instant collective wisdom

Rather than each of us have our own experience and knowledge re working in the world of occupational therapy, and working in the world of refugee or multicultral practice. . . it’d be great to see this collective wisdom shared.

 Perhaps this blog could be a space for that. perhaps you have a better idea. Either way, here’s a quote from one of the presenters of an online conference last month for inspiration:

“Traditionally, knowledge is held in ‘vaults’— in the minds of solitary experts and individuals, often unavailable due to distance and time constraints and collected in places that may be inaccessible to all.

“professional learning networks allow teachers, trainers and learners to harness the collective intelligence of others in the same field to help them solve problems and reflect on ideas instantly and without the need for face-to-face interaction,” Sue waters said.

Australian Flexible Learning Framework hosted the Getting Connected 09 online conference. More info in the links below. 

Flexible Learning: http://pre2009.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home

Event info: http://networksevents.flexiblelearning.net.au/

So who do you know that would be interested in this community, this conversation, to share this collective wisdom?

Local opportunities

Learn by doing! A couple of opportunities in Brisbane, Australia coming up:

- Multicultural Development Association is hosting an info session July 20th for people willing to volunteer min 3hrs/ week with a refugee family – this may include companionship, helping with homework, attending appointments, navigating the shops and more. More info: +617 3337 5428

- ARMS Literacy Centre Moorooka is hosting free six week literacy tutoring course starting July 24th to help people volunteer as an English tutor. More info: + 617 3892 1188

Please comment and share local opportunities to work  or volunteer alongside refugees in YOUR area.

Work rights reform welcomed

1 July 2009 ushered in new regulations to the Migration Regulations 1994 that are significant to anyone seeing the world in terms of occupational justice.

Occupational therapists have a mandate to create and enable occupational opportunities. We know that all humans need to perform occupations to survive, create and maintain health, and to thrive – so equitable opportunities to do, is foundational of human rights and dignity.

The good news is that asylum seekers will no longer face the arbitrary discrimination of the ’45-day rule’, which denied work rights to those who applied for protection after 45 days of arriving in Australia. 

If the application for protection could be delayed for many reasons (trauma, language barrier, not being literate in “the system”, fears of authority without knowing someone to help etc) the “45-day rule” meant asylum seekers would have no means of supporting themselves, or securing their own survival other than the good will of grass roots church and community groups for the entire time their application is processed.

Of course, international human rights law recognises the right of every person to adequate food, clothing, housing and work, which in turn recognises the right of every person to participate and do in order to access and secure these rights.

After international and citizen heat, Australia has finally reflected international law in our own law. Now asylum seekers will have access to work rights if they either:
   – Hold a substantive visa at the time of applying for a protection visa; or
   – Did not hold a substantive visa at the time of applying for protection but can demonstrate a compelling need to work. 

If they have applied after 45 days of arrival, they must also demonstrate an acceptable reason for delay in applying for a protection visa.

We warmly welcome this reform as occupational therapists, as citizens, as fellow humans. ”The first principal of nonviolent action is that of noncooperation with everything humiliating.” said Cesar Chavez, and I say OTs should lend their voices to anything concerning occupational justice.

Find out more about how you can participate at “A Just Australia“

A Just Australia is a national campaign organisation.  We aim to achieve just and compassionate treatment of asylum seekers and refugees, consistent with the human rights standards that Australia has developed and endorsed.
We believe that Australia’s policies toward refugees and asylum seekers should at all times reflect respect, decency and traditional Australian generosity to those in need, while advancing Australia’s international standing and national interests.

calico + paint = networking fun

OTs working with refugees

Reflecting on occupational justice

“Equality and inclusion means that everyone has a place
on the playing field. Priority seating on the sidelines is simply not good enough “ Donal Cashman, Chairman of Enable Ireland

Is this not describing occupational justice? Everyone has a place on the team, a chance to participate, the resources to access occupational opportunities.

What does this mean in a multicultral community? What will it take? 

I suspect it’ll be more than festivals to show case the exotic. I suspect it may be more than partaking in the economic fabric of the community.

