Elleni Bereded-Samuel has focused her life's work on strengthening education, training and employment for Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia. Currently, Elleni is the Community Engagement Advisor & Coordinator at Victoria University. Her dynamic leadership has resulted in new solutions for community to access and participate in society. For six years she served on the Board of Directors of The Women's Hospital and chair of the Community Advisory Committee. Elleni served for three years as the inaugural member of the Australian Social Inclusion Board. She is a Director of the SBS Board . From 2005-2011 Elleni served as the first African Commissioner appointed to the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Recently, Elleni was appointed to the Western Health Board of Directors and is also appointed to chair the Western Health Cultural Diversity and Community Advisory Committee and member of Education Research and Development Committee.
Elleni was one of the recipients of the VU Vice-Chancellor's Citations and Awards for Outstanding Engagement with CALD communities in Australia. She has also received the Victoria's Premier Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs - Education, and the Prime Minister International Year of Volunteers Award. Her name has been included on the Victorian Honour Roll of Women. In 2006 Ellen's biography and achievements was included in the "Who is Who Australian Women", inaugural edition alongside 4000 remarkable women across a range of fields, all of whom have excelled in their endeavours and have helped shape the face of Australia. In 2008 Elleni was selected as one of twelve significant women in Victoria as part of 100 years of women's suffrage reflection and celebration and also participated at the 20-20 Summit. In 2008 Elleni won the Diversity@Work Individual Champion Award for Diversity and Inclusion. Elleni was presented with her award by Sir Bob Geldof.
In 2012, the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, congratulated and recognized Elleni as one of the 40 Australians champions independently selected as the new People of Australia Ambassadors following hundreds of nominations from the public. The new ambassadors, including Elleni, will be able to provide advice to government and the Australian Multicultural Council if they wish.
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Mrs Arhet Geberat is a Bi - Lingual Case Manager at Mercy Mental Health Program, Victoria.
Arhet provides mental health first aid training to African community leaders and workers to improve their mental health literacy, and to help them contribute in raising their community’s knowledge of the available mental health and other support services and how to access them.
She also provides stigma reduction training and facilitates the delivery of culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate mental health care for members of African community who interact with mental health services.
Arhet has presented at the Western Cluster in 2007 annual conference and theTHEMHS conferences 3rd Western Australia transcultural mental health conference 2009.
Arhet has successfully provided six mental health first aid training courses to 66 African community leaders and stigma reduction training to 12 Somalia women and among other achievements.
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Dr Melika Yassin Sheik-Eldin is a Manager – Settlement Delivery Support Services responsible for strategic community relations involving ongoing dialogue and capacity building partnerships with refugee communities and sector organizations for AMES in Victoria.
More importantly, Melika oversees and mentors the successful and internationally recognized Community Guides Network; a bespoke, best practice program using members of a CALD community as integration guides for newly arrived refugees from the same cultural and linguistic background. Melika held various positions including:
- Manager Settlement Partnerships and Community Engagement – AMES (2007 -2010)
- Consultant on Refugee Resettlement (2008)
- Senior Coordinator for Settlement and Community Partnerships - AMES (2006 – 2007)
- Community Guides Coordinator – IHSS Program (2005 – 2006)
- AMES Social enterprises Coordinator, AMES (2003-2005)
- Project Coordinator for the VCAL program for Youth from Newly Arrived Communities, AMES (2002–03)
- Project Coordinator and Counsellor, Managed Individual Pathways Program for New Arrivals from The Horn Of Africa, AMES (2002)
- Muslim Women's Help-Line Coordinator, Victorian Multicultural Commission (2001)
- Project Coordinator, Victorian Immigrant & Refugee Women's Coalition Melbourne (2000–01)
This experience allows Melika to deliver new policy frameworks via formal consultation with community members and incorporate these learnings into the AMES Settlement Services model, while working with Managers through AMES to understand and incorporate the resulting implications for AMES wider education and employment programs.
- Management member of the Eritrean community Association of Australia
- Management member of the Horn of Africa Communities Network(HACN)- Women & youth Issues
- Executive member of the Federation of African Australian Women’s Association
- Coordinator of the first Horn of African Newspaper in Australia – The AMBASSADOR
- Secretary of the African Australian Professional Association
- HACN Representative in the Foundation for Young Australians Youth Leadership program
- HACN Representative –African Youth Arts Project with Victoria College of Arts, Melbourne University
- Joint organiser of the Horn of Africa Live Night celebrations ( 10 years)
- Executive member of the Federation of African Communities Council of Australia
- Board member of the Refugee Council of Australia
- Member of the Australian delegation to the UNHCR in Geneva (Ex-com, NGOs and Tripartite consultations (2007 – 2011)
- Member of the UNHCR Multi-disciplinary Mission to Eastern Sudan
- Member of the UNHCR / Centre for Refugee Research delegation for the Refugee Women’s Dialogue Mission to Jordan
- A member in a number of Advisory Committees
Dr Melika Yassin Sheikh Eldin has represented AMES and presented at UNHCR Conferences in Geneva from 2007 to 2009 and was part of the 2008 UNHCR Mission to Sudan.
