Author Archives: w3media

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Emelda Davis proud to be speaking at both BLACK workshops being held in Mount Druitt & Tweed Heads

Emelda Davis ASSIPJPresident of ASSIPJ and Sydney Local Woman of the Year, Emelda Davis is proud to be speaking at both BLACK workshops being held in Mount Druitt and Tweed Heads this month.

Emelda boasts diverse expertise in community development, education, training, media and marketing having worked for Federal, State Government, Community and Grassroots organisations.

Her work as President of ASSIPJ since 2009 has seen the revival of the call for recognition for her people through coordination of five Wantok national workshops between 2012-2015 and development of the National Australian South Sea Islander Association (NASSIA) followed by the adoption of the NASSIA constitution at Tweed Heads NSW.

Connect with Emelda and hear her story.
Register now FREE for BLACK Mount Druitt.

Say halo to Lola Forester

Lola ForesterJoining the speaker line up for BLACK Mt Druitt, Lola Forester is a Yuwibara/Australian South Sea Islander who is the producer of the Blackchat program on Koori Radio 93.7FM.

Lola has travelled to South Africa, USA, Mexico, Vanuatu and beyond in her time as a radio producer. Lola’s extensive career as an Indigenous media specialist in politics and world current affairs has seen her attention in particular on Black Lives Matter issues for people of colour.

As keynote at the BLACK workshop, Lola hopes to learn, share and encourage our young to take up the advocacy work needed in creating change for the injustice our communities are facing.

Numbers for the BLACK workshop are limited so register HERE.

Say halo to Dr Jioji Ravulo

Dr Jioji Ravulo

Dr Jioji Ravulo

Dr. Jioji Ravulo is a Senior Lecturer (Social Work) in the School of Social Sciences and Psychology, Western Sydney University. He has an extensive background in working with Pacific communities both locally, nationally, and internationally through several different projects. This includes the management of Pasifika Achievement To Higher Education (PATHE), an initiative striving to develop the vocational and career aspiration in Pacific families, and Pacific Islands Field Education (PIFE); promoting effective indigenous social work practice, policy and research across Oceania.
Hear Dr. Ravulo speak at BLACK Mt. Druitt this month – Register today!

BLACK Workshop series aims to raise awareness of Australian South Sea Islander history.

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BLACK stands for Bold Leadership Awareness and Cultural Knowledge.

Organised by Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson, in collaboration with local community organisations and leaders, the BLACK Workshop series aims to raise awareness of Australian South Sea Islander history while encouraging youth leadership through education and cultural participation.

Workshops will be conducted in October this year at Mout Druitt and Tweed Heads – registration is essential as numbers will be limited – see details for both venues below.

The overarching theme of the workshops will be the history sharing of the descendants of blackbirding, Pacific diversity and broader community commonality and aims to:

1. Raise awareness of Australian South Sea Islander history facilitated by respected community leaders who are descendants of Australia’s Blackbirding trade.

2. Identify Australian South Sea Islander community hubs.

3. Encourage youth leadership participation through tailored work shop facilitated by Indigenous/ASSI leaders.

4. Encourage broader community cohesion and harmony through local voices, cultural participation, commonality and identity.

The workshops will include sessions on leadership, culture, story telling, panel discussions as well as performances by local international acclaimed artists.

Examples of leadership will facilitate through a diversity of keynote volunteer speakers such as:

Shireen Malamoo – Aboriginal / Kanak Activist and recipient of this years NSWCPC ‘Overall Outstanding Award’

Dr Jioji Ravulo – Senior Lecturer (Social Work) at Western Sydney University,

Deng Adut – South Sudanese child soldier-turned-Blacktown lawyer and the subject for 2016 portrait winner of the People’s Choice award.

James Pitts – former CEO Odyssey House drug and rehabilitation centre.

Professor Kirk Huffman – former Director of Vanuatu Museum.

Emelda Davis – President of ASSIPJ and Master of ceremonies.

Zachary Wone – project coordinator and NSWCPC ‘Community Youth’ award recipient.

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MT DRUITT WORKSHOP

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Date: 22nd & 23rd October 2016

Venue: Mount Druitt Hub

Address: 9 Ayres Grove Mount Druitt

Times: Day 1: 9.00am – 5:00pm / Day 2: 10.00am-5:00pm.

Link to Mt Druitt Registration form HERE.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM.

Find us on FACEBOOK.
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TWEED HEADS WORKSHOP

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Date: 29th & 30th October 2016

Venue: South Tweed Community Centre – HACC

Address: Cnr. Heffron Street & Minjungbal Drive Sth.Tweed

Times: Day 1: 10:00am-5:00pm / Day 2: 10:00am-5:00pm

Link to Tweed Heads Registration form HERE.

Find us on FACEBOOK.

Yarning circle with Reverend Willie Bennett – Black Lives Matter

On Thursday July 28th 2016, Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson and The Sydney Alliance facilitated a Yarning circle with Reverend Willie Bennett – Black Lives Matter, Grassroots power and Community activism.

