Who are we?
Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours Inc. formerly known as Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN) has been established to assist new residents and their families integrate confidently into the Gladstone community. It seeks the participation of local and new residents who are interested in enriching their lives by coming closer to other cultures and are willing to be an integral part in their adaptation and integration into the Gladstone community. The Network operates with the support and sponsorship of Gladstone Women’s Health Centre. Click here to download information on our Vision, Objectives and Plans). We generally meet every Thursday at the Women's Health Centre (9 Derby Street, Gladstone, ph: 4979 1456) but please check our calendarork as activities may change or be held at other venues. For more information or if you want to be added to our mailing list, please use the "Contact Us" form or call the network coordinator on 0487 422 142.
Youth Photography Competition 2011
Welcome Intercultural Neighbours Inc. (WIN) in partnership with Gladstone Regional Council are calling all youth (12 to 24 years old) to participate in for the upcoming Youth Photography competition which is NOW OPEN. The competition is part of the End-of-Year Celebration WIN holds annually and all entries will be display at the event which will be held on December 4th at the Gladstone PCYC.
The Photo competitions theme is "Take a Photo of a Friend from another Culture", and in 25 words of less participants need to tell us what the photographed friend means to them. The competition will award 5 prizes to: Overall Winner Category 12-17yo Winner (judged by Sponsors’ panel) Category 18-24yo Winner (judged by Sponsors’ panel) Category 12-17yo Winner (judged by youth representatives from WIN, GRC and PCYC) Category 18-24yo Winner (judged by youth representatives from WIN, GRC and PCYC) ENTRY FORMS AND INSTRUCTIONS AVAILABLE HERE | WIN's 2012 End-of-Year Celebration
WIN's 2012 End-of-Year Family Day is in full planning mode and everything is on its way to a great event once again. On Sunday December 4th at PCYC WIN will be hosting the end of year celebration with fun for everyone. Cooking demonstrations, dance, music, colouring competition for children 0 to 12 and the first ever WIN's photography competition for youth (from 12 to 24). Great prizes and much more. Mark your diary! it will be a lot of fun!
FOR COLOUR-IN COMPETITION ENTRY FORMS CLICK HERE |
Urgent Notice - AGM Notification
Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours Inc Annual General Meeting
(AGM) will be held at 5:30-6:30pm on Monday 5th December 2011 at the Women’s Health Centre on the Corner of Derby and Buller Streets Gladstone.
The AGM is a meeting to elect the Management Committee for WIN.
The positions on the Committee are:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
3 X General Committee Members
Any WIN member of our organisation can nominate for any of the above positions. To nominate for a position (a person can nominate for more than one position, but can only be elected to one position), you need to complete a Nomination Form or call Natalia Muszkat 0487 422 142). The form must be supported and signed by two other members of WIN and be submitted to the WIN office or emailed to contact@win-australia.org.au by the 21st NOVEMBER 2011.
On the 5th December 2011, members are asked to attend the Annual General Meeting to vote for each position. We can have a number of nominations for the same position so members need to attend so they can vote to determine who will be elected to these positions for the next 12months. If you are a member and cannot attend the meeting but would still like to vote please contact Natalia for a Proxy vote form.
We encourage anyone who would like to be part of the 2012 Management Committee to nominate as you will be assisting WIN to become even bigger and better. If you require any information regarding the positions and what responsibility and role they have contact Natalia 0487 422 142, Nicole Babcock 0467 249 620 or Lyndal Hansen 0408 071 465 for details.
Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours is an incorporated body under the Queensland Government Incorporations Act. This Act provides the guidelines in which WIN must operate. Under the Incorporations Act, WIN must conduct an AGM once a year to elect a Management Committee. The Act also requires that an AGM must have at least 16 WIN members attend to comply with the regulations. Please either nominate or come along and have a vote. WIN is undertaken extremely valuable work for our new arrivals into town and the community, so come along and join the excitement as WIN continues to grow.
(AGM) will be held at 5:30-6:30pm on Monday 5th December 2011 at the Women’s Health Centre on the Corner of Derby and Buller Streets Gladstone.
The AGM is a meeting to elect the Management Committee for WIN.
