April 2023 Updates

Dear Visitor ji, 

Namaste!!

It has been a busy month for FINACT and its member associations in organising a number of community events. In this issue we report highlights from some of the events organised by FINACT members.

The Indian diaspora is looking forward to welcoming Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to Australia. FINACT is a Welcome Partner organisation taking part in the event. Few hundred Canberrans have registered to attend the community reception on 23 May in Sydney. Visit https://iadf.org.au/ for more information.

FINACT welcomes the latest budget announcement from the federal government that invests $535m over four years to nine national collecting institutions, including the National Gallery, the National Library, and the National Archives. 

Please see our special report on aged care service providers in the ACT. As the population of the Indian community grows in the ACT, it is expected that the number of people seeking aged care services is also likely to increase. I spoke to at least a dozen or so senior citizens, who are not aware of services they can avail such as domestic assistance, personal care, social groups, free transport, shopping bus, etc. It is also possible to establish your own group to tailor services to suit your cultural needs. FINACT, in collaboration with senior citizens groups, will be looking forward to facilitating interest groups to look after elders in our community. 

In this issue, we also draw the Indian community's attention to the indigenous voice to the Parliament. Most of us find the debate in the media confusing. Not many are fully aware of the issues behind the “yes” and “no” options. FINACT has been doing its bit in promoting the awareness amongst the Indian community. Please refer to the web links provided in this issue. We will promote more information in the coming months. 

It is hard to miss the bright autumn colours of Canberra this time of the year. I am certainly loving every bit of it on my way to work. Enjoy the colours while they last! 

Dr Shanti Reddy

FINACT President

Upcoming Events 

AUSINDIA Fair 2023
TBA

Please keep an eye on this space for further information on our signature Annual festival. 

Annual Cultural Program 
20 May 2023

RMMC is hosting its Annual Cultural Program on Saturday 20 May 2023 at Gungahlin College Theatre. Arrive by 12.30 pm for a 1.00 pm start. This year a total of twenty performances have been scheduled. Tickets will be on sale until 7 May, from this site https://www.trybooking.com/CHPZO 

Bookings will be available on a first come first serve basis. We encourage everyone to book their tickets before the above date to enable us to plan ahead.

ABC Canberra Community Spirit Awards

Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their contribution to life in Canberra? ABC Canberra wants to celebrate the power, strength and diversity of vibrant communities and recognise those who are making a real difference.

Nominations are open for the 2023 ABC Canberra Community Spirit Awards. Nominate a local community individual or team and highlight the amazing work they've done in our community. Nominate now at http://abc.net.au/communityspiritcanberra. 

Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services (MARSS)

Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services has been operating in Canberra for over 40 years. MARSS provides a comprehensive range of settlement services for migrants, refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian entrants. These include general settlement support, English language and literacy training, vocational education and training, emergency relief and financial literacy training, and employment services. They have places available in the following programs:  

1. Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) CHC33015 
2. Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) CHC33015 
3. Certificate III in Community Services CHC32015
4. Kickstart Program (delivered through Master Builders Australia)
5. English for Workplace and Business Skills
6. English for Living – Low, Intermediate and Advanced Classes
7. Digital Literacy (computer classes)
8. Home Care

MARSS will pay all participants’ study fees. In addition, they will be provided a mentor/tutor to ensure their success and have access to a laptop for their studies. Once the students have completed their studies, they will be supported in finding work placement, apprenticeship, or employment. 

Eligible visa types and additional information can be obtained by contacting them on (02) 6248 8577 or through [email protected]. 

Electrify Canberra

Climate change is a global problem that requires collective action from all countries, all levels of governments and all citizens. We all can make a difference, in a small way but collectively it would make a big impact. Community led initiative, Electrify Canberra, is one such example, to reduce emissions and reduce electricity bills.  

