Ostracised from our community African refugees who use alcohol and other drugs

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Ostracised from our communityAfrican refugees
who use alcohol and other drugs

• Helen Sowey
• Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre
  (DAMEC)
• February 2007

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What is DAMEC?

• Drug and Alcohol Multicultural Education Centre
• Research
• Projects
• Information

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This session

• Part 1
• The African Companions project
• Part 2
• Understanding ostracisation
• Lessons for working cross-culturally
• Part 3
• Questions/discussion

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Part 1

• The African Companions Project

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The need for the project

• Few existing alcohol and other drug problems
  identified in African refugee communities in NSW.
• High vulnerability
• Trauma and loss
• Adjustment and acculturation
• Socioeconomic disadvantage

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Funding

• Alcohol Education and Rehabilitation Foundation
  (2 years)
• Project Partners
• NSW Refugee Health Service
• Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of
  Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)

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Preventing harm

• Information about alcohol and other drugs
• Assistance with referral to treatment when
  required

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The African Companions

• Capacity-building project
• Pilot program 4 communities
• Somali
• Ethiopian
• Eritrean
• Liberian

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Project strategies

• Identify community gatekeepers
• Train them about alcohol and other drugs
• Introduce them to their communities as African
  Companions

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Sustainability

• Support for African Companions in their community
  work
• African Communities Liaison Worker role
• Peer support structures

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Evaluation

• External evaluation
• Pre/post training survey
• Community contact logsheets

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Whats next?

• Radio play
• Young African Companions

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Part 2

• Understanding ostracisation
• Lessons for working
• cross-culturally

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Understanding ostracisation

• Exploring the concept
• Insights into a collectivist culture
• Beliefs about dependency
• Modifying practice
• Tailoring training
• Working with families

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Lessons for working cross-culturally

• Try to be aware of your own assumptions
• Try to understand others assumptions
• WHY do people hold the views they hold?
• what beliefs are influencing their behaviour?
• Dont be afraid to ask questions
• Modify your practice

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Thank you

• To the African Companions

• Tiange Johnson
• Martha Smith
• Victor Kollie
• Marie Brewer
• Ellen McGill
• Michael McGill
• Susana Roberts

• Almaz Yimam
• Michael Isaac
• Kin Salah
• Fatma Mohamed
• Naima Abdulla
• Eyman Elmi
• Yatta Layweh

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Thank you

• African Communities Liaison Worker Hamed Turay
• DAMEC colleagues, especially the vegetarians who
  spent all day barbecuing sausages!
• The Project Advisory Group
• Project partners NSW Refugee Health Service and
  STARTTS
• Funding body Alcohol Education and
  Rehabilitation Foundation.

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Part 3

• Questions
• Discussion