There were a diverse range of prominent grass roots world leaders on a panel of black nations represented in Australia who all come together at The Settlement Redfern to discuss the many burdens that are placed on our communities through injustice and marginalisation. The insight provided by grassroots perspectives are critical as we explore and develop strategic partnerships aimed at creating change through greater understanding.

We were fortunate to have an opportunity to meet and exchange perspectives with Rev. Willie Bennett joining us from Dallas, USA.

The reverend brings over 30 years’ experience organising with low income communities in Fort Worth, Dallas as Lead Organiser with The Metropolitan Organisation.

Among his many experiences and achievements, Rev. Willie organised the Hurricane Katrina Survivor’s Network (KSN), which in 2009 negotiated 10,000 vouchers for people in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas who had not received any support after Hurricane Katrina.

He also won over $150 million in rents for Dallas area survivors.

The night was opened by traditional owner from the Eora nation Fay Carroll with Welcome to Country, prayer and one minute silence by Pastor Ray Minniecon a Kabi Kabi, Gureng Gureng (FNQ) and ASSI man descendant from Ambrym Island – Vanuatu.

Other contributors were Shireen Malamoo Aboriginal / Kanak, Ken Canning a Kunja Clan of the Bidjara Peoples of south-west Queensland, Mal Freaun a Ngatiwai Maori Women from New Zealand, Angus Leendertz from South Africa, Lola Forester a Yuwibara/Australian South Sea Islander Women, Lynda-June Coe a Wiradjuri and Torres Strait Islander woman, Rachel Jordan African women.

Many thanks to The Settlement, Sarina Vojnar catering, Binette Diop camera operation and Zac Wone assistant MC.

Sugar Slaves

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On the 25th of August 1994, the Commonwealth Government officially recognised descendants of Australia’s blackbirding trade as a “Distinct Cultural Group”.

The Salvation Army‘s Freedom Partnership – to End Modern Slavery, and the Australian South Sea Islanders Port Jackson (ASSIPJ) invite you to join us as we remember an important period of history unknown by many Australians today about the practice of blackbirding which is akin to the slavery of some 62,000 Melanesian labourers taken from 80 Pacific islands mainly within Vanuatu and Solomon Islands.

We will be screening the documentary “Sugar Slaves” and hosting conversations around the impacts on Australian descendants of the trade in creating a greater understanding of our community integration via coastal, mainland workstations and plantations firstly to NSW in 1847 (by Benjamin Boyd), with an influx to Queensland between 1863-1908.

Discussions will be joined by Emeritus Professor Clive Moore (UQ), founding board members of ASSIPJ – Emelda Davis (president) and Shireen Malamoo. Also sharing in conversation will be Pearl Wymarra.

Light refreshment will be served with an ambience of Tanna Island music in the lead up to discussions around our shared history.

Date: Thursday 25 August
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Salvation Army HQ
261-265 Chalmers St, Redfern

Two day workshop for Australian South Sea Islander youth

We’re excited to announce a two day workshop for Australian South Sea Islander youth designed to celebrate our distinct cultural identity and build stronger relationships within the community will be coming to Western Sydney and Tweed Heads later this year.

B L A C K – Bold Leadership Awareness Culture Knowledge has been funded by Youth Opportunities – NSW Multicultural. This will be a first for the ASSI community on the Tweed and Western Sydney where a state funded workshop of this enormity has been supported through self determination.

Talented artist Wayne Strong or “Strongi” (nee Togo) is a proud Bundjalung-ASSI man comes from an extremely talented and artistic family who are renowned for taking to a sketch pad in creating the most surreal images through free style drawing.

Wayne says “I kept the design simplistic and it emanates identity for our people layered with text and kanaks. The colours are deliberate in our struggles and imagery is remembering our bold blackistory.”

NSW State body Australian South Sea Islanders (Port Jackson) will be the facilitators of the workshop. Dates are yet to be advised, however the event is planned for 22nd & 23rd October in WESTERN SYDNEY, followed by TWEED HEADS in November 2016 (dates tbc). Keep an eye out for more information soon.

Recognising youth collaborators to date: Zachary Wone, Shola Diop, Desiree Leha, Tom Clarke, Louise Togo, Emily Corowa, Ming Darcy, Dianna Robbinson who will be drawing on the young leaders of the region to discuss, demonstrate and share in the essence of leadership.

Mentors from across the state are banding together to make this workshop a great success including: Hannah Hamilton, Kelly Gonda, Varr Smallwood, Telisha Togo, Alana Togo, Brendan Roberts, Marija.Vranic.

The work is supported by an array of young skilled and talented people on the B L A C K network such as Jahnesta Noter, Maddy Togo, Josh Apanui, Pearl Corowa, Nathan Hart, Tayla Hortle, Dylan Doherty, PJ Smallwood, Wayne Solomon, Graham Smallwood.

We welcome and appreciate your input at any time.

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