The positions on the Committee are:
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
3 X General Committee Members
Any WIN member of our organisation can nominate for any of the above positions. To nominate for a position (a person can nominate for more than one position, but can only be elected to one position), you need to complete a Nomination Form or call Natalia Muszkat 0487 422 142). The form must be supported and signed by two other members of WIN and be submitted to the WIN office or emailed to contact@win-australia.org.au by the 21st NOVEMBER 2011.
On the 5th December 2011, members are asked to attend the Annual General Meeting to vote for each position. We can have a number of nominations for the same position so members need to attend so they can vote to determine who will be elected to these positions for the next 12months. If you are a member and cannot attend the meeting but would still like to vote please contact Natalia for a Proxy vote form.
We encourage anyone who would like to be part of the 2012 Management Committee to nominate as you will be assisting WIN to become even bigger and better. If you require any information regarding the positions and what responsibility and role they have contact Natalia 0487 422 142, Nicole Babcock 0467 249 620 or Lyndal Hansen 0408 071 465 for details.
Welcoming Intercultural Neighbours is an incorporated body under the Queensland Government Incorporations Act. This Act provides the guidelines in which WIN must operate. Under the Incorporations Act, WIN must conduct an AGM once a year to elect a Management Committee. The Act also requires that an AGM must have at least 16 WIN members attend to comply with the regulations. Please either nominate or come along and have a vote. WIN is undertaken extremely valuable work for our new arrivals into town and the community, so come along and join the excitement as WIN continues to grow.
Our Changing Community
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On August 5th, WIN hosted the 2011 Cultural Diversity Forum where a range of topics were discussed about the changing demographics of our region. We are all aware that the future for Gladstone is centred on the industrial growth and the new people coming in to our area as part of skill migration. At the forum we had the opportunity to discuss how we collectively embrace change while maintaining our much valued sense of community. New people coming can be a positive thing as they bring a wealth of skills and experiences that will ultimately enrich the Gladstone Region. However maintaining this sense of community will not just happen by itself and we need to be openly discussing the issues and collectively solving them. The Cultural Diversity Forum discussed how perceptions about new people and particularly migrants (often shaped by media and bad news stories) can be very wrong. Most new people coming to Gladstone are very keen to be involved in the community and integrate
socially, but often don’t know how. Gladstone is an extremely exciting place to live at the moment, let’s make sure we’re proactive in keeping our lovely sense of community where we care for each other no matter where we come
from. For photos from the Forum check the photo gallery below
socially, but often don’t know how. Gladstone is an extremely exciting place to live at the moment, let’s make sure we’re proactive in keeping our lovely sense of community where we care for each other no matter where we come
from. For photos from the Forum check the photo gallery below
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Want to support our Organisation? - Become a member HERE
WIN Meets at Boyne Island
Last Thursday, 23rd of June 2011, thirteen ladies turned up at the Boyne Island Community Centre to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and have a WIN meeting. For me, my first WIN meeting was a unique and delightful experience – chatting and sharing with women of eight different nationalities – one which I would like to repeat on a regular basis. We hope more women from the Boyne Tannum region will take advantage of these local meetings and feel included with the fast growing group of newcomers to the region where everyone is made to feel welcome and new friends are to be made.
WIN donates $500 to the Indonesian Red Cross after End-of-Year festivities
WIN and the Indonesian Community of Gladstone were able to raise $500 for those affected by both a tsunami and the eruption of Mount Merapi late last year killing about 500 people and injuring hundreds more. The funds have been donated to the Palang Merah (Indonesian Red Cross) on behalf of the Indonesian Community.
The event was a great success and did not just make WIN and all those who supported it proud of the work accomplished, but also brought special memories for the Indonesian people working at Orica (the event's major sponsor). As Wayan Budiarto describes, the visitors felt "welcomed and appreciated". Wayan also takes pride in the Gladstone residents recognising the varieties in Indonesian cultures, as displayed by the event. Happy Birthday WIN!!!
A year ago, on February 18th 2010, Natalia Muszkat, Lyndal Hansen and Maria Richards decided to take matters into their own hands and set off to address the many issues that for years have been raised regarding the wellbeing of new resident and their families. A year later, by working together with many organisations and individuals, WIN has become a point of reference for settlement and integration issues and an integral part of the community. Read More of this story here
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WIN wishes you a very merry Christmas and a great 2011
We will be sending the last newsletter of the year very soon, there is so much to go over, to remember, to celebrate, and most importantly, there are so many people to thank and recognise for their contribution to the group, other members, participants and the Gladstone Community as a whole. As a thank you, we have put together a little slideshow with some highlights of 2010. Here it is....
