and lead to improved • South Sudanese Australians have skills, knowledge health literacy and outcomes and expertise to leverage and share so that others Implementation readiness don’t need to struggle when navigating new systems Leadership, Cohesion & Connecting Model ready to test or supports. • Young people are nurtured to lead, connect and The desirability and demand for this concept has been make informed decisions for their future confirmed with both potential customers and delivery staff. The primary work to be done is around identifying Potential investment needed for and mobilising key staff across each of the four service startup offerings. Through working closely with the primary two staff (trainer and coordinator) over a period of six months Moderate investment to startup and run for two years to co-design job descriptions and processes, a minimum estimated under $1,000,000 which would include viable product could be developed to test operational resources to further develop the design, recruit and pay logistics of the model and volume of demand over the two full time wages, training of three casual staff, set up following year. of “The Resource” and materials to support the roles (e.g. computers, phones, software subscriptions and initial marketing).

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 10 Theory of change

Proposed next steps to progress model Purpose Provide the right, culturally appropriate services at the right time. 1. Identify community and government champions to own the further progress the model Activities Outputs Outcomes • Address small issues and 2. Secure funding for a one year startup High demand coordinates, oversees, High Demand: South Sudanese recruits and trains staff across the Australians receive the right support answer questions early before 3. Identify organisations and services to participate in four service responses: at the right time: escalating into big obstacles awareness raising and outreach • Mentors: Amplifies • Mentors: Young South • People learn from those in their 4. Develop job descriptions for key roles, establish a community-initiated Sudanese Australians connect community who know how to recruitment process, conduct training and build staff mentorship through identifying to experienced and supportive navigate systems capability and connecting mentors to peers • People already engaged with young people. It may include • Bridge Builders: South systems feel someone is on 5. Co-design processes and ways of working within High connecting informal mentors Sudanese Australian people their side, reducing fear and the Demand and across the four unique service offerings to existing mentorship and families have cultural feeling of exclusion programs, or supporting them 6. Run a one year trial of High Demand and make support when interacting with seperately. • Services become more iterations in response to what is working and what is complex systems, such as child aware of early indicators and not • Bridge Builders: Supports protection can provide more culturally the navigation of Australian • Cultural Trainers: Service appropriate support 7. Set up a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to services and the understanding providers have greater understand the effects of the responses of South Sudanese culture by • Fear of services is minimised, understanding of South providers encouraging help seeking Sudanese Culture behaviour in The South • Cultural Trainers: Enabling • Resource: South Sudanese Sudanese Australian culturally appropriate service Australians know where to Community delivery in mainstream go for the answers they need organisations • The South Sudanese when they need them Australian Community have • The Resource: A video and more conversations about online community resource overcoming challenges, and made by community for feel equipped to do so community to bridge the Australian-South Sudanese • The South Sudanese Australian culture and language gap when Community self-determines navigating life transitions ways to share, teach and enable one another

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 11 Talk With Me Mending an intergenerational divide through conversation

Talk With Me aims to build understanding across generations. It is a set of conversational prompts that older and younger generations can use to spark safe discussions about meaningful topics that are not usually discussed. These conversations enable both generations to build a greater appreciation for the other’s challenges.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 12 “I didn’t move here with my dad. I didn’t really understand what they had been through. Young man after using ‘Talk with me”

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 13 Developed in response to: Alignment to African Action Plan Proposed next steps to progress model

• South Sudanese elders and young people have Education & Training 1. Identify community and government champions to different traditions, refugee experiences and own the progression of the model exposure to mainstream Australia. They also • Families are actively involved in their child’s learning 2. Secure funding for a one year startup have their own strengths and challenges that are from early childhood to tertiary sometimes in tension. • Health and Wellbeing 3. Identify organisations and businesses to participate • The need to spark a mutual appreciation of the • Good mental health and quality of life for all children, 4. Design, print and distribute cards and instructions to experiences, opinions and ambitions of different young people and adults different locations generations. Inclusion & Empowerment 5. Produce a promotional video • Creating safe conversational places that generate • Communities are inclusive, embrace individual 6. Run a two month prototype of Talk with me and iterate empathy across different generations and identities and reject all forms of discrimination in response to what works and what doesn’t encourage connection especially during transition • Everyone feels empowered to express themselves points. 7. Setup a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to freely understand the effects of conversations afterward • South Sudanese Communities in Australia are • Women are respected and empowered negotiating two worlds: navigating Australian systems and honouring South Sudanese values. Leadership, Cohesion & Connecting Different generations have skills to share with and • Young people are nurtured to lead, connect and learn from each other to support negotiating two make informed decisions for their future worlds. • Unified and empowered communities that proactively prioritises, plans and solves issues

• People have a strong sense of identity and feel connected to their culture, traditions and values

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 14 Key participants Theory of change Roles Initiators: People and locations that are interested in actively encouraging people to participate in Tea Together. Purpose These can be South Sudanese cafe owners, libraries, Foster connection and understanding across generations so that adults and young people can empathise schools, community leaders, religious leaders, parents, with and support one another better, especially during life transitions. kids etc.

Audience Activities Outputs Outcomes South Sudanese Australians: Adults and young people • Culture Conversation Cards: a • A video series of prominent • Young people and parents who feel that the other generation does not understand pack of five topics, with three South Sudanese figures from set their sights on better outcomes for their family or listen to them. questions per topic different generations having conversations using topic • Organisations, health centres, • Young people and parents are cards. Available in major South community groups, restaurants more equipped to respond to Sudanese languages Implementation readiness and other businesses display racism questions for people to use • Talk with me participants Model ready to test • Parents are more comfortable spread the word to others they • Adults and young people use engaging with places, ideas and The concept has been prototyped, demonstrating that know cards and simple instructions aspects of Australian culture it is effective, however there is still some remaining to hold brief but meaningful • Conversations across that young people appreciate uncertainty about how the model would be introduced conversations that shift generations begin organically, • Parents and young people and adopted. Experiential prototyping is required to test perspectives participants prompt dialogue are more comfortable having the front-end experience. Monitoring and evaluation with or without cards conversations to prepare for is required to test the extent of the behaviour change and overcome challenges; prompted by this initiative. parents increasingly become a helpful resource for young Potential investment needed for people startup

Low financial investment to startup and run for one year: estimated under $75,000 which would include designing, printing and sharing cards, production of promotional video, further development, testing and iteration of the concept, and a basic evaluation mechanism to understand the effects of conversations afterward.

