Welcome to MFO Newsletter April 2024. Happy school holidays and Easter break. Looking forward to April 11 MFO Leaders of Positive Change community dinner at Southport Sharks. An evening that focuses on some of the wrap around services and collaborations that lead to positive change in our community and the role of our young people as leaders. QLD Youth Week, 7-13th April |
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Harmony Week 2024 "EVERYONE BELONGS" Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone. |
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We started off the week with an amazing array of culturally dressed mannequins on display at Broadbeach, Southport and Upper Coomera libraries. Thanks to Dani Watson and all the wonderful library staff. www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/libraries/Home OPPORTUNITY for local musicians to perform in libraries! Contact Dani Watson on DWATSON@goldcoast.qld.gov.au |
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Harmony Week is celebrated during the week (Monday to Sunday) that includes 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. March 21st is also Persian New year- Happy Nowruz! |
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Harmony Week 2024 "EVERYONE BELONGS" Thank you to our fantastic performers during POP UP Harmony, Jojo from Mojo Dance Studio, Pinky Hughes from Pinksta & Swaussy Fire, Kizuna Taiko Drums, John and Addy ZUMBA BLASTERS, Maria Heneghan and her Brazilian dancers. Wonderful to stop in at Coombabah State College, Saint Stephens College, Keebra Park State High, finale TAFE Queensland Southport for POP UP Harmony. |
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Harmony Week 2024 "EVERYONE BELONGS" Thank you AFL Queensland, Bachar Houli Foundation, Abdullah Haddad - Diversity Coordinator AFL Qld, Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane Lions for the invite to the famous Gabba in Brisbane to hear from former premiership winning player and BH Foundation co founder Bachar on latest updates, delicious Iftar Dinner, joining the panel on stage with Zimra Hussain, Game Development Officer - AFL Queensland, Damien Barry Principal - Wisdom College and Kevin Dando - MFO Community Development & Events. Football, faith and life journeys were all touched upon by the speakers. Congratulations to Jehaan Gourley from Australian International Islamic College recipient of the 2024 Bachar Houli Community Award. |
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Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. |
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The Sara program hosted a morning tea to celebrate International Women's Day. A total of 15 women from highly diverse backgrounds, including Brazil, Timor-Leste, China, Japan, Singapore, the Russian Federation, and Hong Kong, attended the session. During the meeting, we shared more than just tea; we shared stories of resilience, women’s achievements, and hopes. The energy of empowerment as women from diverse backgrounds came together to listen, support, and uplift one another. Laughter mingled with heartfelt conversations, creating an atmosphere of solidarity. Through our shared experiences and mutual encouragement, we celebrated the strength and spirit of women, reaffirming our commitment to gender equality and collective progress. |
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Thank you Global Federation of Chinese Business Women of Australia (GFCBW) for the kind invitation to join your International Women’s Day luncheon. Wonderful guest speakers, sharing on inspiring inclusion from their own lived experiences, coming from diverse multicultural backgrounds, migrating to Australia. Taiwanese indigenous arts and crafts were on display with colourful traditional performances by GC Filipino Australian Performing Arts Ensemble honouring the beauty inside and out of women all over the world. |
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For Harmony Week 2024, the Gold Coast Multicultural Network featured a panel of local Gold Coast multicultural leaders and their unique experiences about “The Role of Cultural Leaders in our society”
Many thanks to moderator Habib and the panel members Ping, Antonella, Elsabet, Hussain, and Shirley for your openness, creative pathways and emotional sharings with the attendees from various services. Thanks to MCCGC for facilitating and hosting this event
Savita, Multicultural officer from from City of Gold Coast has been hosting English conversation sessions in libraries over the week highlighting Harmony Week.
