P AKISTANIS IN A USTRALIA PAWA NEWS

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17TH APRIL 2012
Dr. Zarrin S Siddiqui, 46 Kanangra Crs. Greenwood, WA 6024, Australia Ph: 0434841705, Email: pakistanis.in.australia@gmail.com

NEWSLETTER OF THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE COMMUNITY AND BY THE COMMUNITY

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 08

A SPECIAL PRAYER

The whole nation is praying for our trapped soldiers in Siachen as rescue operation is underway with support from international teams. Every second counts so is every prayer
In our last issue we have notified that to coincide with Youme Shauda on 30th April we will arrange an event on 29th April 2012 and I hope that we will have an outcome of the rescue operation by then. The event will go ahead and the venue will be notified by Wednesday. Pakistan Association of Curtin Students and Apnapan@UWA have also joined hands to organise this event. Similarly Dr. Akbar Khan from New South Wales has informed that they will also organise a similar event.
This is a fortnightly newsletter to keep community informed of whats happening in Australia with a special focus on Western Australia at this time. We also acknowledge that this newsletter is disseminated from Noongar land. Feel free to contribute any news that may be of interest to community or to disseminate it among your networks. The

earlier issues can be accessed through our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/groups/pakistanisinaustralia

Congratulations to Mr. Syed Zafar, the Chief Editor of Sada-eWatan Sydney

Sada-e-Watan Sydney is an online periodical that is widely accessed by the community for latest updates. Our heartiest congrats to Mr. Zafar on 7th Anniversary of the periodical. At the same time we also welcome the appointment of Peter Hayward as the new High Commissioner to Pakistan who will be joining office in June.

PROUD TO BE PAKISTANI: MARIA TOOR PAKAY

As a child Maria pretended to be a boy so that she could play sports and be active. She grew up in the Taliban controlled South Waziristan, but her liberal minded (and former college lecturer) father wanted his children to have more opportunities and supported his daughter's love of sport; therefore, he moved the family to Peshawar. At the age of 12, she was introduced to squash and from then on she would practice 810 hours a day inside her house because she wanted to be a world champion. Once Maria started dominating squash competitions word spread that a Pakistani female was stepping outside accepted gender norms and the Taliban warned her family that her actions would have grave consequences. Knowing that her squash career would go nowhere in Pakistan she started sending out hundreds of emails to squash players, coaches, and clubs seeking support. Finally, one day she received a reply, which just happened to be from one of the finest to ever pick up a squash racquet. Jonathon Power, born in British Columbia, was the first North American player to be ranked #1 in the world for squash and won 36 titles as a professional. He opened up the National Squash Academy in Toronto and upon receiving Maria's plea invited her to come train in Canada, until she becomes a world champion. Source: http://www.womentalksports.com
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INTERNATIONAL FOOD AND CULTURE FESTIVAL ECU, Joondalup Campus is organising an International Food and Culture Festival on 19th April.

MQM AUSTRALIAs ANNUAL BBQ

MQM is hosting an annual BBQ lunch with lots of entertainment activities for families on 29th April. The venue is Bill Lovelee Hall and Abbott Park in Chester Hill. Entry fee is 10$ (students), 30$(Couple) and 50$ (Family with kids). RSVP by 22nd April to MQM Lakemba working Committee at 0469574571

CONSULTATIONS
RMIT University is seeking women willing to talk about their experiences managing money. Between March and May 2012 focus groups are being held in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Have your say about the meaning of money or the lack of it in your life. Your opinions will help shape a large national survey of Australian womens financial circumstances planned for 2013. Contact Dr Marcus Banks at marcus.banks@rmit.edu.au for more information.

NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME RALLY: 30TH APRIL

Please support the NDIS rally in Perth on 30 April 2012 on behalf of the Every Australian Counts campaign. As NDIS is everyone's business, not just for people with disability, your support would be greatly appreciated. To see why West Australians, including those in your area will be rallying on April 30, watch their one minute messages to Australia at http://video.everyaustraliancounts.com .au For more information contact WA Coordinator Geraldine Mellet at 92089817

Sign the petition.

Created by Shabnam Hameed Surry Hills

Ask our Prime Minister, The Hon. Julia Gillard MP, to ensure that all workers in Australia who experience domestic violence can be safe at work as staying in employment is critical to reducing the effects of the violence. By supporting women and men to remain in paid employment, workplaces can assist women and men on their pathway out of violence and keep the whole workplace safer. Ask the Prime Minister to ensure that workers in Australia who experience domestic violence be protected in the workplace by: 1. amending the Fair Work Act to include domestic and family violence protections as a National Employment Standard 2. ensuring that a consolidated Commonwealth equality law prohibit discrimination on the ground of domestic and family violence.
The petition is available at http://www.change.org/petitions/the-hon-julia-gillard-mp-protect-workers-inaustralia-who-experience-domestic-violence For more information see www.dvandwork.unsw.edu.au

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND THE WORKPLACE E-LEARNING

This e-learning package is intended to assist the go to people who will be responding to workers disclosing the impact of domestic violence. The package is in the form of three modules. These are designed as a primer in preparation for a structured face to face workshop. Each module will take about 20 minutes to complete. http://www.dvandwork.unsw.edu.au/training