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 15 Culture Curator Creatives connecting to reshape the public narrative Culture Curator aims to leverage South Sudanese Australian Community’s skills to promote new, positive, strength based media messages about The South Sudanese Australian Community. As a network of diverse creatives Culture Curator strategically unifies the messages from community to community. They promote positive stories to influence the public narrative.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 16 “We have a voice. I try to motivate the youth through my music to address issues. South Sudanese Australian musician

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 17 Developed in response to: Alignment to African Action Plan Audience Community youth leaders those who are advocating for • Stigmatising messages from media and some Education & Training young South Sudanese Australians authority figures about how Australia perceives Community elder leaders those who are the faces South Sudanese people. These messages can • Children, young people and adults are engaged, responding to media and political issues harmfully lower expectations of what community independent learners, and are resilient members can achieve in transitions. Service providers and departments those wanting to send Inclusion & Empowerment messages to, or otherwise engage, the South Sudanese • A strong community of talented South Sudanese Australian Community (e.g. Cancer Council, Victorian artists, musicians, photographers, filmmakers, • Communities are inclusive, embrace individual Multicultural Commission) writers and storytellers are eager to participate in identities and reject all forms of discrimination shaping and sharing positive stories. • Everyone feels empowered to express themselves freely • Culturally safe activities that foster creative and Implementation readiness • Everyone is socially engaged and actively physical expression, recognise achievement and participates in The South Sudanese Australian Concept needing exploration and design strengthen confidence help to build the resilience Community necessary for young people to navigate through The concept has demonstrated interest and desirability tough times. Leadership, Cohesion & Connecting by consumers and potential contributors. While this model reflects activities that are already occurring in community, • The dearth of diverse employment opportunities • Unified and empowered communities that pro- co-design work is needed to determine how the group due to racism and differing acceptance of overseas actively prioritises, plans and solves issues would be established, how it would operate and how it would qualifications connect with key community groups and media stakeholders. • People have a strong sense of identity and feel This could be done through further co-design work with connected to their culture, traditions and values potential Culture Curate creatives, experiential prototyping of the model and a plan for running pilot over the course of 12 Key participants months with developmental evaluation.

Paid Roles Creative artist groups musicians, spoken word artists, dancers, rappers, videographers, illustrators. Creative Coordinator identifies small groups of creatives already existing in The South Sudanese Australian Community, invites them to participate and coordinate how these groups can engage and work strategically together.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 18 Theory of change

Potential investment needed for Purpose Leverage the skills and ambition of creatives to promote new, positive, strength based startup media messages about The South Sudanese Australian Community Low to moderate financial investment to start up and run for one year: estimated under $100,000 which would include a venue for meetings, payment to staff, media Activities Outputs Outcomes advertising and campaigns, and support to strategically • Connecting creatives • Creatives have a stronger • South Sudanese Australians, support network for their work particularly young people and recruit the team. Ongoing use of Culture Curator for direct • Supporting them to align and and more opportunities for skill parents, build strong positive to market communication operates as a pay for service build a strategy to create and development self-perception, and see what fee model. share messages, and respond is possible for them to media issues • Messages directed at The South Sudanese Australian • The media, authority figures • Connect with service providers Proposed next steps to progress model Community are positive, and general public see the and community leaders culturally appropriate and strength and potential of the who are looking to send 1. Identify creatives who can champion and progress engaging South Sudanese Australian helpful messages to The this concept. Community, change their South Sudanese Australian • People in The South Sudanese perception of The South 2. Secure funding to startup Community Australian Community, and Sudanese Australian the general public, hear 3. Identify and alert key partners and clients who would Community constructive messages about be interested in their work South Sudanese Australians. • Demonstrate to decision makers that The South 4. Identify opportunities and connections outside • Service providers and Sudanese Australian the South Sudanese Australian Community for skill government have an avenue to Community is coordinated and development and network development distribute important messages unified to this community in a culturally 5. Identify and recruit creatives who would be a good appropriate way match for Culture Curators

6. Three month into the trial of Culture Curator, make iterations in response to what’s working and what’s not

7. Set up a monitoring and evaluation mechanism to understand the effects of media initiatives over the 12 months

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 19 Community Lab A community team that works with Government to improve connection to and outcomes for the South Sudanese Australian Community

Community Lab is a team of South Sudanese people who work with government and community to problem solve and plan for improved outcomes. The South Sudanese Australian Community team is a neutral and diverse set of South Sudanese Australian voices and enables The South Sudanese Australian Community to weigh in on decisions that will affect them, help the government understand key challenges in a timely way and provide decision makers with a resource for South Sudanese connections and ideas.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 20 “The South Sudanese Australian Community’s voice can be amplified back to government to talk to the change that needs to happen” Service provider

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 21 Developed in response to: Alignment to African Action Plan Key participants

• The need to hear from both heard and unheard Inclusion & Empowerment Paid Roles voices about challenges and solutions • Everyone is socially engaged and actively Community Lab Members will reflect the different • Community seeking opportunities to support participates in The South Sudanese Australian generations, genders, tribes, culture (modern and Community development of responses that affect the South traditional) of The South Sudanese Australian Community. Sudanese Australian Community Leadership, Cohesion & Connecting Audience • The government seeking community members to South Sudanese Australians: support the improvement • Young people are nurtured to lead, connect and play an unbiased role in advising in crisis situations of outcomes for all South Sudanese people living in make informed decisions for their future and supporting decision making and policy Victoria. development • More Victorians of African heritage are partners, Government Agencies: Support the efficiency, efficacy influencers and leaders across society and culturally appropriateness of government decisions • Unified and empowered communities that and approaches that affect the South Sudanese Australian proactively prioritises, plans and solves issues Community

Implementation readiness

Concept needing exploration and design The concept has demonstrated interest and desirability, however co-design work is needed to determine how the group would be established, how it would operate and how government would enable the group to participate in critical conversations. This progression of The South Sudanese Australian Community Lab concept could be done through further co-design work with potential Lab participants, experiential prototyping of the model and a plan for running pilot over the course of 12 months with developmental evaluation.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 22 Theory of change

Potential investment needed for Purpose Leverage a diverse and objective community group to support government in understanding community issues and startup co-identify culturally appropriate responses.

Moderate financial investment to start up and run for one year estimated under $180,000 which would Activities Outputs Outcomes include: recruitment of initial team members, design • Training and capability building • Community informed and • Community groups and and prototyping the structure, establishment and start for each tranche of Lab owned responses to issues government are better able to up of group (ways of working, processes), training of participants (one year term). that affect community work together team members and payment of team members for Training potentially provided • Modelling ways of working • Community is positioned to participation. by Australia and New Zealand to increase trust between advise on issues and responses School of Government . community and government that affect community, Proposed next steps to progress model • Ongoing meetings to discuss increasing self determination trends, issues and opportunity • Increased collaborative areas 1. Identify community and government champions to engagement from community own the further progression of the model • Impromptu meetings to members discuss critical situations and 2. Secure funding for startup • Mutual education of responses as they arise government and community 3. Look at similar models and approaches locally and • Outreach and engagement about the other internationally to understand what works (e.g. Koori with community groups, Caucus and Multicultural Community Action Network) members and organisations to 4. Development of a set of processes, activities and act on decisions terms of reference for the Lab

5. Establish a Community Lab through a rotating nomination and recruitment process to identify Lab participants

6. Run a one year prototype of the Lab and make iterations in response to what’s working and what’s not

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 23 Key expected and unexpected outcomes

