Published Resources Details Report

Author
Bartels, L.
Title
Crime prevention programs for culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia (Research in Practice no 18)
Imprint
Australian Institute of Criminology Canberra, Canberra, 2011
ISBN/ISSN
1836-9111
Url
http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip18/rip18.pdf
Description

This publication examines key criminal justice issues and protective factors relevant to CALD communities, and documents good practice programs from around Australia that counter CALD social disadvantage.
Findings: The research found a lack of secure and long-term funding is one of the biggest challenges facing service delivery in this area. Most of the programs referenced in this report are only funded on a short-term basis. The report argues that it takes time to establish effective programs as relationships need to be established between CALD communities and law enforcement agencies. Funders need to recognise the time required to take a program from an establishment phase to an effective and sustainable program.
As of the 27-4-16 lit review indicators were listed as: Crime, Policing
Methodology: The key criminal justice issues in relation to CALD communities are reviewed and a summary of relevant protective and risk factors provided.

Abstract

Australia has a greater proportion of migrants (ie people living in Australia who were born overseas) relative to most other Western countries (Baur 2006); as at 30 June 2009, around a quarter of Australia's estimated resident population was born overseas (ABS 2010a). According to the 2006 Census, in descending order of population size, the main CALD groups in Australia are from Italy, China, Vietnam, India and the Philippines. However, between 1996 and 2006, increasing proportions of new arrivals came from Sudan (an average increase of 28% per year), Afghanistan (12%) and Iraq (10%; see Baur 2006). Most CALD communities in Australia, especially Asian communities, are concentrated in urban areas (Sawrikar & Katz 2008). It is generally recognised (eg see OMI 2009) that people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities may face a range of complex issues, including discrimination and prejudice, social isolation and disenfranchisement, and difficulties in assimilating within the broader Australian culture and/or in maintaining a sense of identification with the culture of origin. In addition, refugees or people who have migrated to Australia as a result of adversity may be suffering from undiagnosed or untreated trauma. All of these factors may impact on involvement in and engagement with the criminal justice system. In this paper, the key criminal justice issues in relation to CALD communities are reviewed and a summary of relevant protective and risk factors provided. Some CALD-specific crime prevention programs, which serve to promote resiliency and protective factors and/or inhibit risk factors, are then presented. In order to ensure relevance and currency, the paper is primarily limited to Australian research from 2006 onwards.