StartWien Information Modules: Empowering New Migrants in Vienna

StartWien - Information Modules Goran Novaković City of Vienna Municipal Department 17 Integration andDiversity IOM - Expert Seminar Prague, 28th November 2013 House of National Minorities

Start Wien: Target groups • Third-country citizens who come to Austria for reasons of family reunion – according to the immigration law – have to prove (within two years) their knowledge of the German language at an A2 level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) • EEA citizens (and third-country citizens as family members of EEA citizens) since January 2011 who have received a confirmation of registration or a residence card from Municipal Department 35 – Immigration, Citizenship, Registry Offices.

Start Wien – Services • Startcoaching: • one-hourconsultation in themothertongue • a servicetailoredtothe individual needsofnewimmigrants • in 24 languages • usuallyheldright after migrantsreceivetheirresidencepermit resp. registrationfromtheMunicipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, Registry Offices, orafter making an appointment Vienna educationbooklet & Vienna languagevouchers 2)Information modules 3)Second Level Startcoaching

Information modules, 1 – Preparation before the project start: • Working out the most important content of the individual topics • Workshops with consultants/experts and German-language course leaders • 40 communities surveyed • Experience of MA 17 – collected by employees • 135 interview with recent migrants on topics of interest • Selection of trainers • Training of trainers

Information modules, 3 – Trainers: Recruitment Internal: pertinent employees of MA 17 External: job ads with profiles of required skills (through the cooperation partners of MA 17) Easier to find in the main language groups, much harder for the less spoken languages. Requirements: • long migrant experience – preferred • knowledge of systems and structures in countries of origin compared to Vienna/Austria • native speaker (except for E and D-modules, since they are very heterogeneous groups) • experience in public speaking and providing information • knowledge of migration and integration (i.e. education as integration coach, DAF/DAZ-training) • employed in relevant areas (health, education, residence, counselling, etc.) – preferred

Information modules, 4 – Trainers: Selection and Training Selection: • extensive job interview with the project leader • many of the trainers are also active in Startcoaching and Second-Level Startcoaching • total of approximately 50 module trainers Training: • Project StartWien: Introduction (goals, content, procedure, structure and conveying administrative and organizational terms of reference)

Information modules, 5 - Trainer: Training 2) On the topic • Contents • Duration: 3 hours • By experts from the pertinent branch (experts on tenant law, nurses, that is doctors, teachers, that is education consultants) • Training course materials are made available • Twice a year (per topic): for new trainers and a refresher course (innovations and alterations) for the “old” ones.

Information module, 6 - Trainers: Supervision by MA 17 • Regular exchange: Organization team of MA 17 – trainers (open or new points, which were discussed in the modules, suggestions for further topics in modules, etc.) • Round of feedback and project management – once a year • Feedback from participants – continuous evaluation (reactions of the participants after the modules, feedback on the modules in second-level) • Survey of customers – in progress, results at the beginning of 2014

Information modules, 7 – Where, when, for whom? • Community College Favoriten • Every second Saturday of the month from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m., that is, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. • Child care for kids aged 0 – 13 available at those times • Two hours per topic • Different languages simultaneously Who can attend a module? • New migrants • Migrants who have been living in Vienna longer • Anyone who is interested

Information modules,8 - Organization of Information-Module-Day • Organization team of MA 17/StartWien • 4 multi-lingual people • Take care of the participants before and after the modules (also if there are further questions) • Take care of the trainers • Cooperate with the child care team, the building administration

Information modules, 9 – Subjects Living together (held by a male and female trainer together) Residence matters (held by the Municipal Department for Immigration) Education system in Austria Housing in Vienna Healthcare system in Austria Working environment (held by the Chamber of Labour, AK) Profession (held by the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund, WAFF, in WAFF) Recognition of qualifications ( individual consultations at Perspektive, in Perspektive) Business Start-Ups (held by Mingo, in Mingo)

Module “Living together”, 1 Preparations: • MA 17 internal: List of the existing customs, social behaviour, traditions etc. for each country of origin (common elements, that is, culturally specific and cultural differences) • Preparing possibly important topics for new migrants (transportation, bank system, administrations, leisure time activities, etc.) • Personnel for these modules were recruited especially on the basis of their intercultural competences and ability to communicate. • Team discussion for trainers: Goals and content, different ways of putting these into action.

Module “Living together”, 2 Procedure: • Held by a man and a woman (ideally from the country of origin/one of the countries of origin of the participants) • Start: own experiences of the first year in Vienna • Participants are motivated to participate actively in the discussion, to share their experiences and thoughts. • Using examples, a discussion is generated, stereotypes can be expressed and addressed, and in part dispelled through information. • Great flexibility on the part of the trainers • The methods of presentation vary greatly, in each case (if this is possible given the size of the group) it should be an interactive exchange.