The below outcomes include some that were intentional Hearing from diverse and unheard Genuine co-design & validating components of the project, but also some that were fortunate side-effects of the work. voices participation experience by community Including the extension work focusing on young people, Demonstrating an approach to research and co-design 66 people from the South Sudanese have had the that compensates participants for their time and does Four initiatives for better outcomes opportunity to share their experiences, opinions and not rely on volunteer time. This increases expectations, Fulfilling the project intention, four initiatives were co- recommendations and to co-design solutions. Each self worth and self belief. Collaborative, genuine and designed to create better outcomes with the South engagement was intended to be constructive for the consistent connection with people has demonstrated Sudanese Australian Community. ‘High Demand’, ‘Talk project as well as the participants. an alternative approach to co-design and consultation with me’, and ‘Culture Curator’ each supports, positive to community that has been met with appreciation and relationships and promotes positive self image, helpful for Throughout the project, we supported many vulnerable positivity. building resilience during times of transition. ‘Community and unheard voices to feel comfortable speaking honestly Lab’ is a more systemic initiative, looking to create an and contributing to change for people in their situation. The opportunity areas from the Research Stage identified environment where more collaboration and co-design The experiences of parents involved in the child protection many existing community strengths. The pathways between community, providers and Government is system, young people who struggle at school and young were designed with The South Sudanese Australian accessible. mothers was shared and contributed to the design of the Community to leverage these, and intend to support initiatives. and expand their impact. Community leaders (including youth, creative, parenting and elected leaders) and people Employment & skill building facing significant disadvantage helped to co-design these 6 Co-designers (3 male and 3 female, 4 young people and pathways. 2 adults) were employed short term in co-design research By participating in the project many young people have or prototyping, with training including interviewing, felt valued and part of the discussion. When some young observation, note taking, analysis, synthesis, developing people were asked how they would like their voices to be ideas and designing solutions. Co-designers were casual heard, they said ‘More things like this!’ TACSI employees, and were supported through hearing tough stories from participants and practicing their design skills “You would not believe how many messages I woke up to this morning with some of the boys telling me they had such a great experience with the workshop asking for more like that in the future! One guy even opened up to me and said that was the first time he felt comfortable talking about how he feels as a South Sudanese minority in his community and the Australian community as well as getting to share his ambitions and dreams was a highlight for him” Community Co-designer

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 24 Intergenerational connection Connecting aligned individuals Showcase Throughout the project there was organic connection After sharing anonymously with participants some between young and older people in The South Sudanese insights and approaches of other people we spoke to, Due to growing interest across the span of the project, Australian Community. Co-designers of different ages got a few community members and service provision staff cohealth and DHHS commissioned a Showcase to know each other well, and engaged with participants requested that we connect them. With each person’s event and complimentary video to share the project from a spectrum of genders and ages. permission, we have put people in touch who have similar insights and initiatives. Potential funders and delivery partners, and a few key leaders were invited to a 1 hour In the prototyping conversations for “Talk with me” 5 ambitions, and can learn from each other. presentation, where they heard about the project and conversations were had between older and younger concepts from the co-design team. Community leaders, people. Young people told us they had never spoken providers and Government department representatives to older people like that before and experienced ‘aha!’ Video were equally impressed by the way the young people moments in the course of conversations that shed light For TACSI to successfully leave this project it was strongly represented their community, and advocated on the rationale behind why the older generation believes important for South Sudanese Australian voices to for collaboration toward better outcomes. It was clear what they believe. Some had never heard about their be sharing the project ideas, insights and actions with many people were impressed by their intelligence and parents’ generation experience of trauma, appreciation their community, with language and messages that eloquence, and some perspectives about young South for education, or even what they admire about younger are appropriate for The South Sudanese Australian Sudanese Australians were shifted. generations. Older people commented that they felt Community. The Governance Group proposed that a young people were finally listening and understanding video would help share the information, and well known their point of view. These conversations enabled both videographer Ez Eldin Deng was comissioned to create a generations to see the other’s perspective and have video capturing the key project insights and capturing the Promoting youth voice to leaders empathy for the ways in which they experience Australia. experience of the South Sudanese Australian Community. As the project progressed, the co-designers from The video was shared at the Showcase event (see below) throughout the project (even those who no longer and more widely with key community leaders and on social had time to fully engage) were encouraged to take on media for broader awareness. more ownership of the work. This was highlighted at the Practical prototyping - building Showcase of the project outcomes, and in the transition communication skills with community stage. Young people were leading the conversation and organisations Cultural insights to educate the system bringing their peers and leaders up to date on the thought, ideas and concepts that came from their community. During prototyping of a concept that leveraged the skills of The insights into cultural and community needs and creatives to promote positive stories, the co-design team dynamics can stand alone and support service providers asked members of a South Sudanese youth organisation and government grow their understanding of The South to map out what messages they would like their Sudanese Australian Community to improve their working community to hear and how, using a structured template. relationships. See page 37 for detailed insights from the The organisation remarked how useful it was to have a project research. clear structure to think through messaging, and said they would use what they created for an up-coming event.

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 25 Project Background

Above: A young woman who participated in consultations with a Co-designer

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 26 Community Context Background, intent & Focus on Transitions

While there are opportunities to improve outcomes The South Sudanese population in Melbourne is the stakeholders across The South Sudanese Australian Community, this largest in Australia, and is increasing as people from project focused on times when people are particularly interstate are attracted by the strong South Sudanese cohealth was commissioned by the West Division of the vulnerable - times of transition. Australian Community. The South Sudanese Australian Department of Human Services (DHHS), to undertake Community continues to face many challenges moving to a six to nine month project to lead a deep co-design Transitions are times of change in people’s lives, when a new country or state. These include obstacles common consultation process with the South Sudanese Australian they have new experiences or behaviours. Transitions to refugee and migrant populations such as language, Community of Western Metropolitan Melbourne. are times of elevated risk, but also times of opportunity navigating a new culture and systems while honouring The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) are for effective support to reduce risk. For the South their own culture. The South Sudanese Australian supporting cohealth to undertake the work and engage Sudanese Australian Community living in Australia, the Community also faces unique challenges including: with The South Sudanese Australian Community. TACSI risks are higher and more complex than most at points of transition, and often lack of effective support in these • Particular scrutiny by the Australian media, has worked to build trust and to use co-design approaches times lead to poorer outcomes. politicians and public, to jointly understand and addressNew experiences these issues can atbe aexciting, time scary or both. Are you, or do you know someone who is: when the South Sudanese Australian Community is under We named three cohorts as important transitions that • What has been described by a service provider as a significant scrutiny. ‘special kind of racism’ that has affected the feeling can lead to project based on issues raised by The South of belonging and identity, This project aims to work to empower the South Sudanese Australian Community in our conversations New experiences can beand exciting, in past scary community or both. engagement work, and have been 1 Sudanese Australian Community of Western Metropolitan • Transitioning from a collectivist society where Melbourne to collectively share their issues andAre you, or do you knowexplored someone in who past is: literature. interdependance is valued, to a culture where opportunities, and develop collaborative strategies and individual autonomy is valued. solutions that meet community needs. • A gap of empathy and understanding between Becoming independent (e.g. leaving school, TACSI was workingNew experiences closely can with be and exciting, valued scary the or leadershipboth. the generations who’ve had different cultural leaving home, finding or starting work) of the SouthAre Sudanese you, or do members you knowYoung someone of the men Governance who is: New Adolescents Families who are experiences and faced different kinds of adversity. Group. We acknowledged theengaged extensive with work the The Southmothers leaving school engaged with justice system child protection • This project set out to understand the causes of Sudanese Australian Community is already doing to New to parenting (e.g. having children, barriers facing The South Sudanese Australian address challenges. parenting in Australia for the first time) Community, hear unheard voices and codevelop We’d like to hear what it’s like. What are you However, not all challengeslooking The South forward Sudanese to and whatYoung are men you worried New Adolescents Families who are community-driven solutions. Australian Community facesabout? are within What are their your control. engagedideas on The howwith thingsthe mothers leaving school engaged with could be easier? justice system child protection project looks to Government and service providers to Families with first engagement with 1 Atem Deng, Santino, Fitting the Jigsaw: South Sudanese Family Dynamics play key roles to enable and support The South Sudanese institutions (schools, job networks, welfare and Parenting Practices in Australia, Page 48 Australian Community to lead the pathways.We’d like to hear what it’s like. What are yousystems, justice systems, child protection) Young men New lookingAdolescents forward to and whatFamilies are you who worried are engaged with the mothers about?leaving What schoolare your ideasengaged on how thingswith Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation justice system could be easier? child protection 27

