This ‘team work’ can take on various forms and as we are experiencing at Multicultural Futures, this often means cross-organisational collaboration. Winter is renowned for being a hard time when you are homeless. Not only are we supporting our clients to find a secure home, but you’ll read in this newsletter how the good work by one of our fellow not-for-profit organisations has helped mums with new babies.

Many participants attending our citizenship classes have also seen that by tapping into the skills offered through this class, and meeting others who are on the same journey, have helped them achieve their dream of passing the test, and becoming Australian Citizens.

Sometimes, the ‘dream’ means letting go, and handing the ball to someone who can take things to the next level. Read more about the ongoing World Music Café journey.

From the Editor
Erika von Kaschke

• “Brilliant service. I am going Okay now but they were a great support for me for several years with my mental health and housing problems. Sometimes I still ring them now to keep in contact or if I have a problem with something and they are always so welcoming and helpful.”
  
• “They have been working with my family for many years off and on, helping with practical support and referrals to other services for mental health and grief and loss, and a massive amount of emotional and mental health support. I don’t know what we would have done without them.”

Here’s a case study that highlights the extensive work undertaken to support our clients.

Background Information

‘Anne’ a high school student is the third oldest child in a family of 6 children. She lives with her single mother and four siblings live in a 3-bedroom private rental house.. She is estranged from her father.  Anne was born in a refugee camp.  The family arrived in Australia as humanitarian entrants.  They have moved house many times over the years, including interstate and regional areas.  They have often been at risk of, or in a homeless situation, with the father absent.  Anne was referred to our service in September 2021.

Many services have been involved with the family over several years, including various high schools, Dept of Housing, hospitals, and Centrelink.  Current services include Anne’s senior high school, CPFS, CAMHS, EDAC and other medical services (e.g. GP, hospitals).

Issues

Anne’s family has a history of long-term chronic family and domestic violence, abuse, and dysfunctional relationships between various family members.  Her father apparently has been a long-time perpetrator towards (ex) wife, and abuser (including possible sexual abuse) towards some of the children, including Anne.  He has a history of controlling and manipulative behaviour towards the family.  Anne don’t want anything to do with him.

Her mother has longstanding serious mental health issues and has had a number of psychiatric hospital admissions, but is lacking in community support.  Anne’s Mother’s English literacy level is very low, and she mainly uses Anne as an interpreter.

Anne has more recently been diagnosed with serious MH issues, including PTSD and dissociative disorder.  She also has a history of seizures, possibly triggered by trauma.

Anne and her older sister have been the primary carers for their mother for several years.  The burden has rested more with Anne now, because her older sister moved out of the family home.

Challenges/Barriers

• Anne often not attending school due to unstable/chaotic family circumstances.
• Anne conflicted between caring for her mother, and her own care, development, and goals.
• Lack of engagement; family can be dismissive of services unreliability and often family actions/changes are unpredictable.
• Father is still ‘in the picture’ (has own agenda?), contributing to family instability and uncertainty, especially regarding relationship with his (ex) wife – having a ‘hold’ on her.
• Ongoing distrust/fear of services, lack of understanding by family.  Cultural differences/beliefs and fears about ‘mental health’ and treatment/medications
• Unrealistic (demanding?) expectations about services and meeting the family needs.
• Services not working together effectively, disjointed, not coordinated. A more coordinated ‘whole of family approach’ by services is needed.

Working with the client

• Building rapport and trust with Anne and family members.  Understanding family circumstances and cultural issues in more detail.  Including Anne’s mother and older sister in discussions about family needs.
• Flexibility and assertive outreach (‘respectful persistence’) to promote engagement and client choice.
• Providing information and clarity about services, processes and navigating the systems.
• Ongoing advocacy and liaison to try and strengthen supports and have a more collaborative approach by services e.g. case conferences.
• Assistance with finding suitable supported youth accommodation (still pending).
• Informal counselling and some practical support such as transport, ER.
• Exploring other supports and/or referrals to help build client and family capacity.
• Monitoring and reporting any safety concerns or risks for Anne and her mother in particular.

MHAS funded by the WA Mental Health Commission provides a metro wide advocacy and support services to migrants and refugees affected by mental health concerns. For more information and referral please contact us on 9336 8282.

During the housing crises experienced over the last two years, this family had been looking for a long-term home for over two years. They are one of 16 families, made up of 20 adults and 47 children, that Multicultural Futures’ Supported Transitional Accommodation service have worked with over the past six months .

The Multicultural Futures My Home and Family (Supported Transitional Accommodation) service is funded to support families from a migrant or refugee background who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The service provides transitional accommodation, (short to medium term), with a focus on securing and moving families into long term, affordable and sustainable accommodation.

Alicia Asic from the Supported Transitional Accommodation team accepts referrals from all services and organisations who assist migrant and refugee families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. 

This is only one of the great Aha! moments on the See Me See You journey. If you are working, volunteering or serve on the board of a community-services organisation operating in Western Australia, book in for our next See Me See You 1 training. We offer face to face, virtual and in-organsation training. Once you’ve completed See Me See You 1 take your learning to the next level with more in-depth case studies offered at the See Me See You 2 training.