#harmonyday2024 #everyonebelongs #HarmonyWeek #multicultural #community #qld #goldcoast |
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Thanks to Mehmet Tevfik Kerimoglu Head of Gold Coast campus Australian International Islamic College for kind invite to break fast with your students, teachers & local community. Happy Ramadan. |
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Team members from MFO’s SQW, NDIS & Youth At Promise programs all attended Wesley Mission Queensland’s Ultraviolet Expressions Program (UEP) community services Expo during Harmony Week. We were happy to support young people from the LGBTIQAP+ community as the funding for their UEP service has ceased & is winding up. |
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Congrats to E_Suarve and all graduates for Graduation #11 making positive change on the Gold Coast. Great to see community coming together to support! |
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MFO was at Coomera Westfield on Harmony Day to participate in a special multicultural Courtside Networking basketball event. There were around 40-50 young people from 7 different schools there throughout the afternoon. There were great performances on and off the court, including the traditional dance by Pacific Island group Orana. There were raffles, sausage sizzle, 3x3 basketball comp & time for young people to chat with support services. |
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Thank you to the External Affairs Committee of Baha’i’s of Gold Coast for your kind invitation for MFO to speak about the Crossing Borders Project at your International Women’s Day event celebrating the Art of Community Building at the Baha'i Centre, Gold Coast. Thank you also to the talented Crossing Borders participant Tina Toka for her beautiful performance. |
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Inaugural AFL Pasifika community event celebrated 2024 International Women’s Day with the AFL South Pacific’s Female Academy visiting Queensland from Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. Great to meet AFL QLD Women’s and Girl’s coordinators Bec Goodwin and Kirby Sefo. The AFL South Pacific Female Academy camp forms part of the AFL’s pathway from the Pacific to Australia for aspiring players, coaches and umpires, and is supported by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program. |
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Gold Coast Suns player Ace and his partner Abby came out to support the Academy, take selfies and share his storybook from PNG to the GC in his career playing AFL. Food, fun footy activities like AFLQ Auskick and Superkick sessions with the academy and school kids made it a great day out. PacificAus Sports | AFL South Pacific Nations | Beenleigh Buffaloes Australian Football Club I GC Suns I Brisbane Lions |
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Honoured to attend the MOB Academy first public panel/forum with QPS, Youth Justice, Headspace and YHES House hosted by the amazing Men of Business in their new well being space in Southport. Youth stakeholders from a variety of sectors and services networked, connected and shared over breakfast how we as community can collaborate and engage in supporting young men Many thanks to Marco & team MOB for the invite and uplifting vibes of “WE CAN” by everyone in the room. |
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More Fantastic Opportunities |
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Happy Easter from the NDIS Team and MFO and remember, if you have any NDIS questions and are too busy to come and see us, please scan the QR code and one of our staff will reply with an answer within 2 hours. |
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Multicultural Women’s Programs The last month was full of celebration and fun with our amazing MFO community of women. We resumed our cooking classes at the Women’s Space with our talented chef Nonna Faiza teaching us how to cook a traditional Egyptian dish of Kushari. We also celebrated International Day this year recognising the United Nations important theme of Count Her In: Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress. |
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Multicultural Women’s Programs We also celebrated Harmony Week in recognition of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination by sharing stories from our homelands and were grateful to have a visit from Sister Shabina and Reema Naresh of UQ Women’s and Girls Health Research Centre talking us about the importance of getting involved in this research that will inform policy for future generations. For more information about how you can participate in future research please follow this link: ALSWH – Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health. |
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Last session for Parents Hub at Southport Primary State school. Thanks to Camila for meditation session and to all the parents who brought food dishes to share. Homework support will resume in April next school term. |
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MFO is proud to host the local Vietnamese Gold Coast community who are facilitating activities to bring their community together through culture and language. Keep up the great work. |
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BEACH HANDBALL! www.handballaustralia.org.au MFO thanks Chris, Rae and Australian Women's team for providing opportunity to learn about this fun sport, check out the Australian Open Beach Handball Championships right here on the GC April 19-21. |
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Recently arrived in Australia? brochure is useful for people who have recently moved to Australia. It provides helpful information about: health services – Medicare, My Health Record and Reciprocal Health Care Agreements payments and obligations refugee services language support – in-language resources, interpreters and document translation and Multilingual Phone Service 131 202 online options for people to manage their business.
The brochure is available in 12 languages: Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (Simplified), Dari, Hazaragi, Korean, Nepali, Persian (Farsi), Punjabi, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese. You can find this brochure at: servicesaustralia.gov.au/recently-arrived-australia-translation servicesaustralia.gov.au/moving-to-Australia servicesaustralia.gov.au/yourlanguage
Pasifika languages are also included on the Services Australia website through the following links, including: Information in your language - Bislama - Services Australia Information in your language - VakaViti / Fijian - Services Australia Information in your language - Te taetae inanon te taetae / Gilbertese - Services Australia Information in your language - Reo Maori Kuki Airani / Rarotongan - Services Australia Information in your language - Samoa / Samoan - Services Australia Information in your language - Tok Pisin - Services Australia Information in your language - Pijin - Services Australia Information in your language - Lea Faka-Tonga / Tongan - Services Australia Information in your language - Tuvalu / Tuvaluan - Services Australia |
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MFO acknowledge and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Kombumerri People of the Yugambeh Language Region, and pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging on this land we work and provide services. We extend respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture, community and country. | | |
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Crisis support In case of an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) for Police, Fire or Ambulance. |
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