Watch Video:
2011 Refugee Conference - Dr Melika Yassin Sheikh-Eldin
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Mekonnen Kebede
B.Sc., BSc. Hons. M.App. Sc., MASM
Ethiopian born African Australian; Mekonnen graduated from Addis Ababa University with B.Sc in 1981 and worked
as a teacher. He lived in Zimbabwe for 3 years where he was employed as a
teacher by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Education before coming to Australia
in 1985.
Mekonnen was employed by The Australian Red Cross Blood
Service (ARCBS-VIC) in 1990, as a medical scientist, where he has been serving
the organisation for the last 22 years and reached to the level of senior
scientist. He has published scientific journals both within Australia and internationally as an
author and co-author for the promotion and advancement of his scientific field,
microbiology.
Mekonnen was awarded the Red Cross medal for long service
and Victoria’s
Multicultural Awards for Excellence “Meritorious Service to the Community”. Mekonnen always believed in community building and creating
a healthy society. He has been instrumental in establishing the Ethiopian
Community Association in Victoria (ECAV) in 1985 which was incorporated in 1986.
He was elected to serve ECAV as a chair person between 1988 and 1991. In 1992
with the help of the Toorak Anglican and Uniting churches, Mekonnen and other
colleagues founded the premier Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Australia.
Mekonnen shows a strong interest in the development of
services for the disadvantage and marginalised communities, not only those from
Africa, but from a diverse range of
communities. He maintains keen interest in international development, social
justice, humane rights and health.
Mekonnen is contributing
to the community at large by sitting on different boards and advisory
committees.
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Girma Seid, since
arriving in Australia, he has been involved in community services with the
emerging African Community in the Northern Territory through advocacy,
representing the community in various forums and consultation in particular
regarding employment opportunities for African families arriving in Darwin, and
organising various activities for young people through volunteer capacity. Also
worked with Darwin High School as a Bi-Cultural worker; a position involved,
providing information and advice to teachers and school staff regarding
cultural and language matters and support and educate students and their
parents about Australian education system. He was also one of the founding members
of African Australian Friendship Association of the Northern Territory, and
involved in different roles including the Northern Territory Police Ethnic
Advisory Group.
For
four years worked as a Case Coordinator, with Melaleuca refugee Centre in
Darwin, working with newly arrived families, in providing information and
orientation, support them to access welfare, education, health and housing services
and assist them during their initial settlement period, through intensive case
coordination plan, referrals and needs assessment case management service;
including Special Humanitarian program entrants and their sponsors. Also worked
as a Program Coordinator for the Northern Territory Government funded “Families
in Cultural Transition Program” which involves, providing workshop, training
sessions and supervision of Bi-cultural workers, who facilitate 10-12 weeks
workshops for newly arrived families about Australian service system.
Currently
coordinating a project with Centre for Multicultural Youth, in the Western
suburbs of Melbourne, that aims to support young people from African
backgrounds, who are currently disengaged or at high risk of being disengaged from
education, training, employment and supportive environment. Through the program,
the young people are assisted to overcome barriers, increase self confidence,
develop their talents and make positive work and life changes. Working in
collaboration with other community organisations and local police, young people
are provided information about Australian education, health, welfare, justice
and other service systems through group work, such as leadership camping
program and mentors. The program also supports the young people to improve
their relationship with their families and communities and the police. Young
people are also referred to other services for specialized case management
service including AOD services.
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Youth worker Asha Saad Saleh has been described by the management of Jesuit Social Services as "one of our organization’s best assets."
Asha was the 2011 African Australian Young Leaders Awards Winner and works to build a just society where all people can live to their full potential by partnering with the community.
Eritrean Asha Saleh has been a full time worker with JESUIT SOCIAL SERVICES for three years. Asha helps run the Jesuit’s African Programs based at the heart of the target group in Flemington, St Albans and Heidelberg.
The project operates in active partnership with local Horn of Africa community organisations and builds capacity for many of the African organisations active in the area. She is central to the success of the project. Among the projects successfully initiated and implemented by Asha alongside the Jesuit’s team includes: The Workplace Development Program (WDP), this is a work placement program for skilled African migrants who have been unable to find work in Australia organized by Jesuit Social Services in collaboration with the National Australian Bank.
