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Membership

Harmony Alliance Members are drawn from three constituency groups:

  • National, state-wide and local organisations representing migrant and refugee women in Australia;

  • National, state-wide and local organisations working for the advancement and inclusion of migrant and refugee women in Australia; and

  • Individuals identifying as women from migrant or refugee backgrounds who, in a personal capacity, are making a substantive contribution to the advancement and inclusion of migrant and refugee women in Australia and who are not representatives of any Alliance Member organisation.

The membership model is a key strength of the Harmony Alliance, with each constituency bringing its unique perspectives to provide a holistic approach to our work.

Alliance Members come together once a year for a planning forum to set strategic directions for the Alliance, both short- and long-term.

Benefits of membership

Members of the Harmony Alliance have the opportunity to contribute to the development of policy advice, system reform input, research, and pilot initiatives on key systemic issues impacting on experiences and outcomes of migrant and refugee women in Australia. This includes opportunities to:

  • Participate in our annual members-only planning forum to set up strategic direction for the Alliance, both short and long term.

  • Represent the Harmony Alliance at relevant forums and conferences

  • Vote and stand for our Alliance Council

  • Participate in relevant consultations to make sure your voice is heard

  • Exchange practices, network and collaborate with other members

  • Get updates about issues of importance to women from migrant and refugee backgrounds

  • Promote your work

  • Participate in events with other National Women’s Alliances.

How to become a member

To become a member, eligible organisations and individuals are requested to download, complete and return the application form to the Secretariat at:

secretariat@ harmonyalliance.org.au
or
Migration Council Australia
Level 4, 28 University Ave
Canberra ACT 2600

The Secretariat will confirm receipt of the application via email. The Alliance Council considers applications for Alliance membership at Council meetings held approximately once every quarter. You will be notified of the outcome of your application after the next scheduled Council meeting.

Individual application form
PDF format or
Word format
Organisation application form
PDF format or
Word format

Membership Criteria

Members must fall within one of the following categories:

Organisational members representing migrant and refugee women

Organisational members representing migrant and refugee women* in Australia should:

  • Demonstrate that the principal purpose and activity of the organisation is to represent a migrant and refugee women’s group(s); and
  • Demonstrate a commitment to representation of women from a migrant and/or refugee background in the organisation membership and/or governance.

Organisational members working for the advancement and inclusion of migrant and refugee women

Organisational members working for the advancement and inclusion of migrant and refugee women* in Australia are expected to:

  • Demonstrate a significant commitment by the organisation to support the wellbeing of migrant and refugee women and advancing their social, economic and cultural participation.

Individual members

Individual members are expected to:

  • Identify** as women* from a migrant or refugee background;
  • Be 18 years and over;
  • Demonstrate that they share the Harmony Alliance’s aims of promoting the rights, voice and participation of women from migrant and refugee backgrounds in Australia; and
  • Not serve as a primary representative of an Alliance organisational member.

*Including transwomen and non-binary people.

** The Harmony Alliance does not seek to place limitations around what such an identity means. As a guide, it is expected that a woman from a migrant or refugee background would see a migration story as a large part of their identity. They do not need to have migrated themselves – this migration story could belong to their parents or their grandparents, but should nonetheless form a large part of their identity, including how they see and portray themselves day-to-day.

