The Australian Multicultural Foundation has developed the Community Awareness Training Manual: Building Resilience in the Community, which delivers the knowledge, understanding and skills required for participants to be able to deliver information in the community about: recognising anti-social behaviours, including criminality, and processes that can lead to violent extremism, along with prevention strategies and where to go for support. The manual was designed following consultations with community groups, religious leaders, police and government to ensure that the contents and format remain relevant, practical and useful over time.
The manual is designed for Australian communities:
- to assist in building resilience
- to increase awareness and understanding about processes of anti-social behaviours that can lead to forms of criminal activity including violent extremism using The Behavioural Indicators Model (Monash University)
- to promote an increased knowledge of strategies and activities which can help prevent individuals from engaging in anti-social behaviours that can also lead to violence
The model is not specific to any one particular national, political, religious or ideological group and applies regardless of the ideology or motivation for radicalisation.
The training is delivered in two formats: a) as an information session, and b) a train the trainer session. Information sessions are for those who want to increase their knowledge and understanding designed for people such as parents, friends, peers and mentors. The train-the-trainer sessions are for those who will be able to train others either formally or informally. To date the AMF has conducted Community Awareness Training program nationally to over 700 people in information sessions and 132 people in train the trainer sessions. Training was conducted in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and New South Wales with representation from a wide range of age groups, employment and socioeconomic backgrounds. The training will soon be available online as an eLearning platform.