The ACT will be trialling a pilot project to demonstrate electrification of an existing suburb. The yet-to-be-chosen Canberra suburb will have its own set of unique challenges and will ideally include multi-occupancy dwellings, social housing and stand-alone residences. Great initiative. You all can contribute to this by completing a short survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/electrifyACT

Voice to the Parliament

In 2023 Australians will be asked if there should be constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We encourage members to read and make informed choice on this very important national issue. You can find relevant information at  https://voice.gov.au/ and https://www.aec.gov.au/referendums/2023-referendum.htm

This is a high priority for the Albanese Government. However, most people in the community are confused about the debate in the media. Not many migrants are fully aware of the issues behind the “yes” and “no” options. FINACT has been doing its bit in promoting the awareness amongst the Indian migrants. We will do more in the coming months.  

Past Events

Meeting with the Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP
6 April 2023

The FINACT Executive Committee had a productive meeting with Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, on 6 April 2023 at his office in the Parliament House.

The team had a constructive discussion and engagement with the Minister on a range of issues of interest to the Indian community. Successful pathways for international students to settle in Australia, despite the tight labour market many temporary visa holders are unable to find suitable jobs in their field of study. We discussed ways this can be addressed. Access to community centre to celebrate large  community gatherings, voice to the Parliament, gender equality and support to vulnerable women, were some other topics we discussed.

We thank Dr Leigh’s ongoing support to the Indian community and look forward to working with him on these and other topics.

Season's Award Ceremony by Canberra Telugu League

The Canberra Telugu League (CTL), a member of FINACT, celebrated its fifth season award ceremony on 30 April at Albert Hall. Ten participating teams with 225 active members, it is one of the largest community sporting groups dedicated to cricket. No doubt sport is one of the proven ways to look after physical and mental health. Well done to the core team, led by Sudheer Madnure. Congratulations to this year's winners - Challengers Team.

Telugu New Year - Yug-Adi - by NATA
29 April 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Day

 

The Indian community in Canberra paid tributes to the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in serving the country. This year more than 30,000 Canberrans attended the dawn service at the War Memorial.

 

According to the Distinguished Australian historian Professor Peter Stanley,16,000 troops of the Indian Army served as part of the British force involved in the dramatic eight-month Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I. About 1600 Indian troops, one man in 10, died while serving alongside Australian, New Zealand and British soldiers whose part in the Great War has been extensively documented.

 

The Indians have had to wait a century for their story to be told according to the Australian High Commission’s website. We also paid tributes to the First Nations Peoples who have served in the defence of Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aged Care Support

Thanks to the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI) for inviting FINACT to a workshop on 26 April, to introduce Aged Care Services available to anyone over 65 years of age.

There are a number of services senior citizens can avail, such as domestic assistance, personal care, social groups, free transport, shopping bus, etc. You can also establish your own group to tailor services to suit your cultural needs. FINACT, in collaboration with senior citizens groups, can help set up a group if this is of interest.

 

The first step to accessing aged care support involves registering with My Aged Care. You can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 or visit www.myagedcare.gov.au.

 

There are more than 50 approved service providers in the ACT who can assist in completing the forms if required. Three of the providers present in the workshop provided contact details, feel free to contact them. 

 

MCCI - https://www.mcci.org.au/my-mcci-aged-care/how-to-access-support/ 

 

Northside - https://www.northside.asn.au/aged-care/ - offers a range of services 

 

Meridian - https://www.meridianact.org.au/  Meridian offers friendly and inclusive assistance for vulnerable seniors to connect with community support, services, and/ or navigating My Aged Care.

 

FINACT plans to organise a webinar if there is sufficient interest. Please reply to [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugadi by Kanataka Association of Canberra

 

KAC celebrated the Indian New Year Ugadi on 25 April 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Sincere thanks to High Commission of India, Canberra, ACT Government and businesses for sponsoring the Arvensys AusIndia Fair 2022.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brainobrain Kids Academy Pty Ltd

Thanks to Ram Kavuri, Managing Director, Brainobrain Kids Academy Pty Ltd for supporting FINACT as a silver sponsor. For more information on their services please visit their web site http://www.brainobrainaustralia.com/.  You can contact them on +61 450 033 556 / +61 424 560 580, email [email protected]