Current members

Organisational members representing migrant and refugee women:
Albury-Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council
Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights
The Australian National Committee on Refugee Women
African Women Australia
Ethnic Communities' Council of NSW
Ethnic Communities' Council of WA Inc.
Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia
Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association
Islamic Women’s Association of Australia
Multicultural Communities of Illawarra
Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory
Muslim Women Association
Tongan Association Canberra and Queanbeyan
Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition
Ethnic Communities Council QLD
East African Women’s Foundation
Food For Thought Network
Organisational members working for the advancement and inclusion of migrant and refugee women:
Access Community Services
Advance Diversity Services
Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Survivors
Asylum Seekers Centre Inc.
Auburn Diversity Services
Australasian Centre for Human Rights and Health
Australian Migrant Resource Centre
AMES Australia
Beryl Women Inc.
Centacare FNQ
Centre for Culture Ethnicity & Health
Community Migrant Resource Centre
Core Community Services
inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence
Louisa Domestic Violence Service
Melaleuca Refugee Centre
Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services of the ACT Inc.
Migrant Resource Centre Tasmania
MiCare
Migration Council Australia
Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast Ltd.
Multicultural Futures Inc.
Ishar Multicultural Women’s Health Centre
Multicultural Community Services of Central Australia
Multicultural Families Organisation
Multicultural Service Centre of WA Inc.
Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network
Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network NSW
Multicultural Youth South Australia
MultiLink Community Services Inc
National Ethnic Disability Alliance
Northern Settlement Services
NT Working Women’s Centre
Pronia
Refugee Council of Australia
Rural Australians for Refugees Inc.
Settlement Council of Australia
Settlement Services International
Shakti Migrant & Refugee Women’s Support Group NSW Inc.
Southern Refugee & Migrant Centre
Sydwest Multicultural Services
The Humanitarian Group
United Spanish Latin American Welfare Centre
Victorian African Health Action Network
Welcome to Australia
Wellsprings for Women
Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre
Women’s Centre for Health Matters Inc.
Women’s Council for Domestic & Family Violence Services
Women’s Safety Services SA
Sister 4 Sisters Support Services
Multicultural Communities Council of SA
Cultural Diversity Network Incorporated
NT Working Women's Centre
AMES Australia
AMES AustraliaSurvivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Services (STTARS)
Metro Assist
Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)
Ballarat Regional Multicultural Council
Multicultural Communities Council of WA
Welcoming Australia
Centre for Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia
Sydney Multicultural Community Services
Migrant Women in Business
Individual members
Headshot Dimopoulos

Maria Dimopoulos

Hala Abdelnour

Jessica Abramovic

Leila Afshari

Vasiliki Arachi (Vicki)

Samira Ata

Alisha Fernando

Inaam Barakat

Fortunata Maria Callipari

Moira Furtado

Khadija Gbla

Yen Hawkes

Haleh Homaei

Iren Hunyadi

Nadia Khan

Jawoon Kim

Aldona Kmiec

C. Tandi Kuwana

Ellen Lahti

Meire de Mello

Malini Raj

Dinar Tyas

Anna Voloschenko

Maryam Zahid

Haweya Ismail

Jatinder Kaur

Emily Dimitriadis

Julie Theodore

Annie Fifita

Pushpa Bakshi

Maya Avdibegovic photo

Maya Avdibegovic

Rima Flihan

Rima Flihan

Hawanatu Bangura photo

Hawanatu Bangura

Saman Uzma photo

Saman Uzma

Sarah De-Nardi photo

Sarah de Nardi

Muhadesa Haidari photo

Muhadissa Haidari

Sarah Shengeb photo

Sara Shengeb

Cynthia Caird photo

Cynthia Caird

Vicky Rose photo

Vicky Rose

Mary Lee photo

Mary Lee

Varvara Ioannou photo

Varvara Atha-nasiou-Ioannou

Photo of Demila Gabriel

Demila Gabriel

Photo of Hankiz Dolan

Hankiz Dolan

Photo of Vanessa Song

Vanessa Song

Photo of Sarah Chong

Sarah Chong

Photo of Sabi Kaphle

Sabi Kaphle

Photo of Shweta Bohora

Shweta Bohora

N Muszkat

Natalia Muszkat

How to become a supporter

Supporters of the Alliance

Organisations that support the values and the objectives of the Alliance, are able to become Alliance Supporters.

Alliance Supporters are encouraged to actively participate in relevant Alliance activities (as identified by the Alliance Council and Secretariat), and to promote the work of the Alliance.

Supporters will contribute to discussions, respecting the diversity of views across the Alliance Members and the imperative of respect in communication.

