State Launches
The Chair and the Secretariat of the Harmony Alliance have had a very busy and exciting month, travelling around Australia to meet stakeholders and prospective members.
In Perth we had the opportunity to meet and discuss the Alliance with the Minister for Women’s Interests; Child Protection; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services, the Hon Simone McGurk MLA. The Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre WA generously supported us in hosting an afternoon tea for partners in the sector.
The NSW launch of the Alliance was held in Sydney to coincide with the week of International Women’s Day, and was kindly hosted by Council Member, Settlement Services International. Attendees heard from inspirational women who shared respective insights around the potential of what the Harmony Alliance can achieve.
Later in the week we were fortunate to be joined by the co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Multiculturalism, the Hon Maria Vamvakinou MP, for an evening at the Moroccan Deli-cacy to launch the Alliance in Victoria. It was a fabulous night of celebration which saw Indigenous women leaders extend the opportunity for migrant and refugee women to work more closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women on issues of mutual concern.
It has been wonderful to meet so many outstanding women who are making a difference in their communities. We were inspired by the energy and voices of the many women we have met during our travels and are excited about the potential of this new platform. We hope to embrace this momentum as we look to take forward an exciting work program informed by the ideas and aspirations of migrant and refugee women.