Bowled Over in the First Spring Sunshine

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Clearview Bowling Club offers both social and competition bowling and is very welcoming throughout the year to individuals and groups that wish to learn the game of bowls. There were 12 CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Program) members that participated in this lawn bowling activity. 

The weather was sunny and pleasant on the day. Three club members welcomed our group and provided coaching, sharing information about the rules and regulations before starting.

Everyone equally participated in the game and played with great enthusiasm. They enjoyed the bowling session so much that they requested for extended time. 

After bowling, it was time to replenish. Refreshments were provided and the group also brought food to share with each other. 

Overall the feedback was very positive, one Brother can be quoted as saying that “the bowling was a good workout session and that the coaches were very helpful and patient”. 

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Getting Older is a Walk in the Garden

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A walk to the Botanic Gardens was organised to engage CHSP (Commonwealth Home Support Program) members in healthy activity while also enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the Botanic Gardens. The Adelaide Botanic Garden is a 51 hectare public garden at the north-east corner of the Adelaide city centre, in the Adelaide Park Lands. It encompasses a fenced garden on North Terrace and behind it the Botanic Park. Work was begun on the site in 1855, with its official opening to the public on 4 October 1857.

The weather was sunny and pleasant on the day. Some of the group took a taxi from the office to the Botanic Gardens whilst others made their own way directly to the Garden. Twenty members participated in the session and were accompanied by Sister Sitiurika and Kamaljit. 

Sister Rabia led the walk. The group visited the Lotus Garden, Herb Garden and also the tropical trees garden. The seniors enjoyed the leisure walk as they chatted and caught up with one another and talked about the plants and trees that were found in the tropical garden.

The walk ended near the main gate where everyone sat and rested by the lake and enjoyed sharing their food.

After a short rest, the seniors participated in some knee exercises demonstrated by Sister Rabia. All of the seniors participated in the knee exercises and some have requested for the exercise session to take place before the start of each program.

The visit ended with a group picture to be kept as a reminder of this wonderful outing.

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Cross Cultural Session with Kildare College

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Earlier this month Cross Cultural Training Officer Flora took students from Kildare College on a tour of Adelaide City Mosque.

If you would like to arrange a Cross Cultural Session for your school, or workplace, let us know by emailing admin@mwasa.org.au 

Big Day Out at TAFESA

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Last Tuesday all members were treated to a tour of TAFESA, in particular students from the MWASA ACE (Adult Community Education) classes. Thirty-one ladies attended and were tended to by 5 tutors and facilitators.

Peter Begg, Educational Manager of Foundation Skills/AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program), welcomed the group to the city campus. He also explained about the 510 hours free entitlement for new arrivals on humanitarian visa, as well as permanent and temporary visas. Eligibility needs to be checked by calling TAFESA, a counsellor can discuss options with you. If the 510 hours have been completed and functional English still has not been achieved, AMEP Extend is a subsequent program offering an additional 490 hours. 

Classes are scheduled for the morning, 9:15am-1:15pm, so that mums are able to attend during school hours. Free childcare is also offered on site.

Fariha Safdar, Lecturer for Foundation Skills/AMEP, then gave a talk about what to expect after enrolment. After the foundation courses have been completed, women are able to enrol in the mainstream CSWE (Certification of Speaking and Writing English) courses: Pre CSWE , and CSWE levels 1-3. After the hourly entitlement has been used, the subsequent hours are offered at a subsidized rate. Prior to enrolment, students are required to sit a test to assess skill level so that they can placed in the most appropriate level class. After CSWE, students can go onto any number of other courses including aged care and beauty – these courses are not subsidised.

A new program is in the planning stage after collaboration between TAFESA and MWASA ACE Project Manager Shaista Kalaniya. A pilot program has been proposed to be on offer in term 4, which will be less intensive than the full time courses. Course content will be along the lines of social English, with a focus on learning English through cooking, and also including things like how to see a doctor.

Three tutors from the team came to welcome our ladies and introduce themselves. 

Next week there will be a followup session with TAFESA assessors visiting the MWASA office to discuss individual pathways and eligibility criteria with students.

Feedback from the students is that they were grateful for the tour and now have higher ambitions and motivations built on what they have learned.

Thanks go to Bushra who catered the chicken pulao that everyone loved on the day. Bushra has been a caterer of choice for MWASA for some years simply for the fact that her food always tastes sensational.  

If you weren’t able to go on the tour, all of the details can be found on the TAFESA AMEP web page. 