Universities, academic bodies, research institutes, trade unions and for-profit organisations are eligible to become Supporters.

Organisations or groups interested to become Alliance Supporters can read the terms of reference.

Prospective Alliance Supporters must complete a Supporter Application Form, and return it to the Harmony Alliance Secretariat.

Benefits

  • Participate in relevant consultations to make sure your voice is heard
  • Exchange practices, network and collaborate with members and supporters
  • Get updates about issues of importance to women from migrant and refugee backgrounds
  • Promote your work

To become a supporter, eligible organisations and individuals are requested to download, complete and return the application form to the Secretariat at:

secretariat@ harmonyalliance.org.au
or
Migration Council Australia
Level 4, 28 University Ave
Canberra ACT 2600

The Secretariat will confirm receipt of the application via email. The Alliance Council considers applications for Alliance membership at Council meetings held approximately once every quarter. You will be notified of the outcome of your application after the next scheduled Council meeting.

Supporter application form
PDF format or
Word format

Current supporters

Brotherhood of St Laurence
Public Health Association of Australia
Sisters Inside
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Headshot Nyadol

Nyadol Nyuon

Nyadol Nyuon is the Chair of Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change. She is a lawyer, community advocate, writer, and accomplished public speaker.

Nyadol was born in a refugee camp in Itang, Ethiopia, and raised in Kakuma Refugee camp, Kenya. In 2005, at the age of eighteen, she moved to Australia as a refugee. Since then, Nyadol has completed a Bachelor of Arts from Victoria University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Melbourne. She now works as a commercial litigator with Arnold Bloch Leibler.

Nyadol Nyuon is a vocal advocate for human rights, migrant and refugee women, and the settlement of people with refugee experiences and those seeking asylum. She has worked and volunteered extensively in these areas with a range of organisations. Nyadol is also a regular media commentator on these issues, having appeared on ABC’s The Drum, as a panellist on Q&A and contributing to The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and the Saturday Paper, to name just a few.

In both 2011 and 2014, Nyadol was nominated as one of the one hundred most influential African Australians. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Future Justice Prize. In 2018, her efforts to combat racism were widely recognised, with achievements including the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Racism. It Stops With Me Award for her advocacy and activism on behalf of the Australian-African and Melbourne’s South Sudanese communities, and the Harmony Alliance Award for significant contribution to empowering migrant and refugee women. Nyadol was a co-winner of the Tim McCoy Prize for her advocacy on behalf of the South Sudanese community and received the Afro-Australian Student Organisation Unsung Hero Award.

Photo of Jeanette Hourani

Jeanette Hourani

A refugee in her own country Lebanon, then a refugee in Germany until she migrated to Australia in 1988. Jeanette has passion to gender equity and advocacy. Established Voice of Arabic Women on Radio 3CR to address the issues of gender, power, domestic violence, women’s empowerment in the capacity of a volunteer. Worked at SBS radio as a paid journalist/broadcaster. Held various positions and coordinated various programs and projects including women’s health, family and children’s services and early childhood, training and education including Dianella Community Health, Royal Women’s Hospital and VICSEG New Futures. Worked with grassroots women as an advocate, support and mentor. Joined the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC) and held Chairperson positions and a Board member. Winner of Hume City Council’s 2007 Teacher’s Award.

Anyier Yuol

Anyier Yuol is the chair of the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women (ANCORW).
Anyier was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and moved to Australia when she was ten years old. In 2015 she completed a Bachelor of Arts Major in Development Studies, Sociology and Anthropology at UNSW and is currently studying her Masters in International Development (Refugees and Displacement).

She is currently employed at Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC) as a Youth Transition Support Worker, where she works particularly with newly arrived refugee youth to connect them with education, sporting and employment opportunities, as well as to the local community.

Anyier Yuol currently divides her time between refugee community activism, youth leadership, mentoring, playing soccer and being a sports advocate, and modelling. She is determined to encourage, inspire and support her fellow women to find and exceed their potential within the modelling world and all other facets of their lives and those around them.

