Tasmanian Multicultural Policy Review Many Voices: TasCOSS submission

Submission to

Tasmanian Multicultural Policy Review Many Voices 10 July 2013 About TasCOSS TasCOSS is the peak body for the Tasmanian community services sector. Its membership comprises individuals and organisations active in the provision of community services to low-income, vulnerable and disadvantaged Tasmanians.

TasCOSS represents the interests of its members and their clients to government, regulators, the media and the public. Through our advocacy and policy development, we draw attention to the causes of poverty and disadvantage and promote the adoption of effective solutions to address these issues.

phone 03 6231 0755 fax 03 6223 6136 postal PO Box 1126 Sandy Bay Tas 7006 www.tascoss.org.au

Authorised by Tony Reidy, Chief Executive For inquiries Wynne Russell, Policy and Research Officer, wynne@tascoss.org.au

TasCOSS Multicultural Policy Review TasCOSS Insert Report title here

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the Tasmanian Multicultural Policy Review.

TasCOSS commends the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to promoting and supporting the development of the state as a diverse and multicultural society through a commitment to equality of opportunity and access for all Tasmanians.

As TasCOSS has already participated in discussions around the development of the Many Voices discussion paper, our comments at this stage will be relatively brief and focus on the principles on which the Policy is based.

Equality of outcomes TasCOSS strongly supports the Multicultural Policy’s commitment to equality of access to services, as articulated in Principle 2 of the existing Policy. However, we argue equally strongly that access is only one half of the equation, and that equality of outcomes must receive equal commitment. As a consequence, we would suggest rewording Principle 2 to read “Fair access to and equal outcomes from Tasmanian and local Government services.”

We also note that ‘services’ should be defined in the Policy as encompassing not only human services, but also spatial planning, since (for instance) migrant communities may have distinct ideas about where they would like to see public space located, or how they would like to see public space organised (provision of different types of sports grounds, for instance).

For the Government to be able to monitor and evaluate its success in implementing this principle, all Tasmanian government services should collect data on where clients were born, and monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programs for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We note that at least two possible mechanisms exist for such monitoring and evaluation: use studies and equality impact assessments. 

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Use studies can give an idea of who is NOT using a service or a space, which in turn can lead to surveys asking “What is it about the design of this that prevents you from using it?”

Equality impact assessments can ask: o Is there any evidence of higher or lower participation or uptake by different groups? o Do different groups have different needs, experiences, issues and priorities in relation to the issue at hand? o Have consultations with relevant groups, organisations or individuals brought to light particular areas where policies could help overcome problems? o Have consultations with relevant groups, organisations or individuals indicated that particular policies create problems that are specific to them? 1

In the policy or program formulation stage, social impact assessments can examine the socioeconomic impact, including by cultural or linguistic background, of proposed policies and projects, as well as of private-sector initiatives such as development applications. Social impact assessments need to take a full cost-benefit approach including both best- and worst-case scenarios and extending across all social groups, avoiding a bias towards bestcase scenarios and benefits for the already advantaged.

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Royal Town Planning Institute (2007), RTPI Good Practice Note 7, http://www.rtpi.org.uk/download/3322/GPN7.pdf

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TasCOSS Multicultural Policy Review TasCOSS Insert Report title here

Universal responsibility TasCOSS believes that for all Tasmanian Government departments to fully embrace the principles behind the Multicultural Policy, it is necessary to make it clear that addressing diversity is everyone’s responsibility, not simply that of (for example) the Department of Health and Human Services. While this point may not need to be articulated as a separate principle, it needs to be clearly specified at all relevant points in the document, including (but not limited to) in Principle 2.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Many Voices discussion paper. We appreciate being included in these consultations, and are happy to provide any additional information required.

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