The Department of Justice and Community Safety recently held a consultation session aimed at engaging families, parents, and young people from South Sudanese backgrounds. This critical dialogue provided a platform for community members to voice their concerns, share lived experiences, and collaboratively explore solutions to pressing challenges affecting their daily lives.
The consultation addressed a range of emerging issues, including:
- Intergenerational Challenges: Discussions focused on bridging the gap between parents and youth, addressing differences in cultural expectations, and fostering mutual understanding to strengthen family cohesion.
- Youth Engagement and Employment: Identifying barriers that South Sudanese youth face in accessing education, training, and job opportunities, and exploring ways to create pathways for meaningful participation in the workforce.
- Community Safety: Addressing concerns related to safety, youth justice, and interactions with law enforcement, while highlighting the importance of culturally sensitive policing and community-based approaches to conflict resolution.
- Mental Health and Well-being: Highlighting the stigma surrounding mental health within the community and discussing strategies to improve access to culturally appropriate mental health services.
- Social Inclusion and Discrimination: Tackling issues of systemic racism and social exclusion and exploring opportunities to promote inclusion and celebrate cultural diversity in broader Australian society.
The consultation adopted a participatory approach, ensuring that all voices—parents, elders, and young people—were heard and valued. Key strategies included:
- Cultural Mediators: Facilitating conversations through bilingual and culturally informed mediators who helped bridge gaps in communication and understanding.
- Safe Spaces: Creating a respectful and supportive environment for open dialogue on sensitive topics.
- Youth Leadership Involvement: Encouraging young people to share their perspectives and lead discussions on youth-specific challenges.
The outcomes of the consultation will inform future policies and programs aimed at addressing the unique needs of South Sudanese communities. By fostering collaboration between the community and the Department of Justice and Community Safety, this initiative underscores a shared commitment to creating solutions that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable.
This consultation exemplifies the power of community-driven dialogue in shaping impactful and culturally responsive approaches to justice, safety, and well-being.
