LOCAL AREA MULTICULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM …...Attachment A: MAQ Funding Information Paper (extract) Attachment B: LAMP Achievements Attachment C: LAMP Funding Submission (extract)

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Agenda – Sports, Arts, Culture & Community Services Committee – 13/5/09 - #2036975

SPORTS, ARTS, CULTURE & COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE

13 MAY 2009

15 LOCAL AREA MULTICULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM (LAMP) BUSINESS CASE Jo Abbatangelo: 1/3/22-15: #1936651 v2

RECOMMENDATION: That Council: a) commit to a continuation of the Local Area Multicultural Partnerships

(LAMP) program for a further three years from July 2009; b) enter into a funding agreement with the State Government for the receipt of

a grant of $46,725 pa for this period; and c) allocate an additional $25,125 to this program from 2009-10 to allow for the

matching of the State grant.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this report is to demonstrate the value of supporting the request for additional funding through Council towards the LAMP program. From July 2009 under new funding arrangements (refer attachment A), Council will be required to match all funding granted by Multicultural Affairs Queensland (MAQ), on a dollar for dollar basis.

BACKGROUND: LAMP is a partnership strategy between the State Government, through MAQ and local governments, to support involvement in multicultural Queensland. The LAMP program commenced within Cairns City Council in 2000 and was initiated in response to an identified need for Councils to become more culturally responsive. Council, since the inception of the LAMP program, has contributed $21,600 pa with the State granting $68,434 pa. Over this period LAMP has become a valuable community and Council resource that has enhanced Council’s core business. LAMP initiates and supports activities, events, projects and programs through collaborations and partnerships with other sectors and Council departments. Refer Attachment B. In 2006, the Cairns City Council LAMP program was audited by the Department of Premier and Cabinet as part of their review process and the Cairns program was highly commended.

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MAQ resources participating Councils to employ Community Relations workers, with the current three year agreement finishing on 30 June 2009. Those employed under the scheme are primarily responsible for the development of local community relations plans and for supporting community relations advisory committees to Council. Under the LAMP program, Council’s Multicultural Advisory Group (MAG) was established in March 2000. MAG is a useful resource for Council as it consists of stakeholders from a variety of cultural backgrounds with expertise in their fields of employment. This group has played an important role in identifying and advising Council on issues which impact directly on people who speak a language other than English. Strategies are developed in response to this advice which assists Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) individuals and families to settle into the community. The successful resettlement of families has an important role to play in integrating more fully into the Australian way of life. Since its inception, LAMP has played a role in responding to the planning needs of target population. For example, our more established aging populations, such as the Chinese and Italian communities, increase the need for culturally appropriate care in our institutions, such as aged care facilities.

COMMENT: On 30 April 2009, Council was successful in securing funding through MAQ to the amount of $46,725 pa for three years from July 2009, with Council required to match this grant. This represents a $25,125 pa increase in the level of Council’s contribution. The case for the provision of ongoing LAMP services was set out in Council’s funding application. An extract from the application is attached (refer Attachment C).

CONSIDERATIONS: Corporate and Operational Plans: Support for LAMP was consistent with objectives listed in the Corporate Plan for attending to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse people in our communities. Statutory: Council has no statutory obligations with regards to the provision of LAMP services. Policy: Cairns Cultural Diversity Policy. This policy is a public statement of Council’s commitment to provide services, information, facilities and financial assistance to people from all lands.

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Financial and Risk: Discussions regarding further funding have been held with the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIC) and the Department of Communities (DOC). No alternative funding source that accommodates the specific objectives of the LAMP program was identified. There are over 30 services that will be impacted upon if the LAMP position was to cease (refer attachment B). LGAQ correspondence received 20 December 2008 from the Minister’s office indicated that all funding be granted over a three year period with funds rolling over commencing July 2009-2012. Previous funding arrangements have been on a triennial basis. MAQ has contributed $68,434 annually since 2000-01 with Council providing $21,600 pa across this period. The new agreement involves a shift to a matching funding arrangement, with Council picking up responsibility for a reduction in the level of State funding. Refer to Attachment C for details of the annual budget.

CONSULTATION: Internal CRC Multicultural Advisory Group (MAG) Councillors Cochrane, Bonneau, Pyne and Lesina General Manager Community & Cultural Services Manager Sport, Recreation and Community Development Community Development Team Leader External New Arrivals Family Support Forum (NASF) Multicultural Advocacy in Cairns (MAGIC) Cairns and Regional Multicultural Association (CARMA)

OPTIONS: That Council: 1. approve additional funding as required through MAQ towards the LAMP program

to the amount of $25,125; or 2. does not approve additional funding towards the LAMP program to the amount of

$25,125; or 3. instruct that the amount of $25,125 be tabled as a new operating initiative in the

budget review (2009-2010).

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CONCLUSION: Given the success and importance of the LAMP program, it would be of significant benefit to continue funding the program. The vision is to see the myriad of services offered through LAMP becoming an integral part of Council’s core business and service delivery strategies. The level of productivity a community generates relies largely on how well they are informed, how confident they are of their own ability to engage and how accepted they are by the broader community and its institutions. The LAMP program facilitates this level of productivity within the Cairns regional community.

ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A: MAQ Funding Information Paper (extract) Attachment B: LAMP Achievements Attachment C: LAMP Funding Submission (extract) Jo Abbatangelo Multicultural Planning and Development Officer Jennifer Hunter Manager Sport, Recreation and Community Development Ian Lowth General Manager Community and Cultural Services

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ATTACHMENT A: MAQ FUNDING INFORMATION PAPER #1917436 (EXTRACT)

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ATTACHMENT B: LAMP ACHIEVEMENTS

Achievements 2000-2009 • Establishment of CRC’s MAG • Disaster management brochures in seven languages • Sister City Exhibitions in City Library - Zhanjiang collection • Diversity Management Plan 2006 • Peace Week Annual Event UNESCO decade of Peace 2000-2010 • Welcome to Cairns mini card-phone directory - five languages • Multilingual Library Services - collection of books in Chinese, Japanese, Indian,

Spanish, Italian, Arabic • Animal control information in Hmong Language, Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Island Creole • Language Link - Language support program - Intranet Phone Book Service • Corporate Induction training on multilingual publications services available

through CRC • Cultural Exhibitions through Library services, including Library signage in

Japanese • TIS - CRC - client code/CRC Web Site • Conducting Food Hygiene Examinations with Non-English Speakers • Cultural Plan, including Cultural Tourism • Equal Opportunity Employment compliance report 2007 Human Resource

Department • Communicating Across Cultures, a strategy and training program for CRC • Brochure Lagoon laws and regulatory - six languages • Language Services Policy • Develop linkages to 457 visa holders in the region • Assist the Philippine Cultural Society of Cairns with securing funding to conduct

their feasibility study towards the establishment of a multicultural centre • Develop programs in partnership with the State Government that address

effective community conflict engagement models in the West Cairns area (Walk with Me Project)

• Assisted cultural associations with accessing funding through grant programs via grant writing workshops conducted between Migrant Settlement Services and the LAMP officer

• Maintenance of radio transmission equipment transmitting SBS radio

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ATTACHMENT C: LAMP FUNDING SUBMISSION (EXTRACT)

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Documents

LOCAL AREA MULTICULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM …...Attachment A: MAQ Funding Information Paper (extract) Attachment B: LAMP Achievements Attachment C: LAMP Funding Submission (extract)