It was a great pleasure to welcome members of the refugee and asylum seeker community in WA to our seminar on pathways to a peaceful home this week.
Our thanks to all our speakers, member Nasrin Ahmad who shared her personal journey, our directors, Dr Mary Nangrahary and Farid Popal, Paige Landy from Circle Green Community Legal, Josephine from Kasali Migration & Visa Services and Georgia Pickering from Law Access, and all our wonderful volunteers, interpreters and members who provided so much support.
While the recent TPV and Family Reunion announcements were top of mind, we also heard from those who were still in limbo and not helped by the reforms, and those who face unbearable time apart from relatives and young children abroad. It was an important reminder that there is still work to be done to amplify community voices in seeking change, including through organisations like Ashiana and its partners. Thanks also to Chaynika Sethi from Dress for Success Perth who joined to share information about employment workshops and coaching for women over the coming months.
We are looking forward to future events and to welcoming more members and volunteers to our organisation. If you would like to know more or to join us in our work, please complete a membership or enquiry form and email it to info@ashiana.org.au.
To see more photos from the day and updates on changes to migration policy and laws, follow us on LinkedIn.
Top Row: Dr Mary Nangrahary welcomes guests to the seminar; Nasrin Ahmad shares her journey from Afghanistan to Australia, finding hope in helping others.
Second Row: Farid Popal provides an overview of legal and migration pathways. The panel of speakers, Paige Landy, Josephine Buontempo, Georgia Pickering and Farid Popal take questions from the audience, with the assistance of interpreters and Dr Nangrahary as moderator. Robert Lindsay thanks Nasrin Ahmad and all speakers for their contributions.
Third Row: Our community guests, members, partners and speakers enjoy refreshments.
Fourth Row: Group photo of some of our community guests, our Board, Dr Mary Nangrahary, Farid Popal, Robert Lindsay, Maria Lamattina, speakers, partners and members.