Community leaders, members, health professionals, government representatives, staff and friends joined a Community Leader Harmony Dinner at Hammurabi in Fairfield Heights on March 17.
The community recognition event, organised by Western Sydney MRC and CORE Community Services, acknowledged community leaders and allowed key stakeholders and officials to celebrate valuable contributions and support future participation and collaboration.
CORE Community Services and Western Sydney MRC have been delivering on a promise they made to communities over 40 years ago. Both organisations are renowned in the community for offering a variety of services and supports to migrant and refugees in the Liverpool and Fairfield LGAs.
Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. This year’s theme was “Everyone Belongs”.
For Western Sydney MRC and CORE Community Services it was all about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
The event was opened with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Tony Scholes/Donovan, Chairperson from Gandangara Aboriginal Land Council.
Community leaders were acknowledged in a short ceremony where VIPs gave out recognition pins.
Alex Hawke, Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, sent a video message of support and acknowledgement. VIPs attending included Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta, Guy Zangari MP, Anne Stanley MP, Chris Hayes MP, Paul Lynch MP, Deputy Mayor Councillor Dai Le, Assistant Commissioner NSW Police, Anthony Cooke, Senior Medical Adviser for NSW Health, Dr Jan Fizzell, CEO of SWS Local Health District, Ms Amanda Larkin and Settlement Services International CEO, Violet Roumeliotis.
With over 20 cultures and 29 community organisations represented, the night was a visual melting pot of Western Sydney.
See the community leaders highlight video.
Acknowledged community and organisation representatives included:
ABC Sydney, Afaq Foundation for Culture and Arts, Afghan Fajar association incorporated, Afghan Women on the Move, Africa Health Australia, Ahwaz community, All Saints Catholic College Liverpool, All Saints Parish Liverpool, Al Muntada, Amnesty International, Art & Community Development, Assyrian Resource Center, Australian Arab Cultural Forum, Australian Community Cultural Club, Australian Egyptian Forum Council Inc., Australian Mandaean Sports Club Inc., Australian Mesopotamian Cultural Association, Babylon Chaldean sport club, Chaldean Australian Society, Chaldean League, Dovedent PTY LTD, Fiji Diaspora Women’s Alliance Inc., Gandangara Local Land Council, Hymiana Mandaean Social Group, Iraqi Australasian Medical Association-IAMA, Iraqi Australian Christian Association, Iraqi Australian university graduate forum, Iraqi women League, Islamic Women Association Australia - IWAA, Khmer Community of NSW Inc., Lao oz Incorporated, Mandaean Australian Community Cultural Club, Mandaean House in Australia, Mandaean Media Network, Moroccan Sydney Association, Multicultural NSW, Muslim Women’s Welfare of Australia , MWWA, NSW Al-Ahwaz community, NSW Health, NSW Police Force, NSWHP/ Arab Council Australia, Sudanese Community, Sabian Mandaean Association in Australia, Saint Zaia Assyrian Language school, SBS News and Current Affairs, Shayna Humanitarian, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Settlement Services International, St Mary’s Assumption Chaldean Catholic Church, St Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church, Sumer Association for Culture and Arts, Sydney Community Connect, Sydney Fijian Community, Telskuf association, The Australian Arabic Panorama newspaper, The Mandaean Women’s Union In Australia, Ware St Medical Centre, and Youth For Global Peace Inc.