Australia Day Award
This award category recognises groups and individuals within our community who provide a forum for strong leadership to make a difference in people’s lives. The Australian Hazara Women’s Friendship Network grew out of a need that became evident where local Afghan women were experiencing social isolation due to a lack of language ability and a lack of confidence in navigating through Australian society.
The Dandenong Neighbourhood House, particularly through the founders Zakia Baig, Sarifa Fayyazi and Sakina Basit and assisted by Rabia Nadir (pictured) responded to this need by initiating a network to link women together for mutual support. Initially looking at social connections, the group grew to provide English language classes, and then to train their own members to act as tutors for others in the group.
Overcoming significant personal hurdles, the participants have benefited from strong connections with each other for support and the network has grown in number to become a firm platform for social connections and improved lives.