In fact, several African Australians who have completed the program have gone on to secure ongoing employment with the National Australian Bank .
Also, Asha Saleh came up with the idea for a delightful new story book called A is for Aunty and Z is for Zigni: An alphabet book of African stories, now being used in some institutions in Victoria.
Asha was among the best Australia Youth Workers specially selected to meet with Prince William at Government House when he visited Victoria. Asha is currently an official Ambassador for AFL team, The North Melbourne Kangaroos.
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William Bol Deng is a former vice president for Sudanese Community Association of Australia Inc. During his term in office, he worked tirelessly to assists Sudanese community to settlement in Australia. William also worked closely with services providers to ensure that services providers understands cultural issues, settlement issues facing young people and families from refugee background while settling in Australia. William is a great activist; he is passionate in human right issues including rights of women and children. His desire in human rights helps him to advocates on behalf of community by ensuring that negative perceptions on refugee communities is changed as media sometimes do reports negatively on African refugee communities.
William came to Australia as a refugee and has worked in refugee camp as a counselor and a manager for counseling Centre in Kenya for seven years. He is currently working for the Spectrum Migration Resources Centre, helping refugees and migrations with settlement issues.
Qualifications:
William holds a Bachelor degree in Social Work, Diploma in Community welfare and in May, 2012, he will complete his Master degree in International Community.
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Ahmed Dini
VIC Australia's Local Hero 2012
Despite enduring the challenges of living in a refugee camp as a young boy, Ahmed Dini, still only 24, has become a leader in Australia’s Somali community.
He has galvanised Somali migrants through events and initiatives that provide significant support to Somali families and has become a strong voice and influential advocate for his community.
Ahmed was ten years old when he arrived in Australia and since finishing school has spearheaded the creation of the Australian Somali Football Association (ASFA) to promote sport, mentor under-privileged young people and to create a more cohesive Somali community.
Through his vision, the Australian Somali football championships have become the largest sporting event ever undertaken by the Somali/Horn of Africa community in Australia, with more than 4,500 people attending.
As event manager, Ahmed is inspirational, leading the 10-person committee, 21 sponsor partners, 80 volunteers, 16 coaches and managers and 180 players.
The success of the event prompted the Football Federation Victoria to incorporate the championships into its ‘United through Football’ program. Ahmed is also a Project Ambassador for the Sustainable Employment and Economic Development (SEED) program that assists young people with job placements in the City of Moonee Valley.
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Terefe Aborete is an Ethiopian Australian arrived in Australia in 1995. Terefe works for CatholicCare Melbourne as Manager of Refugee and Settlement Program . Terefe’s association with CatholicCare began way back in 1999 where he joined as a community development worker. He is the pioneer of the Horn of Africa Family Service unit at CatholicCare . He became the manager in 2005 and started an innovative approach to help the newly arrived refugees find their feet in Australia. This program focuses on ‘village like’ social support network and social skill development that would facilitate their settlement in their new home, Australia.
Terefe’s significant contribution to the refugee community is bringing all the Horn of Africans community leaders together once has been seen as traditional enemies and instilling in them a sense of unity. Terefe’s tireless effort , has given a boost to cross-cultural communication and relationship building thereby forging trust, awareness, confidence and respect between the refugee communities and the wider community. Realising the need of being in touch with native languages of the refugees, he played a vital role starting the first multi-lingual Horn of African newspaper “ The Ambassador”. Terefe’s help has spanned all borders of not only African where he has worked with Sudanese, Ethiopians, Eritrean , Somalis, Congolese, Liberians, and other African refugees but also Afghanis, Sri Lankans, Indians, Chin and Karen refugees.
Terefe was one of the 21 proud Victorians from a refugee background who was recognized for his outstanding work in assisting the refugee community. He is also the recipients of the Victorian Premier’s Award for Excellence in Multicultural Affairs in recognition of his extraordinary contributions for the newly arrived communities and wider Australian community.
Terefe is a founder and General Secretary of Horn of African Communities Network, member of Board of Directors of Western Region Health Centre, Member of the External Advisory Group of Wyndham City Council, Member of the reference group for Asylum Seekers Support Program of CatholicCare, Member of School Council of Western Region English Language School , Member of South East Settlement Planning Committee, former Deputy Chair of Western Region Ethnic Communities Council and former President of Ethiopia Community Association in Victoria.
