Lessons for Japan from NSF

Navitas Skilled Futures has hosted a group of Japanese public servants at its Fairfield College to help guide multicultural policies in local and regional areas of Japan.

General Manager Jetinder Macfarlane gave a 90-minute translated presentation to the 17 local government delegates who were visiting education providers, government services, NFPs and volunteer organisations in Sydney as part of the Japan Local Government Centre’s (JLGC) week-long Multicultural Seminar study tour.

It is the third time since 2016 that NSF has participated in the biennial seminar – including online during the Covid lockdown in 2021.

The JLGC (also known as CLAIR Sydney) represents all Japanese prefectural and municipal governments in Australia and New Zealand and supports the development of multiculturalism in Japan. The study tour – from Monday 27 November to Saturday 2 December – was an opportunity for the public servants to learn about education, policies and services available to multicultural communities in Australia.

Of particular interest to the delegates was the availability, take-up and funding arrangements of the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) and the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program, NSF’s collaboration with other organisations, and opportunities for migrants and refugees to find employment doing something they were good at, and enjoyed.

Jetinder highlighted the key features of these programs at NSF, as well as their sub-programs and short courses, and the Foundation Skills for Your Future (FSFYF) program. She also pointed out the unique and innovative features of NSF’s delivery of its programs, such as its use of virtual reality headsets to help prepare Pathways to Work students for work experience.

“Japan looks to Australia as a role model for the establishment and implementation of successful multicultural policies and programs involving government, non-profit organisations and local communities,” Jetinder said.

“We were honoured to be asked once again to host a session for the JLGC Multicultural Seminar, to help provide an understanding about how our government-funded programs, delivered in close collaboration with our strong local networks, help people transform their lives.”