Anyier has extensive experience speaking and performing to large and diverse audiences. She is acknowledged and credited for leadership and motivational skills, as well as her drive, perseverance and capacity to engage a wide variety of groups and individuals.

Michal Morris

Ms Michal Morris is the CEO of inTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence, based in Melbourne, Victoria.

Michal has a deep commitment to social justice evidenced by a senior executive career across the government and third sector, driving access and equity in client centred care and evidence based service and program delivery.

Michal has 20 years’ experience working in the multicultural sector, as well as leading a range of health programs including mental health, suicide prevention and drug and alcohol.

Photo of Carla Wilshire

Carla Wilshire OAM

Ms Carla Wilshire represents Migration Council Australia – an ex-officio member of the Council.

Carla is the CEO of Migration Council Australia, the national research and policy institution on migration, settlement and social cohesion.

Carla has a background in policy development, corporate governance and tertiary research. She has worked as a public servant and as an advisor to Government, principally in the area of migration and resettlement, including as Chief of Staff to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.

Carla is a member of the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity, which provides policy advice to the Council of Chief Justices of Australia on improving access to justice for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians.

Carla is also a member of the National Anti-Racism Partnership and co-founded the Friendly Nation Initiative, which aims to link corporate Australia with the settlement community to improve employment outcomes for refugees.

Eugenia Tsoulis OAM

Ms Eugenia Tsoulis has 40 years of work experience across a number of sectors focusing on multicultural policy research and review, leadership management, mental health, education, the arts, and employment and training.

Eugenia is the CEO of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre, and over the past 20 years, she has overseen its expanding work, ensuring a critical leadership position in South Australia’s social, cultural and economic development.

Previously, as the Director of the Migrant Workers’ Centre, her work furthered migrant women’s employment, training and participation. Eugenia has established programs that serve to empower migrant and refugee women and young people through the Stronger Families initiative that counters domestic violence and through women’s training and employment.

She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994, ZONTA Woman of the Year Award in 2007, and the Governor’s Multicultural Award—Individual Achiever of the Year in 2012. Eugenia was a founding member of the Settlement Council of Australia, and has served on a considerable number of State and Commonwealth boards and advisory committees.

Eugenia received the inaugural Harmony Alliance Award in 2017, for lifetime contribution to empowering migrant and refugee women.

Tamara Stewart-Jones

Ms Tamara Stewart-Jones represents Multicultural Youth South Australia.

Tamara has 14 years of leadership and service delivery experience in the human services in both mainstream and multicultural contexts. She has extensive knowledge and experience in responding to a range of social issues and problems, having worked across service areas as diverse as settlement, health, homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse, crisis intervention and domestic violence.

Tamara has dual qualifications in primary health care and transpersonal counseling, as well as post‑graduate qualifications in Social Work.

She has worked in a teaching and research capacity at the University of South Australia for the past three years with her work focusing on new and emerging issues in both refugee and Indigenous communities.

Violet Roumeliotis

Ms Violet Roumeliotis represents Settlement Services International, a NSW community‑based, not-for-profit organisation that provides support services for refugees, asylum seekers, people with disability, job seekers, and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who require foster care.

Violet has steered SSI through a major growth period, from a staff of less than 70 just four years ago, to over 500 in 2016. She was named in Pro Bono Australia’s 2014 and 2015 lists of the 25 most influential people working in the not-for-profit sector.

Violet has an extensive background in the leadership of large not‑for‑profit organisations and providing services to at‑risk communities. She has developed specialised knowledge and skills in working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, refugees, women and families in crisis, and prisoners.

Violet has a Bachelor of Arts Degree majoring in Sociology and History from UNSW, and a Masters in Management from UTS. She is also an accredited mediator.

Sahar Okhovat

Ms Sahar Okhovat represents Refugee Council of Australia – an ex-officio member of the Council.