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Mulugeta Abebe currently works as Community Engagement / Health Promotion Project Officer at Merri Community Health Services. He was previously a settlement support, settlement consultants and cultural competency advisor service provider, focusing on settlement, Health, Education, aged care, ethnic aged and Migrant Refugee health and wellbeing. Mulugeta is also the owner of an Ethiopian Restaurant.
In 1990, Mulugeta arrived in Australia at the age of 14 without family as a stowaway from Ethiopia. Leaving behind his family he had to work on any jobs to support his family back home and himself. He started studying English on arrival in Australia because he could not speak English .
From this humble beginning, Mulugeta has progressed to make the following achievements in Australia:
- BA (Social Science) and Diploma on Community development
- Participated in producing a publication on Preventing Childhood Obesity.
- Currently involved in a Child oral health project. This project aims to address the social, cultural and environmental influences of child oral health in refugee and migrant communities. The project is conducted in conjunction with Melbourne University and other organisations.
· The founder of the Ethiopian new Amharic radio program for Ethiopian Australia communities at 3ZZZ FM. the radio program was established to address the complex issues surrounding the delivery of useful information to the Ethiopian Australia communities. At this radio program, Mulugeta provides practical information and Ethiopian Music.
- The founder of the Ethiopian new Amharic Community TV program for Ethiopian Australia communities at C31 UHF to address the complex issues
· From 2006 – 2008 Mulugeta was appointed as public relation officer for Ethiopian Community Association of Melbourne and Victoria also has been coordinate the Ethiopian community radio programs on 3CR, and has represented the community at a number of forums professionally, and has been actively involved with the other African community in Victoria for 18 years.
Mulugeta has participated in producing policy and education materials such as:
Publication; (Preventing Childhood Obesity) Evidence Policy and Practice
According to Mulugeta, the book will be an invaluable resource for public health practitioners, early childhood professionals, health care providers and clinicians working to reduce the incidence and prevalence of obesity in their communities.
“I am hoping to make a difference in the fields of health and settlement policy"... says Mulugeta .
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ABRAHAM MAMER
LEADER, PIONEER, EDUCATOR, HUMANITARIAN.
Abraham Mamer, a South Sudanese is the Multicultural Affairs Manager at the Darebin City Council local government in Victoria State. Darebin covers a very large area and has the highest proportion of overseas-born citizens of any council in Australia. Mr Mamer international reputation in Social Policy has earned him a managerial position to develop settlement plans and policies for African Australian Community in the Brotherhood of St Laurence – working for an Australia free of poverty
Throughout his career, Abraham Mamer has been a leader and a pioneer in developing personal and organisational policies and programs to the humanitarian resettlement of refugees. Because of his generosity and effort, tens of thousands of migrants to New Zealand and Australia have been assisted in making a positive adjustment to their new cultures.
The innovative and progressive leadership that is characteristic of him is shown in the many organisations that he has been a founder or board member of, including:
- Founding Member: AUT ESOL Advisory Board
- Founding Member: African Centre for Education – UNITEC NZ
- Founder and Advisor of National Refugee Communities Network
- 1999 – 2001 President of the Sudanese Association Inc. NZ
- 2001 –2002 Executive Member NZ Refugee Council
- 2005 – 2006 Chairman Board of Directors Refugee As Survivors (RAS)
- Board Member: Centre for Refugee and Migrant Health, Auckland University of Technology
- Board Member and Trustee: African Think Tank, Victoria, Australia
- Advisor: Sudanese Community Association of Australia
- Member: Asian Network Inc
Abraham has been equally generous at lending his time and experience as a speaker, participant, and presenter at many seminars and conferences, among them:
- Co-convenor, UNESCO conference on Diversity in Education, August 2004. As a result of his work at this conference, Abraham was presented with a medal from the King of Thailand.
- Co-organiser and Convenor, The Inaugural International Asian Health and Wellbeing Conference 2004
- Co-presenter, AUT Conference in Education in Diverse Cultures
- Keynote Speaker, Children & Young People As Citizens: Participation Provision and Protection Conference
- Keynote Speaker, Conference on Community languages and English for Speakers of Other languages, Auckland, 2008
Abraham Mamer has also published and presented numerous papers devoted to raising awareness and understanding of refugee and migrant issues at national and international conferences, among which are:
- Making Progress at Last: The Auckland Somali Community Education Programme (with Karen McDermott, published by Waikato University)
- Barriers challenging education provision for new emigrant students in New Zealand schools
- Six papers at CLESOL (Conference on Community Languages and ESOL in New Zealand) conferences over seven years:
- Experience of Sudanese refugee Students in NZ schools
- ESOL students’ English Language Acquisition and learning shift
- Proficiency in English and impact on other subjects
- Heart and Mind in teaching students from the refugee backgrounds
- Does one-size-fits-all?