We’d like to hear what it’s like. What are you looking forward to and what are you worried about? What are your ideas on how things could be easier? Project approach Co-design and Collaboration

This project aimed to identify and create pathways toward We believe that the best solutions are ones designed and Co-design Research improved outcomes owned by The South Sudanese led by communities themselves. The long term success Extensive research and exploration has been done in Australian Community, through a co-design process. of the short term engagement of this project relies on the past on issues facing the South Sudanese Australian community ownership of process and opportunities. Community. It appears that among The South Sudanese Co-design is the mindset that people are know their own The approach tailored for this project was informed Australian Community there is research fatigue, where experience best and should have the opportunity to play by a community development approach specific to much investigation has occurred with little long term an active role in decisions that shape their lives. It’s also South Sudanese immigrants in Australia. It focuses action taken. a method of working with people directly affected by an on creating agency within the Sudanese community, TACSI’s approach to research was different from issue, in order to identify challenges and create solutions. mutual collaboration in design and decision making, traditional research, in that we utilised a co-design Pathways and responsiveness to the evolving needs of The South Through co-design, the project created initiatives for research methodology. Co-design research methodology We believe successful paths willSudanese have Australian Community. better outcomes in the South Sudanese Australianfour key components draws from ethnographic approaches to gather Community. Initiatives were required to have the four This approach is characterised by the following key meaningful insights from The South Sudanese Australian components described below. principles: Community’s perspective. It is unique because it is conducted: • build genuine relationships • with the intention of developing insights, • empower community to decide, lead and implement opportunities and action

• prioritise context and culture in ensuring • with and by people from The South Sudanese Pathways1 Opportunity 2 Impact 3 Approachopportunities 4 Journey are Forward relevant We believe successfulA concept paths that will addresses have An anticipated An approach and set of An action plan for next Australian Community four key componentsa particular need, job to outcome or description values associated• withencourage steps, participation future growth and through a ‘doing with’ attitude be done or problem. of intended impact. the path. sustainability into the • in an empowering way for those who participate future. • long term sustainability through building Champions The ambition of this short project was to learn from and transferring ownership existing knowledge, and begin ‘doing with’ The South Sudanese Australian Community - learning together and “I thought I knew taking action together, steered by The South Sudanese everything about my Australian Community. 1 Opportunity 2 Impact 3 Approach 4 Journey Forward community, but this A concept that addresses An anticipated An approach and set of An action plan for next project changed that” Co-design Prototyping a particular need, job to outcome or description values associated with steps, future growth and After co-design research, the areas of opportunity and be done or problem. of intended impact. the path. sustainability into the future. Flora Chol, Co-designer action inform paper and experiential prototypes. These

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 28 are paper tools and human experiences that mock up parts of a service experience. Using these tools, the Project Stages Who we’ve consulted Co-design Team tested opportunities and initiatives with others in the community - consulting with some familiar This project has six main stages. faces and many new individuals and families. Feedback 1. Project setup: TACSI learned about what’s happened in on the prototypes is equally as important as behaviour, 66 South Sudanese Australians the past in research and in the South Sudanese Australian language and experience that Co-designers observe. This Community, built early relationships with leaders and 15 Service Delivery Staff informed another iteration of the initiatives. connectors and identified areas of exploration. 5 Senior Government Decision Makers Community Co-design Team 2. Connect with community: We built relationships with A central component of delivering a community centred the South Sudanese Australian Community to identify and approach was having a team that included research and train a range of Co-designers to be on the project team. Throughout the project we endeavored to hear from design experts, as well as experts in South Sudanese a diverse range of the South Sudanese Australian Australian culture and community. These Co-designers 3. Co-design research: The project team heard from the Community that reflects different genders, ages, tribes, were employed to listen to and advocate for their South Sudanese Australian Community about what helps religions and migration experiences. Particular emphasis community in every stage of the project. Throughout them and what gets in the way of good outcomes shape was placed on hearing ‘unheard’ voices, including women, the project 6 South Sudanese Australian co-designers key insights. Identified opportunity areas and initiatives people who’ve engaged with justice and child protection were employed on a casual basis. This team have received with The South Sudanese Australian Community. systems, and tribes outside the Dinka tribe. training in the co-design process including interviewing, Through the Research and Prototyping stages of the analysis of data, prototyping and communication. Over 4. Co-design prototyping: The project team tested project, The South Sudanese Australian Community Co- time they took an increasing role in the project and out some of the pathways with The South Sudanese design Team has consulted with 66 people from the South impressed community leaders, providers and state Australian Community in a small way; made some changes Sudanese Australian Community in Western Metropolitan government alike. based on what we learned. Melbourne, 14 staff delivering services and 5 senior decision makers in government. Governance Group 5. Showcase The Governance Group that advised the project direction cohealth and the project team shared the initiatives Please refer to page 50 of the Appendix for a more at key stages included 1-2 DHHS staff, 1-2 cohealth from the project, and the insights from the research with detailed breakdown of people we engaged with. staff and 3 leaders from The South Sudanese Australian potential delivery partners. A video by producer Ez Eldin Community. The Governance Group worked to equalise Deng was commissioned to spread the information about power in decision making and ensure that the project the project more widely. was led by community needs while considering existing conditions. 6. Transition and communication: The Co-design Team took a lead role in designing and delivering the transition plan to share the project results with The South Sudanese Australian Community. Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 29 Learning from The South Sudanese Australian Community

Above: Young people mapping their experiences

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 30 Stories from The South Sudanese Australian Community A closer look at the lives of the people who we met

Personas are representations of many people with similar experiences, to help express the human experience, nuanced challenges and inspiring strengths of The South Sudanese Australian Community. These personas capture the stories, experiences and views of community members we’ve met and worked with. The quotes are real.

