The Cultural Mentoring Program (CMP) was developed to address a gap in MacKillop Family Services’ practice and to develop a best practice model of embedding culturally responsive practice within out-of-home care. The program also seeks to improve the data collection systems to gain a clearer understanding of the diversity of the population in out-of-home care. McKillop have joined with the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) as a key consultant to provide advice and guidance throughout the development and implementation of the program. MacKillop is implementing the program in residential care services in metropolitan Melbourne.
The CMP has involved the recruitment of cultural mentors to support the work of building capability and capacity of the organisation to be culturally responsive by providing support, advice and coaching on cultural connection and cultural safety. The aim of the program is to develop a framework of working with young people and families from multicultural backgrounds that values, respects and celebrates diversity.
The CMP has also identified the importance of delivering Culturally Responsive Practice Training, which we have engaged CMY to deliver to staff at MacKillop. This training has enriched staff’s knowledge, skills and confidence to engage with multicultural young people, which is positively impacting the implementation of the Cultural Mentoring Program.
The difference we are witnessing now is the increase in knowledge of staff around culturally safe practices. Staff are also utilising the expertise of cultural mentors through cultural consults, and these are being used in a systematic way to support multicultural young people in out- of home care. Ultimately this work has had a flow on effect on the positive outcomes for young people.
MacKillop have engaged external evaluators Impact.co to conduct an evaluation of this project.
The presentation will include an overview of the CMP and its implementation, a summary of the evaluation model adopted for the program and analysis of early outcomes of the program.
Simangaliso Nyoni
Cultural Practice Lead, MacKillop Family Services
Simangaliso is a Cultural Practice Lead at MacKillop Family Services, her role is to support the embedding and integrating of culturally responsive practice across the organisation which also includes coordinating the Cultural Mentoring Program. Simangaliso has a wealth of knowledge as a clinician with a background in Social Work and Counselling.
Chelsea King
Senior Practitioner- Sector Capability Building’ Centre for Multicultural Youth
Chelsea is the Senior Practitioner- Sector Capability Building at The Centre for Multicultural Youth. Within this role she oversees the development and delivery of capacity building activities such as training, resources, events and consultancy services designed to enhance the culturally responsive practice of those working with multicultural young people and families.