Perhaps everyone  has social capital and a sense of belonging supportive of their occuaptional performance in whatever life roles they need to flourish? Maybe it starts with the simplicity of presense, and then perhaps shared meals or games of soccer?

Do you think something so grandiose can be achieved with something so simple?

Danger of NOT taking strengths-based approach

I’ve been reading and reflecting about the risk of NOT taking a strengths based approach when working with refugees. For example:

- seeing  individuals separate to context and pathologising people

- not acknowleding the dignity and strengths they bring to change

- assuming we know what needs to change or not tapping into their resources

- failing to see how services can breech the mandate to “first, do no harm”

Any more thoughts from you guys? Book details and info below.

The strengths based approach; a strengths-based resource for sharing power and creating change by Wayne McCashen.

Principles are below – any you think we do better or worse than others?

“The strengths approach is a philosophy for working with people to bring about change.

It is an approach to people that is primarily dependent upon positive attitudes about people’s dignity, capacities, rights, uniqueness and commonalitites.

It emphasises people’s ability to be their own agents of change by creating conditions that enable them to control and direct the processes of change they engage in

It creates conditions that enable people to identify, value, and mobilise their strengths and capacities in the process of change.

It provides and mobilises resources in a way that complements people’s existing strengths and resources as opposed to compensating for perceived deficits.

It acknowledges and addresses power imbalances between people woking in human services and those they work with.

It seeks to identify and address social, personal, cultural and structural contraints to people’s growth and self determination.

It acknowledges and addresses power dynamic, cultures and structures in organisations that are incongruent with socially-just practice.”

Relevant Conferences

Multicultural Summit ’09…from reflection to rejuvenation. . .
October 26 & 27 at the State Library of Queensland, South Bank, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA

Register online http://www.eccq.com.au/summitConference/eccq_1.asp?c=13846

Do share - add any relevant conferences from your neck of the wood!

Social systems = knowledge systems

Knowledge, of course, exists as a system of ideas. For example, occupational perspectives, frameworks, models of health, wellbeing, justice.

Ideas need to be related to other ideas. For example, occupational perspectives interface with united nations human rights frameworks, world health organisation international classification of function, and environmental sustainability frameworks. 

People need to be linked to ideas. For example, making ideas freely accessible to as many people as possible via a blog.

People need to be linked to people. For example, if ten people interact and contribute to this space, the collective knowledge is much greater than my converstaion starter offerings!

People need to be linked to ‘things’. For example, taking knowledge and linking it with resources, opportunities, tools, neetworking beyond this space.

And the ultimate – so what? So we look at the world different, evaluate our power differently, see opportunities differently, so we think differently, so we’re informed to speak up differently, so we can take one small step after another wherever we are.

At the moment, what social systems / knowledge systems are available for occupational therapists wanting to work alongside refugees?

Have you ever contributed?

How have you found nagivating them?

Welcome, thank you for stopping by!

I hope this OOFRAS blog is more of a doorway than a museum exhibit. 

YOUR reflections, resources, readings, recounting stories – are all welcome here to inspire, empower, equip fellow occupational therapists to work alongside refugees near and far.

I want to see fellow occupational therapists engaged as global citizens wherever they are. Creating and enabling occupational opportunities wherever we reside, work, relate.

So here’s your invitation to dialogue with me, and with each another. It’ll be a rambling conversation, where any of us can share whatever is of interest at the time.  . . as we respond to those who flee persecution and strive for a life without fear.

Yesterday I read an email from an Australian family I met volunteering with refugees in Athens in 07. They asked for prayer for an young Afghan woman on the streets of Athens. She was cheated by a people smuggler, who only took her as far as Athens. She is unmarried, afraid of her fanatical brother, as she was raped and is with child. She is trapped in Athens with no money or language, yet is forging on.

For a future free from fear, what occupational challenges will need to be overcome?

What lost roles, new roles, changed roles does she face?

What do you feel about the ”way of the heart” (in this case, prayer) and the way of action (in this case, their voluntary service) working together?

Let the conversation begin ~