Celebrating and Recognising Community Empowerment The 2025 Thrive Multicultural Women’s Festival  The Thrive Multicultural Women’s Festival  was held at Melbourne's Federation Square on 1 November 2025.   Veteran social worker and founder of  African Women's and Families Network  (AWAFN) -  Theresa Sengaaga Ssali  - was honoured as  Thrive 2025’s  Empowerment Pioneer , recognised for more than four decades of dedicated service to African and multicultural communities across V

Spring Edition of the Quarterly African Women's And Families Network (AWAFN) newsletter Premier's Multicultural Gala Dinner 2025 Unity in diversity where community is connection 🤝 Last Saturday night - 30 August 2025 - the Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner celebrated the vibrant contributions of Victoria’s multicultural and multifaith communities. Afterwards, AWAFN member  Sarah Chong  posted on-line: "Last night’s Victorian Premier’s Multicultural Gala Dinner was both a c

Winter Edition of the quarterly African Women's And Families Network newsletter. AWAFN to Celebrate Day of the African Child  The  African Women's and Families Network  ( AWAFN ) is excited to announce that it will host a celebration of the  Day of the African Child . This important event will bring together AWAFN and several multicultural organisations to showcase a variety of children’s programs, highlighting the richness of cultural diversity and community engagement. The

By Theresa Ssengaga (Founder, Past President, Programs Manager - African Women’s and Families Network) and Michael Muleme (Interim Board member - African Women’s and Families Network) As 2024 draws to a close, the African Women’s and Families Network (AWAFN) proudly reflects on a year of growth, collaboration, and impact. Through strategic planning and meaningful partnerships, we have laid a strong foundation for transformative change.​ A Heartfelt Thanks to Our Partners Our

Autumn Edition of the quarterly  African Women's And Families Network newsletter. AWAFN Leadership Transition As the  African Women's and Families Network  (AWAFN) enters a new chapter, the organisation extends its heartfelt gratitude to the outgoing interim Chairperson,  Abiola Akinbiyi  , for her leadership during the interim phase. Abiola's tenure was instrumental in guiding AWAFN through strategic planning and restructuring, ensuring a solid foundation for future growth.

You and your kids can learn to safely enjoy the sea water at Mentone Beach on Saturday afternoon, 8 February. You're invited to a family beach safety fun day  If you’re planning to visit a beach, inland waterway or pool this summer, prepare to stay safe around the water. Next month AWAFN will again hold an afternoon event to promote life-saving skills and foster community inclusion. In collaboration with  Life Saving Victoria  (LSV) and  Uganda the Pearl of Africa Victoria As

Community leaders at the AWAFN 'DonateLife Week' event in Dandenong last Saturday afternoon, August 3rd. Let Me Tell You a Story Last Saturday 3 August,  African Women's and Families Network  (AWAFN) was honoured to present our latest event in partnership with  DonateLife . We called our event 'Let Me Tell You a Story' ,  which was our way of inviting our community to have a conversation about organ donation during  DonateLife Week 2024. AWAFN aims to support all the members

African Australian Martha Bizimana's artwork for the 2024 FECCA Conference in Brisbane this month.* AWAFN Cancer Screening Awareness Project The African Women's And Families Network  (AWAFN) was one of several organisations funded by the  Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing  through  The Social Policy Group  to plan and deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate information to the African-Australian community to improve awareness of, and p

AWAFN Founder Theresa Ssali with new Chairperson Abiola Akinbiyi at the recent VMC Gala Dinner in Geelong. New African Women's and Families Network Leadership Team AWAFN welcomes  Abiola ( Abi ) Akinbiyi  as our new  Interim Management Committee  Chairperson. Abi   is   a   healthcare professional and a community advocate with over two decades of experience in healthcare, business and community leadership.  New AWAFN Interim Management Committee Chairperson Abiola Akinbiyi Ab

AWAFN's celebratory lunch in support of multicultural carers in Dandenong on 29 June 2024 (story below). AWAFN Strategic Planning Workshops It was an enthusiastic start to the  African Women's and Families Network  (AWAFN) 2024 Strategic Planning process when members and supporters gathered at the Kathleen Syme Library and Community Centre in Faraday Street Carlton on 15 June. AWAFN strategic planning was conducted over two Saturday morning workshops on 15th & 22nd June 2024

2024 AWAFN AGM - Save the Date! The Chairperson of the  AWAFN  - Theresa Ssali - has announced the date for our 2024 AGM. The upcoming Annual General Meeting of the members and supporters of the  African Women’s and Families Network Inc.  (AWAFN) will be held on  27 July 2024 at 4.00pm on Zoom . All members and supporters are invited to attend by sending an email to AWAFN by no later than 20 July to tssali@hotmail.com.au . Once your interest has been recorded you will be sent

The  African Women's and Families Network  (AWAFN) newsletter always leads with what's new from our own organisation, followed by items of general interest to African Australian communities, and concluding with an arts and culture wrap-up. African Women’s And Families Network Co-founder and Chairperson Theresa Sengaaga Ssali. Abiola Akinbiyi is AWAFN's Newest Board Member AWAFN has welcomed  Abiola Akinbiyi  to its Board of Directors. Abiola (Abi) has over 17 years’ experienc

Stallions Netball Club was created for young South Sudanese girls wanting to play competitive netball. African Youth Engagement and Connecting Pathways The Victoria Government’s Department of Justice and Community Safety funded our AWAFN African Youth Engagement and Connecting Pathways Project for two years to February 2024. The initiative addresses social isolation, built resilience, and strengthened children’s and young people's connections to peers, family and the wider co

Welcome to the First Edition of our AWAFN newsletter! The African Women’s and Families Network (AWAFN) is a Dandenong-based not-for-profit community organisation which provides opportunities for African Australian women, men, youth, families and friends to develop our community and create opportunities to engage with the wider community across Victoria. AWAFN is a grassroots state-wide organisation of people from diverse African communities and their faith denominations. We a