Sharing stories for change

The personas are helpful in the context of this project, but can be applied to build empathy and educate others in different ways, such as:

• demonstrating to influential politicians, journalists, front line staff the complexity of the challenges particular cohorts face

• building empathy in the non-South Sudanese Australian public - to create a human connection with a community they may not interact with

• building empathy in South Sudanese Australians from different age groups, backgrounds and beliefs, through social media or at community meetings

• education of service delivery staff in formal training, or having visible posters or slides in common rooms

• sharing in reception areas of service providers, to let visitors know that they’re not alone

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 31 Santino’s Story: Strengths: • Intelligent and thoughtful Santino is the youngest son of 6 children. He moved to • Strong family support and values Australia when he was 3 years old and lives at home with his • Willing to work hard mum, grandmother and a couple of his siblings. His dad passed away back in Africa.

High school was tough for Santino, not because the school Challenges: work was hard, but because he got into fights with some of • Lack of agency, and lacking an the other kids. Some other boys called him a monkey at advocate school: ‘and there is only so much you can take’. Santino • Experiences of bullying and racism; hasn’t been sure how to find a job since he got expelled feeling excluded from school over a year ago, his mum tells him “This • Lack of support from school and wouldn’t have happened if you listened to me”. He doesn’t disillusioned with other services know where to begin and his contact at the employment Santino, 17 y/o man agency has been unreliable. He is not sure who to ask for help or what he could do, but he knows he wants to get a “My advice would be ‘walk job in construction so he can help support his family. away’ if you get into a fight at Finding my school” Santino is looking for direction and trying to keep out of place trouble. He feels like he is at a turning point in his life, and is looking for help to keep him on track. Searching for success, “I'll always support my Navigating systems family. I'll only leave home “I got a letter telling me I was expelled, when I can support myself so I just never went to school again” and support my family”

0 yrs 10 yrs 20+ yrs Passive Negotiating Adamant None Numerous None Extensive

Length of time in Aus Approach to challenges Connections with broader community Experience of trauma

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 32 Ayen’s Story: Strengths: Ayen is the eldest of 7 children and feels she was more of a • Confident, optimistic and resilient mother to her siblings than her mother was. Although she’s had • Supports other young women to a tough past, she’s been able to overcome challenges through achieve their dreams the support of helpful mentors and access to creative • Balances South Sudanese culture programs. Ayen still helps her siblings a few times each week, with some Australian values despite moving into her own home with her husband and first child Achol. She wants Achol to have the close relationship she has only developed with her own mother later in life. Ayen’s Challenges: husband isn’t home much, and she knows that she’s the one • Finding full time employment responsible for her child. • Staying motivated and managing time while supporting so many Other young women are drawn to Ayen’s confidence and her others advice about how to balance their parents expectations and • Maintaining relationships with their own dreams. She talks to them about things they wouldn’t older generations dare talk to their mother or even friends about, like how to Ayen, 25 y/o woman handle guys who don’t have boundaries! Ayen always has visitors at her house who she feeds and gives advice to - if anyone is feeling lost, they can go to her. “It’s easier to raise healthy Female mentor boys than repair broken men” New to parenting Part time work for a creative arts program and Centrelink payments help her get by but money is tight. She’s looking for a Becoming independent more affordable home for her small family. “I said to myself, ‘I’m going to “Younger women have it easier because do such a big u-turn, I’m they have me - I’ve been through it going to do the right thing’” already”

0 yrs 10 yrs 20+ yrs Passive Negotiating Adamant None Numerous None Extensive

Length of time in Aus Approach to challenges Connections with broader community Experience of trauma

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 33 Deng’s Story: Strengths: Deng is a creative, outgoing and energetic young rapper. He • Embraces creative outlets has known most of his life here in Australia, and while some • Strong sense of justice teachers made school a struggle at many times, he made it • Mentor and leader to younger kids through. Deng respects his family, and as the remaining son • Confident he can do/achieve at home, he has lots of responsibilities. There is always anything if he works hard another young man following him around, and he even supports a few friends back in Africa when he can. Helping others feels natural for him and motivates him to do well. Challenges: Some of his older siblings haven’t had such a smooth • Racism barriers to employment journey here in Australia, they’re in trouble with the police and success and one is in jail. He has been able to support his mum and • Only a handful of connections to help care for his sibling through this. broader Australian community • No safety net - has to succeed Deng, 22 y/o man Deng hates the fact that he and his mates can’t get into nightclubs as a group, because security thinks they will ‘cause trouble’. They find their own ways to hangout, mainly “I come from a background where through music and making art. He enjoys creating music no-one had to opportunity to Youth Leader about his story and life in Melbourne as a young South study; I decided I wanted to learn” Becoming independent Sudanese man. He feels this helps him process his story and share it with others.

“Struggle makes me stronger, “I’ve been paying bills since I was 14 ” more hungry to keep going”

0 yrs 10 yrs 20+ yrs Passive Negotiating Adamant None Numerous None Extensive

Length of time in Aus Approach to challenges Connections with broader community Experience of trauma

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 34 Linda’s Story: Strengths: • Strong family values Linda married her husband very young, and they have 5 • Some income sources children together. They came to Australia as a whole family, • Values education but Linda’s husband decided to go back to South • Strong community ties to other after struggling to find employment. Linda stayed in parents Australia as she wanted the kids to finish school and go to uni. She sends what money she can back to her husband. Linda has worked a couple of jobs, but now her main income is from fostering her sister-in-law’s children. Challenges: • Financial strain due to cultural Linda constantly reminds her children that they are ‘the obligations lucky ones’ and to always think that ‘it could be worse’. She • Lack of support with parenting wants to see them do well, but already she feels like she is • Mental health challenges losing her parental authority. They are often not in the • Frustrated by the reality of life in house or neglect their chores. She knows that she can’t Australia discipline them in the same way she was disciplined as a Linda, 43 y/o woman child, but she struggles to know what to do instead. Linda “I worry that one day I will see values respect for elders and doesn’t feel that her children are giving her that. She isn’t sure how to lead them down a my son on the news” Worried Mum good path in this country. New to parenting in Australia Linda feels disillusioned with Australia. She plans to return “It was different when we first came - to and sometimes wishes that she never left. everyone was so nice. Now we are “I thought Australia would not welcome. I cannot bring my sister here. I hate the news.” look after me”

0 yrs 10 yrs 20+ yrs Passive Negotiating Adamant None Numerous None Extensive

Length of time in Aus Approach to challenges Connections with broader community Experience of trauma

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 35 Victor’s Story: Strengths: • Hardworking and has grit Victor made it to Australia after fleeing the war in South • Consistently employed Sudan when he was 17 and living in refugee camps in • Has learned from experience and Uganda and Egypt. He’s seen his father and uncle killed and wants a better future lost touch with his siblings when he had to leave.