Feedback Needed for Followup Islam in Australia Session

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The Muslim Women’s Association of SA recently held an information session on Islam in Australia, presented by Professor Abdalla at the UniSA Magill campus. 

Over 30 community members from diverse backgrounds attended. Some very interesting and important points were raised. A followup session is required to really do the topic justice, to further discuss solutions to the problems raised. 

A followup session is in the planning stages. Your feedback on the first session and regarding the future followup session would be greatly appreciated. 

Please provide feedback before Friday 20th September. 

Go to Feedback Form

MWASA Paid Position: Administration Assistant

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An opportunity has become available at the Muslim Women’s Association of SA for a paid administrative assistant to join the team.

Please see below Position Description.

Send a Cover Letter addressing the Skills Required and your resume by email to admin@mwasa.org.au before Tuesday 10 September 2019.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted, thankyou for your understanding. 

This opportunity is only available to those who have the right to work in Australia. 

For more information about this opportunity please email admin@mwasa.org.au.

No recruitment companies, please. 

 

 

Seniors trip to the Old Bazaar Market

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The most recent senior’s trip took them to the Old Bazaar Market, located in Salisbury Downs. 

The Old Bazaar Market was inspired by the worlds oldest shopping mall: The Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. At 2,000 square metres, the Market is one of the largest multicultural family function centres in Australia. There is entertainment for the whole family: a games arcade and indoor trampoline; however the Turkish tea was of more interest for our crowd.

Everyone was very keen for this trip and ready to board the bus on time. Upon arrival, our group of 15 explored all the shops (including the nearby Hollywood Plaza). Everyone then reconvened for a refreshing afternoon tea and to admire the beautiful decor of the Bazaar.

These regular activities are a wonderful opportunity for our seniors to get out and about in good company, and to chat and catch up with each other. 

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MWASA Team Training

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The team at the Muslim Women’s Association of SA continually strives for improvement in all areas: better programs, better services, better events. The first step towards improving in these areas is for staff and volunteers to upskill, diversify and network through training opportunities. 

Recently Amanda, Marketing and Communications Officer, undertook the Suicide Prevention Workshop offered by Wesley LifeForce. The workshop is delivered free of charge to service providers and community members. 

Amanda found the workshop to be comprehensive, starting with how personal beliefs can affect how we would potentially help someone who is having thoughts about suicide, going through which questions need asking and how to ask them, through to making a short term plan to protect someone in a crisis and where to refer them for continuing support.

Preservation of life is a basic principle of Islam, as demonstrated below in a direct quote from the Quran. 

“And do not kill yourselves [or one another].”

– Quran, Sahih International English Translation, Surah (chapter) 4 An-Nisa (The Women), Ayat (paragraph) 29

As Muslims we believe that every life has value and must act accordingly. Learning about the warning signs and prevention strategies is useful. 

Help and resources are available. Lifeline is a free 24 hour telephone crisis support service, they can be reached on 13 11 14. 

Bringing the Love to you in your own Home

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Earlier this month our office received a call from Sister Fadilah, a participant in our program which specifically supports senior Muslims in the community. She requested for someone to visit as she was feeling a little lonely. June Aini Hussain, Community Development Officer, visited immediately the next day. 
 
Sister Fadilah shared that she had experienced a fall and as a result was not able to move around. She had broken her hip and the Doctor had asked her to minimise movement so that it can heal quicker. 
The Sister’s conversational skills had not deteriorated at all and both thoroughly enjoyed chatting about many things across a couple of hours – and across some famous Bosnian coffee and scrumptious home-made cake!
 
Fadilah showed June some photos taken at past MWASA events; she enjoyed her younger days when she participated in many different MWASA activities. Fadilah’s daughter, who is also her carer, was also present. Sister June updated them on the current program and is investigating how MWASA can further assist in this case. 
 
If you know a senior community member aged 65 years and over who could benefit from MWASA/CHSP services and programs, please visit the program page for further details on eligibility and registration. Alternatively, please call our office during office hours on 08 81212 0800 and ask to speak to June.
 

Parliament House Lunch with Katrine Hildyard MP

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Some of our team attended lunch last Thursday at Parliament House with Katrine Hildyard MP (Member of Parliament). Katrine’s portfolio includes being Shadow Minister for the Status of Women, as well as Multicultural Affairs, and also for Recreation, Sport and Racing.
 
Katrine has prioritised several issues pertinent to South Australian women. We look forward to positive movement in this space in the near future.