(Photo: (Left) ECWA Chairman Mr Julious Clement, (2nd Left) Dr Juma Abuyi Board Member, FECAA, (Middle) Victorian Police Commander Stuart Bateson, (2nd right) Mr Michael Hirrow, (Right) Mr Nyombe Nyabura)

 

FECAA National Conference was held in Melbourne from the 5th to 6th of October 2018. This conference was driven by the theme “Securing South Sudanese Interest and Unity in Australia”. New South Wales team from Equatoria community was represented by ECWA Chairman Mr Julious Clement, Uncle Michael Hirrow, Mr Nyombe Nyabura and Mr John Lenga. The National Conference was an initiative of Equatoria Communities, Australia wide event funded by Federation of Equatoria Community Association in Australia Incorporated (FECAA), Volunteers, members, friends to FECAA and local businesses throughout the country. The conference has been designed to highlight fundamental issues currently facing South Sudanese Australians and strategies in which it could be minimise or address with the help of Local, State and Federal Governments.

 

FECAA organises the conference  every year from State to Territories across Australia. The next FECAA conference was announced to be in Adelaide, South Australia by Juma Piri Piri, the National FECAA president.  Speakers of the conference includes chairman of the Equatoria Community Association Australia wide, this includes (Clement Laila, Vic), (John Koma QLD), (Charles Salah, WA), (Mr William Mude, SA),  (Julious Clement, NSW/ACT), Ring Mayar, chairman of the South Sudanese Community Association of Victoria.

 

Guest speakers Victorian Police Commander Stuart Bateson, Dr Graham Poole GP at Launceston Tasmania, Mayor Cuc Lam & Deputy Mayor Sarah Carter Maribyrnong City Council, Ms Rosemary Wilmot, Acting Regional Director, Department of Home Affairs,  Mr Grant Morrison Director East Africa and Indian Ocean Section Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dr Sundram Sivamalali, Commissioner, Victoria Multicultural Council (MVC), Dr Juma Abuyi Board Member, FECAA, Dr Louise Olliff, Senior Advisor – Policy and Community Engagement, Refugee Council of Australia, Dr Emma Campbell CEO, Federation of Ethnic Community Council of Australia,  Mr Louis Morris Kristopher Morris, Alexander & Nelson Barristers & Solicitors, Dr Carlos A Raimundo and  Ms Melanie Raimudo Director, Active Learning International, Dr. Teresa De Fazio, Manager, Cultural Diversity, Victoria University, Mr Nick Tebbey CEO Settlement Council of Australia. The speakers shine a light on what major issues effecting South Sudanese communities, how to embrace community successes, acceptance of cultural diversity such as South Sudanese and how to resource the community with available funded programs.

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