When Victor arrived in Australia he worked hard jobs, in Challenges: abattoirs and picking melons. He made sure he always had a • Mental health challenges and job and enjoyed travelling all around Australia to where there unresolved trauma was work. When working hard, Victor started drinking to • Lack of connection to Community relieve the stress. Although drinking helped, it also started • Anger at services that have failed to be a problem and got him into a fight with a police officer him in the past which ended up with him being in detention for a while. Victor, 28 y/o man Victor promised himself he’d never go back to detention, moving his work shifts so he works weekends to keep out of “When you [child protection] take an trouble. He lives by himself, away from any family, because egg away from a snake, of course the he wants space. He and his girlfriend got pregnant. They snake will bite you” Been had issues with child protection, but he wants to put all of that behind him now. Victor wants to focus on working hard through it and getting his life back on track. “I took the wrong turn but you can change” Engaging Institutions “Every day my mind was swelling…the only way I could sleep was to drink” “You’ve got to live by the rules”

0 yrs 10 yrs 20+ yrs Passive Negotiating Adamant None Numerous None Extensive

Length of time in Aus Approach to challenges Connections with broader community Experience of trauma

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 36 Insights from the community Highlights from what we heard and learned

1 Negotiating two worlds 4 Tall tales and public narratives 7 The parenting catch 22 South Sudanese Communities in Australia are negotiating The South Sudanese community are receiving unhelpful South Sudanese parents in Australia are often strained by two worlds: navigating Australian systems and honouring messages about how Australia perceives them which a fear of what will happen to their children and uncertainty South Sudanese values. can have a negative impact on perceptions of self, of how to effectively parent and discipline in this new belonging and what’s possible. The majority of South context. Parents and guardians are grappling with the Sudanese Australians do not subscribe to the idea of tensions of increased opportunities for their children 2 Generational divide gang participation and feel unfairly represented under this in Australia whilst also simultaneously feeling culturally blanket narrative. Because South Sudanese elders and young people have vilified. experienced different traditions, refugee experiences and 5 Myths of inadequacy exposure to mainstream Australia, they hold different South Sudanese immigrants and Australians have world views. This generational divide can lead to tension 8 Social safety nets: for better or worse prioritised education and workforce participation. Many rather than compromise, creating vulnerabilities at times of have degrees in higher education but feel perceived as The South Sudanese Australian Community have safety transition between people who rely on each other. uneducated or incompetent by the wider public. and strength together, and as an unintended result, are often missing the useful connections with the broader community that are helpful to leverage in times of 3 Culturally appropriate support 6 Rising excellence and fame in a modern world transition. Without a deep understanding of South Sudanese culture Many young people are forging new territory in the arts, and established relationships with community it can be a music, media and sport. After seeing international role challenge for services to provide the right supports at the 9 Drop off points models rise to modern success they are following in the right time in a meaningful way. footsteps of South Sudanese giants. These examples A lack of agency and the confidence to ask questions are supporting young people to disregard negative during a transition, can lead to the decisions being made stereotypes and follow their dreams yet they’re lacking on your behalf and small obstacles becoming larger issues strategic support to understand practical options. in the longer term.

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 37 1 Negotiating two worlds South Sudanese Communities in Australia are negotiating two worlds: navigating the values and cultures of each. People with a ‘negotiating’ approach to addressing new challenges are able to compromise across cultures and generations, navigate systems and create networks of support. For example, parents and children who use a ‘negotiating’ approach to their relationship can communicate, understand and empathise with each other to navigate new systems, laws and transitions together. A ‘negotiating’ approach allows people to ask questions, clarify and advocate for themselves while working within the boundaries of the system. Those who don’t utilise this approach can be passive or defiant in the face of challenges, leading to limited access to support or getting into trouble.

“I’m raising my family in “Coming to this culture was a different world - that’s really shocking because Australia. How will I make it was a way different this family the best South experience“ Sudanese and Australian family?” Woman

Father

“Having your culture there but also trying to adapt to another culture… For me it hasn’t been as hard I guess because I came here when I was 9, that doesn’t mean I don’t go through racism“

Young woman credit Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community flickr:Steven 38Penton 2 Generational divide Because South Sudanese elders and young people have experienced different traditions, refugee experiences and exposure to mainstream Australia, they hold different world views. This generational divide can lead to tension rather than compromise, creating vulnerabilities at times of transition between people who rely on each other.

In the Australian context, traditional roles and relationships between older and younger generations of South Sudanese are under pressure. Australian culture places an increased emphasis on the independence of young people, who can also provide translation, financial and guidance support to their elders. This challenging of traditional roles, lack of understanding between the generations and a lack of ways to unite together in this new context, all can cause strain at times of transition when younger and older generations could strengthen each other.

“Parents don’t “If he’d listened to understand that me he wouldn’t be in school isn’t for trouble” everyone” Mother Young man

“I want to study, I don’t want to get married straight away”

Young woman credit Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation flickr: Joe Thorn 39 3 Culturally appropriate support Without a deep understanding of South Sudanese culture and established relationships with community it can be a challenge for services to provide the right supports at the right time in a meaningful way.

The relatively recent migration and complexity of the South Sudanese Australian Community means services have minimal but growing experience engaging with this cultural group. Currently, few services are engaging effectively and creating enduring relationships. The research saw that it was particularly hard to reach and engage with married women living with their husbands and single men in their late 20s. Many of the services that do have stronger relationships with community often only come into contact with community members when things have escalated and are harder to address (e.g. police and child protection services) and therefore miss opportunities for early prevention and intervention. “[South Sudanese “Normal response Australian people] were not effective, are fearful [of us and [so we began] the systems] and go to work with the under the radar for a community” period of time.”

Service provider Service Provider Above: Nyakeer, a youth mentor at cohealth Arts Generator’s Brother’s and Sisters program, and mem- ber of ‘New Change’ credit Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community flickr: Neil 40 4 Tall tales and public narratives The South Sudanese community are exposed to unhelpful narratives about how Australia perceives them which can have a negative impact on perceptions of self, belonging and what’s possible. The majority of South Sudanese Australians do not subscribe to the idea of gang participation and feel unfairly represented under this blanket narrative.

Many community members perceive that they are treated differently by teachers, security guards and employers due to the disproportionate media coverage of African crime in Australia. Community members feel frustrated and unwanted as a result, leading to a build up of stress, acting out and potentially poor transitions. Some young people, in particular, are able to harness their frustration to drive them to succeed more, while others struggle under the pressure. Above: an excerpt from ‘Breaking News’ a film by South Sudanese advocacy group New Change “What they (the general responding to negative media narratives about public) see on TV is what the South Sudanese Australian Community they think you are”

Young man

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 41 5 Myths of inadequacy South Sudanese immigrants and Australians have prioritised education and workforce participation. Many have degrees in higher education but feel perceived as uneducated or incompetent by the wider public.

