Ashiana was pleased to welcome existing and new members to its Annual General Meeting held on 28 October 2023.
The meeting was chaired by Dr Mary Nangrahary who spoke to members about our achievements over the past 12 months and the year ahead. Highlights included:
- reaching out to and learning more about the communities we aim to serve
- building our membership
- holding a community gathering in October 2022 to introduce our organisation, take enquiries, and raise funds, which was attended by around 80 people in Kings Park
- reaching out to and learning more about potential partner organisations and attending related events to represent Ashiana, including Cyril Jackson Senior Campus, Dress for Success Perth, Circle Green Community Legal, Kasali Visa and Migration, Law Access, City Beach Primary School, Ishar, North Metropolitan TAFE, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, HOST, Riverview Community Services, and others
- preparing a legal and migration referral sheet for clients
- sharing information with the community about migration pathways through an information seminar held at the Herb Graham Multicultural Centre in Mirrabooka
- supporting clients to access opportunities to further their work in the community through career and volunteering support
- assisting with phone enquiries and supporting clients with appropriate referrals and information about legal and migration pathways
- developing core policies and procedures, and
- securing registration and endorsement as a charity, public benevolent institution and tax exempt charity, and licensee for charitable collections in various states
Ashiana has also initiated a new online appeal through GiveNow which is accessible via the ‘Donate’ link on our website, and we have linked our organisation as a recipient through Containers for Change. We have also sought to make a number of funding applications and while support from funding bodies has been lacking, we continue to push our case.
Ashiana has also been monitoring legal and policy changes that concern our clients and communities and shared that information with them and via our website and social media. Given the early stage of the organisation and the work needed to make it effective, accountable and to build trust within the local community, Ashiana needs the support and involvement of all members, and their networks, and encourages their active participation. Ashiana’s approach is to work collaboratively and to listen to the views and needs of the community, and Ashiana hopes that more members of the community consider becoming an integral part of the Ashiana team to help us achieve our goals.
To find out more, Contact Us today.
Left to right: Member, Fahima Jamy, Member, Roya Ansari, Director, Robert Lindsay, Director, Farid Popal, Member, Clare Lagan, Chairperson, Dr Mary Nangrahary, Director, Maria Lamattina, Member, Wendy Campbell