Sahar is a Senior Policy Officer with the Refugee Council of Australia, the national umbrella body for refugees, people seeking asylum and the organisations and individuals who support them. Her work involves research, policy and advocacy on issues impacting refugees and people seeking asylum.

Sahar previously worked with Australian Red Cross as a caseworker and a team leader in Migration Support Program and later on as a Humanitarian Observer, monitoring conditions of immigration detention centres. She holds a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney.

Juliana Nkrumah AM

Ms Juliana Nkrumah AM represents African Women Australia. Juliana is an advocate for women—specifically refugee women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and African women.

She founded African Women Australia as part of her quest to have African women gain a voice in Australian sociopolitical systems.

Juliana has served on several Boards to improve the status of women, including the Board of YWCA NSW, Australian National Committee on Refugee Women, Act For Peace, African Ministerial Committee, and the Eminent Australians Committee to review the Australian Citizenship Test.

Juliana’s past contributions included being the first women's representative of the African Communities’ Council NSW, initiating African Workers Network in Sydney, working as the first Community Education and Development Worker on FGM in Australia and advising in the development of the National Education Toolkit for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Awareness.

She managed the African Liaison Unit set up in Centrelink's Multicultural Services Unit in 2005-2006, and led two nationwide consultations into issues affecting refugees and migrants from African countries.

Juliana Nkrumah was awarded Membership of the Order of Australia for her work in the community, and was the winner of Woman of the West from University of Western Sydney in 2007.

Libby Lloyd AM

During her career Ms Libby Lloyd has been: President of UNIFEM/UN Women in Australia (2002-05); co-founder and board member of White Ribbon Foundation (2003-2013); Chair of Australia’s National Council to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children (2008-09). Libby has worked internationally with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); in the Commonwealth Public Service and in the private and community sectors.

Libby is or has been CEO, chair or member of a range of government advisory boards, private and not-for-profit organisations and continues to hold a number of senior roles in the community sector. She is Patron of the indigo foundation and of the Gold Coast Centre against Sexual Violence.

In 1992 Libby’s work with the United Nations and for Australian communities overseas was recognised when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her contribution to refugees and to the international community in Iraq and Kuwait.

Maha Krayem Abdo

Ms Maha Krayem Abdo represents the United Muslim Women Association.

Maha has spent over three decades working together with the Muslim Women Association to help give Muslim women safety and assurance in difficult and trying circumstances.

Today she represents and gives voice to all women abroad as well as in Australia. She works at the local, national and international levels advising government on policy, services and strategies to create a harmonious community for future generations of Muslim and non-Muslim women.

In 2016 Maha was the NSW Seniors Week Ambassador as well as the BreastScreen NSW Ambassador. In 2015 Maha was a finalist for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Medal, and in 2014 she was the NSW Human Rights Ambassador for 2014-15.

Gail Ker OAM

Ms Gail Ker represents Access Community Services. Over the past 20 years,

Gail’s vast industry experience and arguably unrivalled expertise in the Australian multicultural, humanitarian and community sectors have seen her change countless lives for the better. A nationally lauded and award winning visionary, Gail leads nearly 300 staff at Access in pursuit of their organisational vision—to create social, cultural and economic experiences and opportunities that transform the lives of individuals and communities globally.

Renowned for her expertise in innovative service solutions for newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants, Gail is a recognised thought leader in needs-based community planning, innovative business models, and strategic partnerships. Gail’s knowledge is actively sought by policy makers, politicians, and industry leaders, both nationally and internationally.

She serves on a number of boards and committees, including the Settlement Services Advisory Council advising the Federal Minister for Social Services.

Gail’s standing has been recognised with a number of honours, including the 2010 Order of Australia Medal, and 2017 Australian Migration and Settlement Awards –Empowering Women Award.

Uieta Kaufusi

Ms Uieta Kaufusi represents Tongan Association of Canberra and Queanbeyan.

