Community Resources from the ATO

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Multilingual ATO Publications

The ATO (Australian Taxation Office) has translated their 2019 tax time resources into 7 different different languages, including Arabic and Hindi. 

Resources include posters and handy guides on working from home, education expenses, gifts and donations and expenses which can be claimed back (car, travel, clothing and laundry).

The ATO (Australian Tax Office) has also released a Scam Warning Flyer in 8 different languages, including English and Arabic. 

In 2018 more than $2.8 million was reported as being lost to scammers impersonating the ATO.

FREE Tax Help program for eligible taxpayers

The ATO’s Tax Help program will feature around 800 ATO-trained and accredited volunteers at more than 600 locations across Australia, including local libraries, community centres and organisations in metropolitan, rural and regional areas. Tax Help is available from July to October in all capital cities and many regional areas across Australia. Click or tap Tax Help for more details, or if you’re ready to make an appointment phone 13 28 61.

The ATO will also be providing face-to-face guidance at pop-up shops around Australia at community hubs, libraries, shopping centres, shows and universities starting on 28 June and ending on 17 October. Find your nearest pop-up shop.

First CHSP Tai Chi Session

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This is the third year that the CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Program) has run a Tai Chi program. 

Tai Chi is a form of gentle exercise that is described as meditation in motion. Having originated from China as a form of martial arts, Tai Chi has long been popular among individuals in order to keep fit and prevent disease.

Vivien, Susan and John demonstrated the basic movements for everyone to follow. They went on to demonstrate some martial arts movements and proper breathing techniques. 

Ten participants were present at this first session, a good number considering the gloomy weather outside. Overall the class was very successful, both the men and women were keen to learn and participate. 

After class, the seniors continued the mindful health theme by sharing a balanced, low calorie, nutritious lunch. 

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Best CHSP Eid Lunch at Best Zaika

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Valued members of the CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Program) celebrated Eid together by sharing lunch at the Pakistani restaurant Best Zaika (located in the Brickworks Marketplace, Torrensville). 

Almost 30 senior members attended, which exceeded expectations.  

Community Development Officer June welcomed everyone with a short speech, thanking them for attending and letting everyone know about some very exciting activities coming up. 

Everyone was so pleased with the day, the feedback was that the buffet food was amazing, the ambience was great and the members thoroughly enjoyed catching up with good company.

Thanks must go to the restaurant owner Ijaz, who was very kind and hands-on in assisting and serving our group throughout lunch. 

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Parliament House 2019 Eid al Fitr Reception

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A Reception was held in June at Parliament House to mark the end of Ramadan. 

The Reception was hosted by The Honourable Steven Marshall MP, Premier of South Australia, and The Honourable Jing Lee MLC, Assistant Minister to the Premier. 

Chairperson Dora Abbas and Project Manager Shaista Kalaniya were invited to attend and represent the Muslim Women’s Association of SA. 

The Reception was well attended by a diverse array of Muslim community members from different community organisations and places of worship. 

MWASA appreciates the opportunity to share this joyous time of year with our friends in Parliament. 

First Ever Evening Eid!

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The Muslim Women’s Association of SA has been supporting Muslim women in Adelaide for over 25 years. Our team is always looking to adapt, see what is needed and try new things, to give the best services and support to our community that we possibly can. This year, we undertook to try our first ever Evening Eid. Traditionally we would hold a morning tea at our office during the day which some members could not attend due to work. We chose a restaurant as the venue for added convenience, guaranteed delicious food with no cooking or cleaning. The restaurant we settled on was Tangritah Uyghur Restaurant. The new location at 100 Grote Street is spectacular. The restaurant is rather large and the booth seating style allows for a more intimate feel. 

Large dishes were delivered to each of our tables to share. Naturally we had to have some of the tasty trademark Uyghur handmade noodles, served with fried chicken and vegetables. This chicken noodle dish was a clear favourite, earning rave reviews across the table and disappearing very quickly! There was salad and rice with lamb. We enjoyed large bowls of another trademark Uyghur dish: Ding Ding – short cut noodles with beef and vegetables in a spicy sauce. Long skewers of lamb kebab were brought out, hot and juicy straight from the grill. Finally, each table was given a jug of sweet, creamy and slightly tangy Ayran. 

Our team thanks the Tangritah Uyghur Restaurant family for their hospitality and we look forward to going back again. 

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We had just over 20 ladies attend. Thankyou for coming out ladies, thankyou for your beautiful company and conversation! Thanks also go to the ladies who provided feedback for the future Working Women’s Program. Your feedback is invaluable as guidance for our planning, to help us deliver the most appropriate services and programs for the community. 

We are still accepting feedback for the future Working Women’s Program through the Google Form until Monday 1st of July.

