eNews #1, March 2024
- AWAFN
- Mar 1, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 28
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 advocate for the culturally sensitive and specific settlement support and welfare needs of these communities and provide a range of programs to address their needs.
We consider and plan for the needs of our aging African-Australian community members as they increasingly require access and equity in aged care services. We also address issues arising from structural and systemic racism in Australia.
AWAFN is currently updating our website and will publicise it in due course. In the meantime, check us out on Facebook, and read our monthly newsletter - starting with this First Edition for March 2024.
AWAFN Board Chairperson Highly Commended
The Victorian Multicultural Commission's Multicultural Awards for Excellence and the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll formally recognise people and organisations who have fostered cross-cultural understanding and supported those with migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds to fully participate in all aspects of Victorian life. The 2023 awardees were announced at a Government House ceremony last December.
This prestigious event recognised individuals and organisations that have significantly contributed to promoting multiculturalism and diversity in Victoria. The awards span across various categories, awarding outstanding achievements in different fields, which include organisations in arts, business, community innovation, education, emergency services, health, justice, local government, media, police, refugee advocacy, sport, youth and leadership.
AWAFN is proud to have had our Board Chairperson - Theresa Sengaga Ssali - presented with a Highly Commended certificate in the 'Community Innovation' category.
Theresa is Co-Founder and Chairperson of the African Women's & Families Network. She is an inspiring, self-giving, empowering, engaging, community leader; her voluntary work in the community sector has gained her much acclaim.
In 2014 Theresa was a winner of the Victorian African Community Awards as Unsung Community Hero and in 2013, she received an award as one of the hundred most influential African-Australians. Theresa has been an active advocate on issues affecting women, men, youth and their families in Australia since 1989 and is passionate about Human Rights issues.
You can find the full list of 2023 Multicultural Awards for Excellence and the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll awardees on the VMC website.
AWAFN's Family Safety Event with Life Saving Victoria at Mentone Beach
On 3 February 2024 at Mentone, AWAFN had a very successful Family Beach Safety Event run by Life Saving Victoria, with lots of positive feedback from participants.
Life Saving Victoria believe that all Victorians should learn water safety, swimming and resuscitation, and be provided with safe aquatic environments and venues.
The LSV Diversity and Inclusion team want to foster greater diversity in our people and through community participation in water safety and resuscitation.
Life Saving Victoria is committed to deliver projects and champion initiatives which play a vital role in improving opportunities for all Victorians to receive fundamental water safety messages and education.
Check out LSV's Diversity & Inclusion pages or contact us to find out more.
Fires are a part of life in Victoria
Victoria is one of the most fire prone areas in the world. All Victorians need to know how to plan for, and respond to fire. How you respond will change depending on your situation. By taking the time to prepare, you can reduce your risk and help keep you and your loved ones safe.
Limited translated information about the fire season in Victoria is available for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds - click here. However, ethnic communities feel left behind with ineffective messaging amid dangerous fire conditions - read this recent report from ABC News.
The Giving Migrant Mums a Fair Go photo exhibition
This free art exhibition at Melbourne University displays photo-narratives developed by migrant and refugee women about their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and the transition to motherhood in Australia. This stunning set of photographs tells powerful stories about their resilience, their joys, their challenges, and their hopes throughout the perinatal period. They show us the diversity of experiences migrant women by capturing snapshots of some of the emotions, difficulties, and empowering moments that pregnancy, birth, and parenthood bring. Details here.
Four New African Australian Community Profiles for Victoria
These Victorian Government profiles are of four African-Australian communities, using the best available data from the 2021 Australian Census. The community profiles combine Census data with information about migration and settlement history in Victoria to provide insights into these communities:
The Victorian Government acknowledges the ethnic and linguistic complexity of our communities and note that these profiles are not definitive. There are limitations and challenges in assigning ancestry or ethnicity to a specific ‘community’, especially as defined by geographical borders. For more, click here.
Meet Mariam – one of Victoria Police’s newest recruits.
The Victoria Police 'Diversity Recruitment Program' seeks to increase the representation of people from under-represented cultural communities in the Victoria Police recruitment process.
“Before joining the Victoria Police Diversity Recruitment Program, I wasn’t sure if I would fit into the organisation - being a mum and from a diverse background, I didn’t see many people like me,” says Mariam – one of Victoria Police’s newest recruits. "I decided to join because I want to positively contribute to the organisation and my community, and to inspire people like me to join – because if others can do it, we can do it too.”
