Community Advisory Committee

Awan Bangok Mashak

Community leader

South Sudan

Mr. Awan Mashak is a well-respected south Sudanese community leader and one of the founding fathers’ of Dinka Community council of Australia Inc. He served as an executive member of the organisation such as chairperson and treasurer for many years. Recently being a senior advisory committee of the south Sudanese community in Australia. Mr. Awan is one of the first South Sudanese refugees to arrive in Victoria Australia, he worked with many organisation such as the Horn of African community organisation, New Hope Foundation, Brotherhood of St Laurence, etc assisting new arrivals and supporting integrating in their new country. He is a father and community leader with so many skills and talents shared every day with the community members facing challenges.

Since it’s inception the South Sudanese community in Australia has become a welcoming new arrival and an effective organisation supporting the different tribes and ethnic groups from South Sudan in need support with settlement challenges. Mr. Mashak has been the driving force behind the new generation community leaders to mobilize youth and women working towards common challenges. Mr. Mashak as a community elder become part of this growing tradition where community members seek advice and guide from him for solutions to break the cycle of intergenerational gap.

John Mashar

Community leader

Sudan

John Mashar is a Melbourne based spoken word artist, videography and photographer. He draws from his experience as a Sudanese born, Egyptian raised, first generation African Australian to explore identity,belonging and politics. John is also a Media & communications advisor for Wyndham CEC & Junubi Wyndham – a Community Support Group funded by the Victorian Government.

Tehiya Umer

Community leader

Oromo, Ethiopian

Ms. Tahiya Umer is the first African women to stand for the Victorian state Election 2014 to empower young African women in Australia; Ex-Chairperson of the Oromo community and is well-known to many Africans residing in inner Melbourne, through her commitment on marginalized women’s issues. Ms. Umer manages community media speaking on women’s issues and the challenge of family violence in the new and emerging communities.

Yasseen Musa

Community leader

Eritrean

• Yasseen is the current Multicultural Community Ambassador for AFL. He was recognised by AFL as Multicultural Community Ambassador of the Year 2013 for his support to AFL and African Community.

• Yasseen currently leads the community safety group to evening & night foot patrolling/walk with Victoria Police & African community members in the Flemington, Kensington, North Melbourne Housing Estates, Stations, flats, main roads in the local area. This has made the local area safe and trust on police has increased from the community.

Ferdos Osman

Community leader

Ethiopian

An inspiring community and business leader within the migrant and refugees communities. She is a mother, wife and coaching and training RTO manager. Ferdos is known amoung the Ethiopian and horn of African communities as a “doer and genuine woman”.

Samia Baho

Community leader

Eritrean

Samia is well known and respected in the African communities for over 20 years of services, she is known as “the mother Theresa” among the communities. She is the founder and Director of Centre of Advancing Women (CAW) helping women victims of domestic violence and their children from abuse and dropout of schools. CAW provides hope and necessary support for women victims of domestic violence and their children.

Lem Baguot

Community leader

South Sudanese

Lem is the founder and chairperson of the Society of South Sudanese Professional Australia, a father and community leader with a vision to craete a safe and conducive environment for children and youth in our society. Lem is a well respected community leader and a role model for many youth in the community.

Bedellu Desta

Community leader

Ethiopian

Bedellu is one of the first African Australians arrived in Melbourne, with knowledge and experience with Australian social, political and economic challenges. Bedellu was one of the few in the Ethiopian community supported and founded the Ethiopian Orthodox church and sponsored priest for the church from Ethiopia. He laid the foundation for the Ethiopian communities and he has been a mentor and role model for many in the Ethiopian community.

Yadata Saba

Community leader

Oromo, Ethiopian

Yadata is the founder and ex-chairperson of the Oromo community in Victoria. Yadata is known for his compassionate and dedication to help new arrival refugee families and children in Victoria. He is well know to the mainstream services and the African Australian communities at large. He is a father, worker and community leader with so many experience on the challenging facing African Australian children in Victoria.

Ana Bol

Community leader

South Sudanese

Ana is a single mother with children and had the life experience with the challenges African children facing in school, streets and employment. Ana is the founder of the South Sudnaese mothers group and has been working tirelessly with mothers and their children to avoid the children school dropout. She is well known and respected community leader in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas with single mothers and children.

Zahra Mustafa

Community leader

Somali

Zahra is a mother of two wonderful, self-motivated young adult children, currently studying. She volunteered in various committees in local communities such as Ivanhoe Primary School, Kew High School, Ivanhoe Junior Football Club, was team manager for Ivanhoe Knights Girls Basketball team. Currently she serves on the at Kew High Chaplaincy committee. She also encourage her children to volunteer and her son is a volunteer coach for Ivanhoe Knights Basketball Club. She has an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) and a Bachelor of the Built Environment. As a qualified women work in well-respected Melbourne
Architectural offices, such as Peddle Thorp, Thomson and Adsetts and Pertridis Architects.