If you didn’t get the chance to provide feedback at the Evening Eid, please feel welcome to provide feedback now.

It only takes about 2 minutes. Feedback is also welcome from women who are looking for work. 

MWASA Team 2019 Eid Lunch at Sahara Moroccan Casbah

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Each Eid the MWASA team are very excited to make the most of every tasty halal cultural cuisine and try somewhere new; this Eid al Fitr our team booked the Sahara Moroccan Casbah for lunch. 

The Casbah is on the corner of Little Gilbert and Sturt Streets, conveniently located only metres away from Adelaide City Mosque. The area is lovely and quaint, walking down the street one cannot help but think back to the Muslim Cameleers and their families walking these same paths over the last 100+ years.

Sahara Moroccan Casbah is more than just a Moroccan food experience, it’s an entire Moroccan cultural dining experience. The front restaurant also displays many Moroccan items for purchase, from the spectacular lamps hanging overhead, to various homewares, clothing/jewellery and other personal items. Upon our group being seated, we were treated to a splash of rose water from a decorative job, to refresh the hands and relax the mind.

We were each brought a satisfying bowl of Harira soup to start. The main affair was, of course, couscous! One lamb and one chicken, both thoughtfully arranged in traditional north African style. This couscous is not the instant one from a box that most of us make at home, this is the real deal, fresh and distinct. The meat and vegetables showed the experience and skill of the chef, slow cooked until tender and still vibrant. After eating our fill of the savoury mains, we delighted in finishing off with a shared pot of tea and assortment of authentic biscuits. Every single team member from our office hails from a different country of origin, and we were united in agreeing this lunch was delicious.

There is a private function area to the back of the restaurant, an intimate area with intricate decor. Throughout the Casbah, everything is eye-catching! The plush textures, rich colours and complex designs are a welcome invigoration in this increasingly sterile and minimalist modern culture. In order to avoid disappointment, do as we did and call the restaurant some days beforehand to book. 

Our team thanks Brother Ali and his beautiful wife for their hospitality and we look forward to going back again. 

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Seniors very prepared for Ramadan

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Throughout the month of May, our seniors group met regularly in preparation for Ramadan.

The first gathering was for ‘Ramadan Love Letter’, a session led by Sister Nurhayati who is a graduate from Al Azhar University majoring in Shariah Islamiah. She is a recognised Asatizah by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore. She also did her Post Graduate diploma in Islamic Law. 

The number of participants exceeded expectations. All attendees were captivated and engaged in listening to the guest speaker. Sister Nurhayati explained thoroughly the revelation prescribing Ramadan and the rationale behind fasting. 

Following on from Ramadan Love Letter was 3 Tajweed classes (reading the Quran with correct pronunciation and grammar), led by Sister Hanna. Some of the ladies from the seniors group enjoyed the Quran reading so much that they will in future also attend the Monday classes. 

This program was a huge success; the feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, all sessions went smoothly and the group is looking forward to future similar sessions.

For more information about our program for men and women aged over 65 years, go to our CHSP page.

MWASA Congratulates the Governor of SA on his extended appointment

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The Muslim Women’s Association of SA would like to congratulate the Governor of South Australia, His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, on his extended appointment.

The Government of SA Government House website is an official source for the biography of the Governor, we will instead speak only from personal experience.

His Excellency has been a friend to our organisation, graciously attending and speaking at milestone events.

When our office relocated to our current location in the Flinders University building, His Excellency cut the ribbon during the auspicious ceremonial opening. 

Earlier this year, at our Silver Jubilee Celebration for Service Providers, His Excellency gave a particularly insightful and moving speech where he expressed his gratitude and pleasure regarding the community services provided by MWASA for the settlement and wellbeing of refugees, in light of his own lived experience as a refugee. 

Governor Hieu Van Le is an admirable role model, not only for refugees but indeed for everyone, a symbol of how much a person can raise themselves above dire circumstances through integrity, humility and generosity. 

MWASA would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank Mrs Le for her strong history of community involvement and support.

His Excellency and Mrs Le are charming guests on top of being absolute pillars of the South Australian community, we look forward to continuing our friendship with them and can hardly wait to see what other positive projects and progress the future brings.

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Feedback Needed for Future Working Women’s Program

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The Muslim Women’s Association of SA invites all current and future members* to provide feedback for a future Working Women’s Program.

Click here to have your say.

The initial feedback period will be the 2 weeks 17th June to 1st July 2019, however all feedback is welcome at any time by emailing admin@mwasa.org.au or calling the office on 08 8212 0800 during office hours. 

*Membership is available to women living within the Adelaide metropolitan region; services and programs are delivered within the Adelaide metropolitan region