Leading Practice in Welcoming and Inclusion
The 2024 Welcoming Australia Symposium brings together international, national and local practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, business innovators and civic leaders to share and discuss the challenges, benefits and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity and inclusion.
Some readers will have attended last year's Symposium held in Melbourne at the Zinc venue, Federation Square. This year the Symposium will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre on 30 April, 1 & 2 May 2024. Find out more and register here.
ECCV is The Voice of Multicultural Victoria
African Women’s and Families Network is a member of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria. ECCV is the peak body for our state’s migrant and refugee communities. Since 1974, they have been advocating for the rights of multicultural communities, informing industry practice and influencing governments at all levels on a range of issues, including anti-racism, equitable access to services and socially just policy.
ECCV are the Victorian representative council of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia (FECCA). Learn more about the ECCV here.
Upcoming FECCA Conference
AWAFN is a member of ECCV, and ECCV's national peak organisation is the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia. Many readers will have attended the last FECCA Conference held at Melbourne's Sofitel Hotel in mid-2022.
FECCA's next biannual conference is scheduled for 16-17 October 2024, in Brisbane.
This year, FECCA is adding a vibrant touch to this gathering with a Multicultural Festival on 15 October. This event promises to be a melting pot of ideas, cultures, and discussions, fostering greater understanding and collaboration across Australia's diverse communities. FECCA is proud to partner with the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland to make this event a reality. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details. Visit the FECCA website.
Take Flight 1067 to Africa every Sunday afternoon
Hear great African music with presenter Stani Goma on Melbourne Community Radio PBS 106.7FM every Sunday afternoon at 3pm to 5pm. Flight 1067 to Africa is musical journey into the world of traditional and contemporary African music.
You can listen live on your radio, or later on-line at this link.
African Women’s and Families Network - We educate, support and empower
CARM women in leadership
This ground-breaking 2023 report re-examines the state of play for culturally and racially marginalised (CARM) women in leadership, focusing on how the intersections of two key marginalising characteristics – race and gender – are still operating in workplaces to lock CARM women out of leadership.
Despite being ambitious, capable, and resilient, and well positioned to contribute to their own and their organisation’s success, CARM women continue to be scarce across senior leadership positions in Australia and internationally.
The Diversity Council Australia (DCA) therefore conducted this research to understand why this was the case, what were the barriers locking this cohort out of leadership, and what workplaces should do to address this issue. Importantly, the project was led, and the research was conducted, by CARM women.
This research also explains intersectionality and why intersectional approaches to gender equity strategies are essential. Read the Report.
What Does AWAFN Do?
Multilingual support
Settlement process assistance
Support members in times of need
Welfare checks – in person and via phone
Provide referrals and advocacy to other services
Empowering communities in cross-cultural competencies
Support strong family relationships through respect and value building
Community development initiatives for self‑resilience and economic growth
Vocational training & professional development opportunities for individuals and small community groups
Information sessions on issues of concern to the community
Recreational and wellness programs for all members including youth and senior members
How 'Harmony' Hides Structural and Systemic Racism
21 March marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), sometimes known as ‘Harmony Day’ in Australia. However, hiding the true meaning of this day under a mask of ‘harmony’ actively harms our collective anti-racism journey by obscuring structural and systemic racism. This How 'Harmony' Hides Structural and Systemic Racism explains why - click here.
What Are AWAFN's Current Funded Programs?
Youth Engagement Activities - girls netball, boys basketball & children swimming lessons (Department of Justice and Community Safety Victoria)
Carers Support Services for African Australians (Victorian State Government)
Beach Water Safety Program (Life Saving Victoria)
Fortnightly fresh produce & non-perishable distribution (AMURT Disaster Relief and Community Support)
Multicultural Muslim Women Only Swimming lessons (City of Monash)
Disclaimer
The AWAFN eNews publishes content as it’s contributed or sourced with minimal editing. Material included does not necessarily reflect the views of the editor nor the AWAFN Board, nor should its inclusion be seen to necessarily constitute an endorsement.
For further information or enquiries, email AWAFN at: awafn11@gmail.com
AWAFN are located at Level 1, 31 Business Hub, 15-23 Langhorne Street Dandenong 3175; or find us on Facebook.
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