This study was commissioned and funded by the National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS). Louise Coventry undertook most of the initial data collection and wrote the first draft of the study findings. David MacKenzie contributed at all stages of the project and worked with Sarah Pinkney to produce the final version of this report. Many of the insights in this study reflect Carmel Guerra’s years of experience working on policy and services for refugee young people. Her commitment, encouragement and thoughtful advice have been central throughout.
Many people contributed their ideas, experience and enthusiasm during the lifetime of the project. Susan Ward, then with the Ethnic Youth Issues Network (EYIN) in Victoria, was a committed member of the project team while Carmel Guerra was away on leave. The members of the Project Reference Group provided wise advice leading to the first draft of the report. They were:
- Paris Aristotle, Victorian Foundation for the Survivors of Torture;
- Carol Croce, Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition;
- Jo Elvins, (retired) Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs;
- Susan Ferguson, Youth Affairs Network of Queensland;
- Tony Fortey, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs;
- Nigel Hearn, Commonwealth Youth Bureau;
- Paul Hoban, Brunswick English Language Centre;
- Gail Hood, Milpera Intensive English Centre;
- Barbara Leggott, Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs;
- Margaret Piper, Refugee Council of Australia;
- Susan Ward, Ethnic Youth Issues Network; and
- Debbie Wong, Youth Action Policy Association.
In addition, many dedicated and experienced workers attended a series of forums to discuss ‘good practice’ principles and approaches. The policy ideas and arguments in this report were developed on the basis of input from key informants and some of the same people also served on the Project Reference Group. The following individuals gave considerable assistance to this project and advised the research team on many occasions: Paris Aristotle, Terri Bednall, Aileen Burgess, John Byrne, David Cox, Carol Croce, Jo Elvins, Susan Ferguson, Bill Frost, Peter Hosking, Merle Mitchell, Margaret Piper, Susan Ward, and Debbie Wong.
Thanks are due to the NYARS Secretariat, particularly to Ben Clews for his patient support of the project, and for his work in facilitating feedback on drafts of the report. Many helpful suggestions were made by the NYARS Steering Committee. We would also like to thank all those people from federal government departments who gave us information and expert feedback on earlier drafts of the report. The Client Access Unit of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs proved a valuable resource, and we would like to thank Margot Clifford for her energetic response to our requests for assistance particularly in the final stages of the project.
We would also like to thank the principals of the English Language Schools who gave their permission to ask selected students to participate in interviews and surveys. Their assistance made it possible to obtain some important new information.
Finally, we must thank the refugee young people interviewed for this study. These young people were keen for others to understand what they had lived through. They were generally optimistic about the future and happy to be making new lives in Australia. It is their positive outlook and creative potential to which the title of the report Wealth of All Nations refers.
March 2002