Many people we spoke to shared their struggles to get a job in their field of speciality. Like many migrant groups, professionals may not be considered qualified in Australia , despite having completed tertiary degrees in South Sudan. To re-qualify, they need to pay to study, which is often not possible within the limited resources of young families in particular. The alternative is they find less qualified work, often at a lower pay scale than their experience level. One father also spoke of having to work longer hours and go above and beyond what his colleagues would be expected to do in order to have the same opportunities. These obstacles to social and economic security make it hard for South Sudanese families to get good outcomes. Many families we spoke to shared the experience of teachers suggesting young people should not complete the year 12 Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and instead do the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learnings (VCAL), as an example of how influential people, even in supportive roles can set low expectations for South Sudanese young people.

“Teachers “It’s hard to get a job always treat me when your name is differently... they Deng or you’re South think I will cause Sudanese.” trouble”

Young man Young person credit Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community flickr: Albert 42Dobrin 6 Rising excellence and fame in a modern world Many young people are forging new territory in the arts, music, media and sport. After seeing international role models rise to modern success they are following in the footsteps of South Sudanese giants. These credit examples are supporting young people to flickr: daveynin disregard negative stereotypes and follow their dreams yet they’re lacking strategic support to understand practical options.

While these role models are powerful and play an important role, and create spaces for expression and cultural confidence, they are not yet very diverse in the career choices they portray. Police, teachers, engineers and doctors from African cultures, for example, are not so nationally and internationally visible and celebrated.

When we met 20 young basketball players, we found they all had dreams of making it big in the NBA overseas, and few had alternative plans in case it didn’t work out. They were receiving conflicting messages from their older relatives that they are in a land of opportunity and can achieve anything, but also that they must take care of their family, without role models showing them how they can balance both.

“I want to be the “I compromised South Sudanese with my mum… [and Michael Jordan” agreed to] do a music Right: a research production degree” tool that asked young people Young man about their ambi- Young man tions

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 43 Mother and daughter participants stand proudly 7 The parenting in front of their house catch-22 South Sudanese parents in Australia are often strained by a fear of what will happen to their children and uncertainty of how to effectively parent and discipline in this new context. Parents and guardians are grappling with the tensions of increased opportunities for their children in Australia whilst also simultaneously feeling culturally vilified. Parents have often seen their own and other’s children lost to the child protection and justice systems, while not clearly understanding why it happened. Parents have high expectations for their children but feel they don’t clearly know the rules of Australian systems and are afraid that small mistakes could lead to lasting negative outcomes. This fear can lead to authoritarian parenting styles that add pressure and stress to children, rather than communication and compromise which could support and strengthen bonds during times of transition. Parents are also unsure of how to teach children good behaviour when traditional forms of physical discipline are not permitted in Australia.

“Young people feel “I heard stories but lost and parents feel didn’t think it would powerless” happen to me” South Sudanese Father about child Australian health staff protection member

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 44 Participants having fun at the end of a 8 Social safety nets: semi-structured group for better or worse discussion The South Sudanese Australian Community have safety and strength together, and as an unintended result, are often missing the useful connections with the broader community that are helpful to leverage in times of transition. Although being connected within the South Sudanese Australian Community can lead to increased identity and a sense of belonging, it can also encourage The South Sudanese Australian Community to become insular with few structured ways to build relationships with the broader Australian population. These broader connections are needed to create networks for positive transitions (e.g. finding employment) and to assist with the learning of the Australian values and norms needed to navigate systems such as education. These personal relationships can also help to reduce racism and increase understanding between the broader community and South Sudanese.

“We [South “It’s just easier Sudanese] feel with my South best when we Sudanese are connected friends” together” Young person Young person

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 45 credit 9 Drop off points Pxhere A lack of agency and the confidence to ask questions during a transition, can lead to the decisions being made on your behalf and small obstacles becoming larger issues in the longer term.

Systems often unintentionally create barriers to accessing opportunities, and people need to actively pursue and question systems to get the support they need (e.g. to source the licenses needed for employment in construction). A lack of understanding of Australian systems, combined with a lack of agency in past systems such as refugee camps and a fear of ‘trouble’, means that South Sudanese people may not always access what they need, when they need it, during times of transition.

“Now I ask questions “I was waiting for my [about my job white card. It must applications] - have gotten lost in everything’s the mail. I lost the changed” job.”

Young woman Young man

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 46 Moving forward

Co-designers and Governance Group after the Showcase where they presented the project to key stakeholders

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 47 Strategies to move forward

One of the core intentions of this project was to increase The South Sudanese Australian Co-designers and Leveraging the outputs of the project to inform and understanding and partnership between providers Governance Group members identified key people and educate government and providers: and government and the South Sudanese Australian groups in the South Sudanese Australian Community who Community in western metropolitan Melbourne. need to be part of the project conversation and can help • Stories from The South Sudanese Australian spread important information. At the writing of this report, Community and Insights pages that can be shared Sharing the learnings and outcomes with these the Next Steps stage is in progress, the details of the by government and providers with their delivery stakeholders, including at the Showcase, helps build approach have been co-developed with community and staff in digital and poster formats. understanding. It is also important the work maintains key stakeholders. This is a high level representation of the momentum and is held by the people who built it - the transition at the time this report was written. Strategies South Sudanese Australian Community. include: Identifying initiative partners in The South Sudanese Australian Community, government and providers: Over the course of the project, the co-designers and community leaders (both informal and formal) have had • Governance Members following leads from their increasing involvement in the work. The ‘Next Steps’ phase Sharing the insights and outcomes of this project with respective community or sector. Including those of the project intended to finalise the majority ownership The South Sudanese Australian Community, with the from the Showcase, sharing meetings and social of the work to the South Sudanese Australian Community, support of Co-designers: media campaign led by ‘champions’ - people in The South Sudanese Australian Community who are excited and equipped to • Meetings with formal and informal leaders in The • cohealth and DHHS are supported by Community take the concepts forward. South Sudanese Australian Community, including Co-designers to bring initiative partners on board some who have participated during the project and • Increase community ownership and decrease TACSI some who have not. involvement • Joining existing community meetings to present The initiatives have underlying conditions that would be required for a trial to successfully test their impact. We • Increase community awareness of the work the projects recommend that: • Identify and connect with potential partners for the • A social media page with a project summary and initiatives posts that promote the initiatives and video • A co-design team be established around the initiatives to further develop, trial and iterate them • Trial and refine the initiatives • Capturing the information of those interested in with The South Sudanese Australian Community. participating in the initiatives moving forward • Refined initiatives are delivered by The South Sudanese Australian Community for The South Sudanese Australian Community