- Refugee Family Reunification Policy Impact on Family Resettlement Outcomes (published by Childrenz Issues. Vol. 10, No. 1, 2006)
- Key note speaker on: Minorities and Security - 12th International Metropolis Conference Melbourne 2007
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Oliver Zvinaiye Maboreke is originally from Zimbabwe and works as Community Engagement Worker at the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health - Multicultural Health and Support Service team.
He originally worked as Senior Community Development & Project Officer with the Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau, the Department of Human Services as well as teaching in various schools around Melbourne.
He holds a Masters degree in International Project Planning and Development –RMIT University and among other qualifications.
He is also actively involved with the African – Australian community as African Think Tank board member, Australian Aids Organisations (AFAO) Victoria Advisory Committee, Zimbabwean community leader.
In addition, Oliver is also Forward in Faith Ministries International Events Coordinator, founder member and Director of Soccer coaching for the Zimbabwean soccer team in Victoria, ZimVic Sports Club.
Areas of expertise include Community capacity building, leadership training & Development, HIV/Gender mainstreaming, Human rights Advocacy & Lobbying, Youth empowerment, Event management, Music and Sport.
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A former Vice President/Project Manager Ethiopian Community Association in Victoria. Daniel is currently ARADA Ethiopian Cultural Centre, Founder and President and ARADA Ethiopian Radio, Founder and Producer.
The Ethiopian Community association in Victoria is one of the strongest, fastest and vibrant developing community organisations in Victoria. Established in 1986, it currently serves over 5000 members from wide range of cultures and languages. As public relation officer Daniel has achieved and participated in various role including-
· Promotional and Marketing Strategies
Contributed to community development and cross cultural association
· Planned, developed, managed and evaluated projects
· Sustained and integrated Ethiopian culture with Australian culture
· Demonstrated success in meeting high returns for the community
· Maintained and updated client database
· Producing and Presenting on 3CR-855AM-Amharic Program since 2003-Current
· Producing and Presenting on 3ZZZ-92.3FM-Amharic Program since 2011-Current
· An Art Envoy for Footscray Community Arts Centre since 2006-Current
· Establishing ARADA Ethiopian Cultural Centre and helping the community
· Working in Youth Projects with other Community groups-Sudan, Somalia
· Working and Participating in programs with Victoria Police-Multicultural Unit
· Currently an active member of Victorian African Health Advocacy Network
Further Daniel held a position of Settlement Officer at AMES. AMES contracted to deliver refugee resettlement services. In his role Daniel promote a professional and dynamic disposition with new arrived refugees, Maintain and provide a high level of professional standards, displayed good organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects within required time frames and deadlines including customer relationship management. Daniel also participated as event organiser with Big West Festival, the leading community-based, contemporary arts festival in Melbourne West, has spectacular events ranging from free outdoor concerts through to theatre, music, children’s days, literature and visual arts. He actively engaged with community as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Festival.
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Victor Victor is 19 year old who migrated to Australia in 2003 with his family from
Sudan. With no previous Education upon arrival in Australia, and attending
school he found it very difficult but managed to make the best of it. Victor
has a strong passion for working with and improving the lives of newly arrived
and culturally and linguistically diverse young people.
Having volunteered at various community based organizations; Youth Affaire Council
Of Victoria (Youth Reference Group), Multifaith Multicultural Youth Network,
New Hope Foundation, Centre For Multicultural Youth CMY, Foot Prints
Enterprise, R.I.S.E, City Of Greater Dandenong Youth Service (Young Leaders
Program) and St Martin’s Youth Art Centre just to mention few.
While completing his VCE, Victor has been involved not just within the
community but in extra school curriculums. Being a school VICE-CAPTAIN, member
of Student Representative Council, Peer Support Leader, Junior and Senior House
Captain. Representing his school at the United Nations conference, various
Public Speaking Competitions and receiving awards for his community
involvements.
Also receiving scholarship from the Western Chance Scholarship for education
and continuing being an active member of the community. The Wyndham Scholarship
Fund; in recognition of commitment to education, academic achievement
contribution to the school community and future potential achiever.
Victor isn’t just an active member of the community is also a hip hop and
Spoken word artist, as he believes that music is another form of reaching out
to young people.
Victor has been awarded the City of Greater Dandenong Young Achiever of theYear.
Victor said: “Being from a multicultural background and having an experience in
adapting to a new environment I believe that cultural, linguistic and religious
diversity in Australia is really important and been given the opportunity to
have a voice not just for young people but also to my community is what keeps
me motivated in helping others.
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