International Day of People with Disability December 09
The International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD) was celebrated in different places and CV members were present too. Some of them made speeches, some hold stalls and others danced and had fun:
Hannen performed a danced and Nidhi made a speech after singing an Indian song for the public at Parramatta Town Hall during the celebrations of the IDPWD organised by the Local Council on 03.12.09. Luis was on charge of MDAA stall on the day.
Tony and Luis were guests speakers at IDPW at Campbelltown Council, music & peformances & food were part of the celebrations of IDPWD on 04.12.09
CV member Carmelita was in charge of MDAA stall during the Information Day organised by Centrelink Parramatta to celebrate IDPWD on 05.12.09
Elvira and Luis from CV were present at MDAA stall at Auburn Diversity Services Opening Day on 30 September 09
18 August 2009: Korean Social Work students and their
teacher
A group of Korean Social Work students and their teacher
visited MDAA. The Korean Association organised the meeting
and the group was welcomed by Lyn (MDAA Assistant Director).
Lyn talked about how MDAA works with people from non English
backgrounds with disability and Elvira from the Community
Voices talked about her personal story. It was the first
presentation done by Elvira and the Korean group was happy
with all the information received. They presented Lyn with a
set of hand made traditional Korean masks.
 24
June 2009: Community Voices Training 2009
Our shiny new trainees were Dora & John, Cary, Sharon
(CIWDA), Emmanuel, Elvira. Gary started but was not able to
finish the training. Six (6) training sessions were held
from 3 June to 8 July. All trainees also participated in the
NSW Ombudsman-MDAA Forum on Rights and Complaints on 24 June
2009 to improve their self advocacy skills.
At the final session everybody was very motivated even
some tears were shed (maybe the training was too hard!?).
There was a lot of help from Lyn, Kristen and Judith.
18 June 2009: CV Participation by George Kodssi at MDAA
stall during the celebration in Fairfield of the Refugee
Week.
16 June 2009: CV Presentation by Robina at BCRG
Bankstown to a Parents Group.
15 June 2009: CV Presentation by Nidhi for Indian Carers
at Parramatta MRC.
Individual Advocate Viji also talked about what MDAA
services are about.
5 June 2009: CV Presentation by Nidhi to 90 Brookvale
TAFE Welfare Course students.
3 June 2009: Nidhi teamed up with Individual Advocacy
Coordinator Susan Laguna at MDAA Stall in Canterbury.
28 May 2009: DADHC Conference on Cultural Competency in
Services, Homebush NSW
CV members Rachel Lazarov and Robina Yasmin were guests
speakers at Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
DADHC Conference on Cultural Competency in Services held at
Homebush, workers were very motivated by our CV members
personal stories and during the break a few came to greet
them personally. Later on the day Diana Qian (MDAA Executive
Director) made also a presentation. To wrap up the day
Hannen & Pamela were in charge of MDAA stall. They could
not get enough of MDAA.
29 April 2009: Accessible Arts training participants
in Bankstown, NSW
 Accessible
Arts workers organised a Disability Awareness Training Day
on 28 April 2009 and invited Roger Fyfe (CV-CIWDA) to talk
about diverse issues such as arts, disability and
culture.
Participants also expressed their views and made
questions to Roger about his own experience in Australia. A
good interchange and friendly environment was the note of
the day.
On 1 April 09, CV member Luis was on charge of MDAA stall
at Bankstown Council Age & Disability Expo, people from
the local community and workers came to get information
about available services and share some personal and work
stories. Artistic performances and drumming workshops
completed the day. Thanks to Bankstown Council for having
us!!
19 March 2009: MDAA Community Voices at Harmony Day in
Meadowbank TAFE
On Thursday 19 March 2009, CV members Hannen and Luis
went to Meadowbank TAFE to participate in Harmony Day
organised by Ryde Council and TAFE. Many people including
students attended the event, visiting the stalls which
provided a range of information. People who came to the MDAA
stall took pamphlets and asked for information while others
took photos so we decided to join them and take some
pictures too. It was a busy day but a rewarding one.
  
12 March 2009 : Disability Awareness Training
Roger Fyfe made another CV Presentation at the Disability
Awareness training ran by MDAA Cultural Abilities at
Hurstville on 12 March 2009. About 20 workers were present
on the day and everybody expressed the relevance on having
Roger in the training to share his story of having a
disability and dealing with the system. Theresa and Maria
from Cultural Abilities were the organisers.
 
 
 9
March 2009 : Disability Rights Awareness Program
CV member Roger Fyfe made his maiden speech as a Speaker
at Parramatta on 9 March 2009. CV members are people with
disability from different backgrounds their families, carers
or friends who are trained in public speaking. CV is run by
City & Inner West Disability Advocacy (CIWDA). Cultural
Abilities Trainers Theresa and Joyce were running a
Disability Rights Awareness Program for Designated Ethnic
workers and they invited Roger as a guest speaker. He was
excited and very happy to share his story with all the
workers, questions were made and answered and everybody was
satisfied. Congratulations Roger!!! Thanks to Theresa and
Joyce.
 
 6
March 2009 : International Women's Day celebration in
Cabramatta
Nidhi Shekaran from CV joined the International
Women's Day celebration at Cabramatta, Advocate Gordana
and Shu from our staff were present at MDAA stall on the
day. Staff members and volunteers were very active to
provide information about advocacy services, the Womens'
Network, advocacy and the CV Project.
Singer Ace Boncato performed on the day as well as Belly
Dancer Hannen Abdallah, Liliane Lukoki was the guest speaker
in the main event. Women from different cultures and
countries made the day a successful activity.
 3
March 2009 : Bankstown Age and Disability Forum
On the morning of Tuesday 3 March, Tony Shoushani got up
early to make it on time at the Bankstown Age &
Disability Forum. About 45 workers from service
providers and local government organisations got together to
listen to the guest speakers as well as to suggest
strategies to address the identified issues.
Some attendees came to congratulate Tony on his
presentation and encourage him to continue speaking up for
the rights of people with disability. Tony was excited and
happy to share his story with everyone.
Our thanks to the organisers and Debbie Giacomin who sent
us the invitation and took care of us on the day. Paul
Spiteri (Holroyd City Council Worker) and Sean Langshaw
(Disability South West Services) were also speakers on the
day.
25 February 2009 : Turkish Information Day
Hannen Abdallah, member of CV was present at the
Information Day organised by the Turkish Welfare
Association in Fairfield. A group of 15 people listened
to Hannen, they were very excited and moved by her story, so
much that even some tears were shed. MDAA Advocates
Coordinator Susan and Volunteer Elvira were there too.
To know more about Hannen, Tony, Nidhi and CV please
visit www.mdaa.org.au/service/voices/people.html
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