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 48 Appendix

Above: Participants working with Co-designers

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 49 Consultation Research cohorts Methods (during research and prototyping South Sudanese Australians consulted in research and Desktop Research consultation) prototyping (66 total) At the beginning of the project, TACSI reviewed a diverse Throughout the project we have endeavored to hear Transition Female Male set of research papers, documentaries, news reports, from a diverse spread of the South Sudanese Australian census data and media from the South Sudanese Community that reflects different genders, ages, tribes, Australian Community. religions and migration experiences. Particular emphasis was placed on hearing ‘unheard’ voices, including women, Becoming Semi-structured interviews with transition cohorts people who’ve engaged with justice and child protection independent The Working Team met with individuals and families, to systems, and tribes outside the Dinka tribe. (e.g. leaving school, 20 31 leaving home, finding or spend 1.5 hours or so to understand the challenges and Through the Research and Prototyping stages of the starting work) opportunities their own lives and their family and peers. project, the Working Team has consulted with 66 people Survey of staff delivering services to South Sudanese from the South Sudanese Australian Community in Australians Western Metropolitan Melbourne, 14 staff delivering New to parenting services and 5 senior decision makers in government. To understand the challenges and opportunities (e.g. having children, for providers delivering services to South Sudanese The team has also engaged 6 co-designers who have parenting in Australia for 9 7 Australians, TACSI shared a survey which captured their been trained and employed to join the Working Team and the first time) understanding and perspective of South Sudanese support community engagement, consultation sessions Australians, and approach to delivering quality outcomes. and synthesis of learnings. Group workshops with young people This table describes the people consulted from the South Families with first Sudanese Australian Community who have experience engagement with The Working Team asked young people to invite a few of with the three transitions. Some people have had institutions their friends to get together and chat with us. We hosted experience with multiple transitions, so appear more than some activities to understand the helps and hinders in (schools, job networks, 8 7 once. centrelink, justice their lives systems, child While we’ve spoken to most people from a variety of Dinka Semi-structured interviews with decision makers in protection) tribes, we have also consulted with people from the Nuer key Government Departments and Equatoria tribes. Five decision makers were selected by DHHS to participate in 1 hour semi-structured interviews.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 50 Opportunity Areas

The research revealed 6 key opportunity areas. These opportunity areas were used to explore ways to amplify what works or removing particular obstacles that get in the way of successful transitions. These opportunity areas were used to guide the co-creation of the pathways which are presented in the later pages of this document.

1. How might we increase access to helpful 4. How might we increase the assets, capital people & services who ease the challenges of and knowledge that enable people to thrive navigating new systems and contexts? economically, socially and avoid unhelpful contact with institutions as migrants in Australia?

2. How might we increase individual’s sense 5. How might we challenge the low expectations of belonging, purpose & helpful confidence, of others and also alleviate fear of negative setting people up to thrive with resilience outcomes for families? throughout life course transitions?

3. How might we foster grit, determination, 6. How might we strengthen communication resilience that help people negotiate challenges pathways between generations, about taboo and combat racism in Australian contexts while topics and with services and decision makers? staying true to South Sudanese values? What works in collaboration with government, service providers and community

Across this project, we have collaborated with a variety 3 Acknowledge that much research has • We tailored research activities to respond to of stakeholders. Collectively, we’ve shared a vision and the unique ways in which community prefer intent for work that is truly co-designed, co-owned and already been done and people may feel to communicate. We had longer, conversational co-produced. Throughout this journey we’ve found 10 fatigued interviews over meals or tea in spaces that felt enabling mindsets and conditions that supported this comfortable to people. We leveraged ‘user friendly’ From the outset we were aware that much of The South work to be carried out effectively. consent forms and research tools that looked Sudanese Australian Community has already been different from traditional research or social work tools. through bouts of research activities. People expressed 1 Build genuine relationships that they’ve seen few direct outcomes or progress to 4 Set accurate expectations about With community, with co-designers, with respondents and follow the research activities. We heard that complaint with partners – we invested time in going beyond rapport from The South Sudanese Australian Community and involvement - do not over promise respectfully tailored our approach: and demonstrating our genuine commitment to hearing Whilst we prioritised actionable work we were always and honouring stories to support the cause. This meant • We made a concerted effort to ensure research clear about the unique role TACSI and cohealth would continually engaging community and individuals and was generative. Generative research uses activities play in this piece of work and the time constraints. While meeting in a variety of environments that suited others to develop insight and ideas with participants, rather collaboratively envisioning a better future, we were explicit rather than swooping in and out in a more transactional than solely a question-answer interview structure. We project approach. • about the limitations of this work focused research activities on building solutions and opportunities and ensuring the project went beyond • the timelines of the work 2 Neutral, non government bridges research into actionable design and prototyping. Despite much positive interaction between government • the required role of other actors to enable this work • We intentionally built upon existing evidence and community, there have been tensions between to progress (e.g. this work does not solely fall on the and sought to fill gaps around the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ government and community in the past. It was helpful to shoulders of community) rather than duplicate existing research on the ‘whats’. have TACSI act as a neutral bridge between community and government to represent the extension of invitation • We engaged the hard to reach and the unheard for collaboration and also ensure community felt voices. By snowballing and leveraging community comfortable expressing honest opinions . ‘Ambassadors’ to bring friends along to co-design activities, we expanded our research beyond the actors in community that have perhaps been stretched thin in previous research.

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 52 5 Ensure people are compensated for 7 Inclusive and diverse governance and 9 Capability building mindset their time collective accountability Throughout the project we built the capability of All too often the most committed and altruistic This project utilised a unique governance structure which Community Co-designers to do research, design, community members donate time and ideas to initiatives, included government, community, service provider and prototyping, and presentations of the work. There was a to volunteering opportunities, and to projects like these project team members. Together, this group checked in continual acknowledgment of roles, shared responsibility out of the goodness of their hearts and their dedication on project progress, quality of content, project direction and identification of strengths to enable effective to their community. It was essential that we financially and cultural appropriateness at key project stages. This collaboration. compensated both respondents and Co-designers for group ensured that the project work was strategic and their work and contributions to this project. respectful throughout the changing media climate and 10 Transition methodology held the project team accountable for utilising an inclusive From day one, the intention on this project was to 6 Have sufficient time and funding community approach. transition ownership to The South Sudanese Australian Community. TACSI’s role was to hold the project process Many funders want co-design to be done quickly and 8 Continually check power balances or cheaply. Fortunately in this project. cohealth and DHHS and slowly decrease involvement and leadership roles provided appropriate funding and sufficient timelines that imbalances while increasing community ownership and leadership of the project. Drawing from a community development enabled the project team to: There were inherit power imbalances in this project, as approach, this transition methodology was utilised to it was funded by government and lead by a non South • build genuine relationships with community to hear increase the sustainability of the work beyond TACSI’s Sudanese project team. To check those balances from honest stories involvement. the outset we established a governance group with • build capability with and alongside community cultural and community advisors. We also ensured that the TACSI co-design team worked in equal partnership with • progress beyond research and into design and Community Co-designers. prototyping

• utilise adaptive contract management to enable responsiveness in changing political and media contexts and climates to ensure the work was relevant to community and government

Summary Report Prepared by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation 53 Above and right: Participants from prototyping and research consultations

Improving Outcomes with the South Sudanese Community 54 dhhs.vic.gov.au cohealth.org.au tacsi.org.au