Module “Living together”, 3 Content: Example – New Migrants from Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia • City of Vienna, population, structure, political parties, mayor • Quality of life: water, sorting garbage (recycling), dangerous substances, air, green areas • Neighbourly relations: house rules, having parties, using the communal space • Transportation: parking zones, public transportation, cyclists • Children: children’s rights, upbringing, how to deal with teachers, social services • Women’s rights: against violence, possible protection measures • Minorities/“Ethics/Morality“: Gays and lesbians, nude swimming, going to the sauna etc. • Dogs/dog zones/rules • Leisure: public libraries, media in the mother tongue, clubs, associations, typical Viennese places, tradition, excursions, etc.

Module: Education/ Austrian School System, 1 • Compulsory schooling (primary school, pre-school class, enrolment at private schools • The Vienna campus school model • General secondary school, co-operative middle school, secondary school • Pre-vocational school and vocational school • What is an apprenticeship/vocational training? • Technical middle school, higher technical schools • Secondary academic school • Financial aid and support for pupils

Module: Education Austrian School System, 2 • Support: Schulinfo-Wien; School information centre for migrants • Studying in Austria • Child care:day nurseries for children up to 3 years, kindergarten • Private kindergartens, mandatory kindergarten attendance • Registered childminder, children’s groups • Afternoon care for school-age children

Module: Health-Care • The E-Card • Multilingual doctors in Vienna (native speakers) • Health-care screenings for adults; important vaccinations, vaccination pass • Not all services are covered by your health insurance! • My child is ill... and it is the weekend!/ Emergencies • Expecting a baby: maternity leave/protection; maternity benefits ; mother-child pass; parental leave • Child-care benefit: requirements and deadlines • Administrative steps related to childbirth

Module: Housing, 1 • Residence registration in Vienna - competent authority and documents • What is an estate agent? • The tenancy agreement and protection from termination • Housing categories; rented dwellings; private owners/council flats • Cooperative dwellings and owner-occupied flats • Compensation for investments and security deposit • House rules • Using the public spaces of the house and housing estate • Fire protection requirements; chimney sweep services; waste separation

Module: Housing, 2 • Noise and loud music; dogs and other animals • Toilets, laundry room, water consumption • Keys, absence of tenants • Vehicles • Satellite TV systems • Property management • Housing benefit housing promotion and financial support housing advice centres- Living in Vienna – institutions and websites • Waste separation

Module: Working environment (Chamber of Labour), 1 • About the Chamber of Labour • What is an “employment relationship”? • What happens if an employee is ill and cannot come to work? • What can I do if my employer does not pay my salary? • Are employees entitled to paid holidays? • Working hours • Severance pay • What does the Public Employment Service do? • Requirements to receive unemployment benefit

Module: Working environment (Chamber of Labour), 2 • Unemployment: amount of unemployment benefits; duration of payment of unemployment benefits • Emergency welfare benefits • What are the benefits of social insurance? • Benefits for persons who have their primary residence in Austria and voluntary insurance • Old age pension, invalidity pension, surviving dependent’s pension, attendance allowance for persons in need of care • Financing the benefits of healthcare, work accident and pension insurance • Compulsory insurance • Insurance periods, contribution periods, substitute qualifying periods • Work accident insurance: the work accident • Occupational diseases

Module: Profession - Basic Information on Work and Employment • Employment market situation in Vienna • Legal regulations relating to job acceptance • Support in finding a job as well as following acceptance of a job • Questionnaire: We will ask you to complete a questionnaire to help us improve our offers for you • Approximately 2. 5 hours • Location: waff(The Vienna Employment Promotion Fund)

Module: Residence matters (only for Integration Agreement) This module discusses legal matters concerning residence and citizenship in Austria Module: Recognition of qualifications • Individual advice and counselling on all relevant issues • At the Recognition and Continuing Education Counselling Centre of waff • Appointment by phone - counselling by appointment only

Module: Business Start-ups • The Vienna Business Agency (Wirtschaftsagentur Wien) • First individual appointment by phone or e-mail • Information and support if someone plans to start his/her own business in Vienna • The service point “Mingo Migrant Enterprises” offers support and information in many languages • Information about business start-ups, financing, dealing with authorities, and an overview of reasonably priced office space • Attending multilingual workshops on business-related topics such as bookkeeping, taxes, and marketing is possible

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! MA 17 Integration und Diversität Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 3 A - 1080 Wien Tel.: +43 1 4000 81510 E-Mail: post@ma17.wien.gv.at www.wien.gv.at/english/social/integration www.startwien.at

StartWien Information Modules: Empowering New Migrants in Vienna