During Refugee Week, SydWest will host a community event in Blacktown featuring a short film and thought-provoking panel discussion to acknowledge and celebrate successful refugee settlement in Western Sydney.
Following the premier of the short film featuring the stories of three refugees - Adnan Ajjan from Syria, Zohra Anwari from Afghanistan and Suman Chhetri from Bhutan – and the importance of family to their successful settlement, the panel will explore some of the key themes of Refugee Week.
Date: Wednesday 19 June
Time: 10am to 12:30pm
Location: Bowman Hall, 21 Campbell St, Blacktown
Interview talent
MC and panel facilitator: Sunil Badami
Born in Blacktown and raised in Seven Hills, Sunil is a writer, performer, broadcaster and academic. He appears regularly on radio and TV, most recently on the ABC TV program India Now!
Panelists:
- Dor Akech Achiek, Head of Settlement Services at SSI. Dor is a former refugee from South Sudan who spent 9 years in a Kenyan refugee camp before becoming active in community development and settlement advocacy.
- Deena Ya, Director of Community Engagement, Refugee Council of Australia. Deena is a former Assyrian-Mandaean refugee born in Iraq now works as a refugee advocate, utilising her personal experience of surviving and thriving.
- Suman Chhetri is featured in our film. He is a former Bhutanese refugee who now works in mental health at the Western Sydney Local Health District.
Other speakers:
- Elfa Moriatakis, CEO, SydWest Multicultural Services
- Clr Dr Moninder Singh, Blacktown Council
- Uncle Colin Locke will perform the Welcome to Country.
The event will feature dance performances by the Filipino Senior Group and will be attended by up to 300 community members.
Our heartfelt thanks to event sponsors SBS Audio and Blacktown Council.
About us:
SydWest Multicultural Services is a leading organisation for cultural diversity issues responding to community needs and opportunities throughout Greater Western Sydney and more recently parts of the Inner West and City of Sydney.
We help people of all ages and backgrounds live a better life through services including settlement; aged care; disability support; housing assistance; and programs for youth, women and families.
Contact details:
Media enquiries: Vikki Hine, Media and Events. E: vikki.hine@sydwestms.org.au or T: 0428 109 215 or Cindy Sciberras on 0412 897 286.