Ms Uieta Kaufusi is a proud Tongan woman based in Canberra and is the National Sector Engagement Manager for 1800RESPECT, the National Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Counseling service.

Prior to joining the 1800RESPECT team in 2016, she led a breadth of initiatives on addressing domestic and family violence both in Australia and overseas. In her previous role as Learning and Development Manager at Lifeline Australia, Uieta managed the development and implementation of the DV‑Alert training suite—a nationally accredited and delivered domestic violence response training program for frontline workers. During her work with DV‑Alert, Uieta oversaw the development, implementation and evaluation of the General, Indigenous and Multicultural streams of DV-Alert, including the DV Awareness session and the Brothers Standing Tall: Aboriginal Men’s Program.

Uieta is married with 3 children and is a member of the ACT Government Multicultural Advisory Council, the White Ribbon Australia Indigenous Reference Group, and the Lifeline Aotearoa Pasifika Reference Group.

Carmel Guerra OAM

Ms Carmel Guerra represents Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network – an ex-officio member of the Council.

For over 30 years, Carmel has been a strong advocate for young people of refugee and migrant backgrounds in Victoria. Carmel has used her extensive experience to improve advocacy and support networks for young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. As the CEO of the Centre for Multicultural Youth, she is at the forefront of innovative service delivery and policy development.

Carmel’s contribution and service to multicultural youth in Victoria has been recognised with a Victorian Premier’s Award for Community Harmony in 2015 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2016. Carmel is the Chairperson of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN), the national peak body representing multicultural youth issues in Australia.

She also serves on numerous boards and committees, including the Youth Parole Board of Victoria, the Victorian Children’s Council, the Migration Council of Australia, and the Settlement Services Advisory Council advising the Federal Minister for Social Services.

Khadija Gbla

Ms Khadija Gbla is an individual member of the Harmony Alliance Council.

Khadija is a very passionate and inspired young African Australian woman. She is the Director of Khadija Gbla Cultural consultancy, which offers cultural awareness, intelligence training and facilitation to government agencies, not‑for‑profit organisations and individuals; advocacy and mentoring to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Khadija is also the Executive Director of No FGM Australia—a not‑for‑profit organisation, which works to protect Australian girls from FGM and to support survivors of FGM. She is an Ambassador for Our Watch and Director of Reacher’s Philanthropy - Committed to Women's and Girl's Self Empowerment.

Khadija is an award winning inspirational speaker, facilitator and consultant and has been recognised on a number of occasions, including most recently as 2017 Cosmopolitan Women of the Year finalist, 2016 Women's Weekly and Qantas Women of the Future finalist, and 2016 AusMumpreneur Rising Star and Making a Difference Award recipient.

Photo of Sandra Wright

Sandra Wright

Sandra is the CEO of the Settlement Council of Australia, the peak body representing Australia's vibrant settlement services. SCoA's members include organisations, large and small, who are committed to the successful settlement of refugees and migrants across the country. Prior to joining SCoA, Sandra led law reform in the areas of sexual assault and family violence. She has also held leadership positions in settlement services, and a number of board and advisory council positions in the multicultural and women's sectors. Sandra is a qualified lawyer, and is currently pursuing a PhD on domestic and family violence in Australian Muslim communities.

 

Maria Dimopoulos (Chair)

Ms Maria Dimopoulos is the independent Chair of the Alliance Council and the Harmony Alliance.

Maria is a nationally and internationally recognised expert specialising in the intersections of cultural diversity, gender equality and the law. As Managing Director at Myriad International Consulting Services she has had extensive experience in policy formulation for Government, research for social planning and in community legal education.

Much of Maria’s work has been aimed at promoting and enhancing cultural diversity and gender informed approaches in the ongoing complex legal and political reform processes and in ensuring the meaningful inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives in those reform processes.

Maria continues to deliver judicial education programs across Australia and currently sits on a number of boards including the Coronial Council of Victoria, the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity and the Castan Centre for Human Rights.