Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) wishes all Women including refugees and asylum seekers women around the World a Happy International Women’s Day! RCAA stands in solidarity with Refugees and Asylum Seekers women who have and are facing significant obstacles during their painful life journey and still show remarkable strength and resilience to survive and fight for having a brighter future for their children and families. RCAA believes that women are the pillars of any nation and deserve respect, justice and equality. RCAA Deputy Chairperson, Nasiba Akram Haidari said, “through working together, we can choose to challenge for a better world for women and the society”. RCAA hope we can build up an inclusive and united community for the Refugees and Asylum Seekers women to foster humanity, hope and dignity and promote empowerment and resilience”. Dalal Samaan, RCAA Women Chairperson said, “she is very proud that Refugee Communities Association of Australia is leading a way to empower women in refugee communities across Australia, enabling them to take active roles in Australia”. “Women are the backbone and the real change makers of every society and it is our responsibility as men to ‘choose to challenge’ the narrative that undermine the strength and the position of a woman in our society” said Mr Juma Piri Piri, RCAA Chairperson. Elijah Buol OAM, Executive Director said, “the resilience and determination of women particularly Refugees and Asylum Seekers women, is everlasting seed they have sowed in us and for many generations to come as they continue to ‘choose to challenge’ every challenge and opportunity the world offers to them”. On behalf of the RCAA team and our members, we wish all women around the world a very Happy International Women’s Day! For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email.

Refugee Communities Association of Australia and its members are pleased to announce that we are the proudest Winner for Victorian Multicultural Award for Excellence in Refugee Advocacy held last night by the Victorian Government. Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) aims is to empower refugee communities across Australia, enabling them to take active roles in Australia. With the motto led for refugee, with refugee, by refugee and with the vision to provide a voice for refugees with the lived experience, RCAA prides itself in grassroot engagement and empowerment for refugee communities and their members to successfully settle and integration in Australia. The Premier of Victoria, Hon Daniel Andrews said, “a 10-month-old Refugee advocacy peak body is an anchor of hope which has developed a positive relationship and provide meaningful and responsive services to refugees’ communities in Victoria and across Australia”. “We are grateful to RCAA COVID-19 Taskforce for providing enormous support throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic period in Victoria to international Students, refugees’ communities and Asylum Seekers” said Vivienne Nguyen, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. Chairperson, Mr Juma Piri Piri said, “the award is a recognition that refugee communities have solutions to their own issues and can response effectively when they are empowered”. Former Refugee and RCAA General Secretary, Parsu Sharma-Luital JP, said, that “this award is a win for all refugees communities and a testimony that refugee communities themselves can response better to their needs because, they have lived experiences”. Refugees communities knows their issues and RCAA is run by “former refugees, for refugee, with refugee, by Refugee communities” Mr Parsu Sharma- Luital JP added. RCAA believes that the pain and suffering of refugees can only be felt and responded to by those who have experienced those journeys themselves. It is those hands which are best equipped to heal the wounds” said, Ms Nasiba Akram, Women Chairperson. Elijah Buol OAM, Executive Director said, “he is extremely proud of RCAA achievement over the last 10 months for showing us that time has come for refugee communities themselves to decide on what is best for themselves to lead refugee organisations and walk in their own shoes”. Through COVID-19 Taskforce, RCAA has delivered relief, COVID-19 information session and support refugee communities’ member, asylum seekers and international students affected by COVID-19 Pandemic. Ms Giang Nguyen, Co-Coordinator, RCAA Victorian Chapter said, “there is always proudest movements for me as Australian but as a former refugee, this is the best movement for me and the best gift for Christmas and New Year because refugees led organisation did it alone; the power of empowering your own”. RCAA and its members would like to thank Victorian Government for ongoing partnership and funding that allow RCAA to engage and empower refugee’s community to feel a sense of belonging and settle successfully into their new country. To our members, let’s harvest what we have sowed as we continue to celebrate and embrace every opportunity Australia offers. On behalf of the RCAA team and our members, we wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year! For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email.

The Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA) and its members are pleased to announce that we have received $100,000 through CALD Communities Taskforce funding to support international students, refugee communities and families during the COVID-19 pandemics. RCAA established RCAA COVID-19 Relief Taskforce early this year and has distributed over 12 tonnes of food and 7000 masks to international students, refugees, and asylum seekers across metro Melbourne. We are pleased to see that the Victorian government has recognised the importance of strengthening refugees’ communities to help slow the spread of coronavirus. Mr Juma Piri Piri, RCAA Chairperson thanked the Victorian government for leading the way and setting an example to other States and Territories government. This funding is a testimony of a government that truly listen and response to community initiatives and programs that meet the immediate needs of refugee communities.” he added. Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Community Sport and Minister for Youth, Hon Ros Spence MP said “the Andrews Labor Government is proud to support refugee’s communities’ work by providing $100,000 through the CALD Communities Taskforce to the Refugee Communities Association of Australia Inc (RCAA)”. This acknowledgement of incredible volunteers at the Refugee Communities Association of Australia who are providing support to international students, refugees and asylum seekers in a time of great need”, said the Minister. A 10-year-old Iraqi girl and her family who are survivors of ISIS captivity, and now call Melbourne home said, “compassion and resilience come in many forms and grateful that the family have received much-needed support from the Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) during the coronavirus pandemic”. Vivienne Nguyen, the Chairperson of Victorian Multicultural Commission said, this COVID-19 does not discriminate, and it is great to see Refugees Communities Association of Australia banding together to support vulnerable members of the community”. Elijah Buol OAM said, “a responsive government does not only underscore its promises but also delivers on those promises including immediate response to the needs of the vulnerable people in the community”. “Building an inclusive society requires a government and its people to extend their support to those who need our support the most in our community”, said, RCAA Patron, Huss Mustafa OAM. RCAA is led by refugee communities and their members in every states and territory as a unified peak national body that advocates for people of refugee background with lived experience in Australia. For more information, please kindly contact RCAA spokesperson Parsu Sharma Luital JP on 0412 265 317 or by email: [email protected]