1. AMES AUSTRALIA COMMUNITY GUIDES PROGRAM
27 SEPTEMBER 2016
HILARY BUCUMI
Community Guide Volunteer Administrator

2. Community Guides Program

3. Community Guides Program

4. Community Guides Program
Who are they?
Are 18 years or older
Trained AMES Australia staff, employed on casual basis and working flexible hours
Bilingual and multilingual workers from the same backgrounds as our Refugee and Special Humanitarian Program clients
Are respected within their relevant community
Have a good command of English language
Have shared the refugee experience
Are familiar with the services, systems and cultures in Australia

5. Community Guides Program
The role of Community Guides
Work with Case Managers to support refugee clients
Provide support in first language
Undertake practical implementation tasks in initial settlement such as:

6. Community Guides Program
The role of Community Guides
Accompany clients to register with key service agencies.
Accompany clients to appointments.
Assist families to access other vital services.

7. Community Guides Program
The role of Community Guides
Assist new clients to access key information
Assist clients to understand and use public transport
Connect clients to community groups

8. Community Guides Program
About the program
The program was initiated by AMES Australia in 2005 with two main objectives:
1. Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support service to newly-arrived refugees during their first six months of arrival in Victoria
2. Provide capacity building and employment pathways for Community Guides

9. Community Guides Program
About the program
The program started with no more than 44 Community Guides. To date, more than 1500 Community Guides from 34 countries, speaking about 72 languages and dialects, have been trained and are currently working in different programs
Currently there are approximately 150 active Community Guides working in the three different regions (North East, Central West and South and Gippsland).
As part of the Community Guides program, experienced Community Guides are up-skilled to work in different roles at AMES Australia:

10. Community Guides Program
About the program
Case Manager Support Workers
Client Support Workers
Settlement Information Officers
Employment Information Officers
Welcome Community Guides
Youth Refugee Support Workers
Housing officers
Others get special training to work with complex cases as well as in the Community Detention program

11. Community Guides Program
Training Opportunities
After a few years in the job, a group of Community Guides were assessed by Kangan TAFE through their Recognition of Prior Learning program.
Of these, 130 Community Guides have graduated with Certificate III in Community Services.
This has opened the door to more opportunities in Certificate IV and Diploma in Community Services.

12. Community Guides Program
Graduation ceremony

13. Community Guides Program
Employment Pathways
A significant number has been able to secure full time employment with various agencies as:
Interpreters
Bilingual teacher aides
Employment consultants
Counsellors
Administration and customer service
Retail and hospitality
Community welfare, health and youth workers

14. Community Guides Program
Conclusion
The Community Guides Program is a unique program and has been highly commended by clients and other stakeholders.
It has been commended internationally by the UNHCR as one of the best initiatives in providing resettlement services, with many resettlement countries including Sweden, New Zealand, Japan and Argentina adopting the system.
In February 2012 Australia hosted the international Working Group on Resettlement in Melbourne which was attended by 92 resettlement countries. Community Guides featured significantly in the practical engagement and representation of the Diaspora.

15. Question time
Thank you for your time