Click here to view photos of the WIN's End-of-Year Celebration 2010
Media Release: WIN learns about Local Council - November 23, 2010
On November 11 (2010) Women's Intercultural Network (WIN) members embarked on their second Town Tour to learn more about local services, including Council.
The group began their journey at the Community Advisory Service (CAS) in Goondoon Street, Gladstone, where they were given a guided tour of the building and informed of the many services CAS offers. Gladstone Regional Council's Community Engagement officer Sarah Pugh gave a presentation on Council's operations and how local government can assist residents. (to access the presentation click here) WIN Network Coordinator Natalia Muszkat said the town tours were a great way for women to gain a better understanding of how Council operates and to learn more about the Gladstone Region. "It was great to have Sarah do the session on Council," Ms Muszkat said. "The ladies found it very helpful and the session provided answers to many of their questions." After the presentation the ladies were treated to a guided tour of Council's Civic Centre, where they were fortunate to get a sneak peak of the pre-counting process for the mayoral by-election. The network continued their journey from Council to the Police Station and Court House. "WIN recognises the efforts of everyone involved and thanks them for making our second Town Tour a huge success," Ms Muszkat said. WIN's Visit to the Career Information Centre at CQUniversity - October 14th 2010
As part of the information sessions series and induction program that WIN offers to the community, last Thursday October 14th the group organised a visit to the Careers Information Centre at CQUniversity Gladstone campus. Greeted by Richard Ward the group of new and not so new Gladstone resident enjoyed a morning getting information about the numerous education, training and career opportunities in the Gladstone Region. The centre offers access to pathways information and advice, interactive technology, direct links to online resources, direct links to their partners and even phone services to make appointments with the different organisation and educational institutions. "Having your qualifications recognised in Australia and taking the step towards further education and training is a topic that constantly comes up in the minds of new residents, especially those who come from overseas and have obtained qualifications in their country. Because of that, WIN decided to visit the centre and encourage participants to seek the advice that career pathways facilitators provide to the community" Natalia Muszkat, WIN's network coordinator said about the visit.GReEn Careers in partnership with CQUniversity has initiated the establishment of this central point in the Martin Hanson Building of CQUniversity, Gladstone campus and is now open to all members of the Gladstone Region community.
Apply First Aid Certificate - Group Training: October 2nd 2010
On October 2nd 2010 the Women's Intercultural Network held its 2010 First Aid Training Program and what a great day we all had. This was definitely one of the highlights of the year for many of us. After having applied for funding from FaHCSIA earlier this year, WIN has delivered the training and Gladstone now has an extra 19 first aiders in the community. After a great effort from our Project Leader Chetna Dave, WIN was able to deliver this great initiative. The group shown great energy and a very positive attitude that went on from start to finish. Some of the comments made on the day and on our Facebook page were:
"The course was well attended and provided and Clint made the day fun and helped with migrant understanding language terminology. " Lyndal Hanson "I feel very confident after completing this course that if a real life situation should come up I would feel confident helping someone with first aid. Indeed it was fun and hopefully we will all be more confident if situation arises and have to use our recently learnt skill." Chetna Dave "First Aid being a very effective knowledge tool which can come handy at any moment in our life, it was a great day at training. Although, we all are born home-bred first aid doctors, knowing what really is to be done is quite essential, which I learnt from the training. Theory and practical exposure to various aspects of First Aid during the training was quite detailed. This has given me a lot of confidence to perform First-Aid task for a situation if and when I do come across." Deepa Saxena "It was a great course!" Gabriela Wolman "The company provided an enjoyable way of learning!" Carolina Bocos "Thank you for the invitation. It was interesting and helpfully and more...I enjoy the company!!" Bibiana Castro "This was a great group of ladies to teach!". Clint Swadling "The first aid group consisted of women from Australia and many other cultures from around the world. I was such a lovely day to learn, share and have fun. This was a great interactive course." Debbie Flaherty "It was a good day,so useful." Noor Alssadi | WIN's Driving in Australia Info Session - October 23rd 2010
On Saturday October 23rd the Women's Intercultural Network organised an information session aiming to address this challenge. The "Driving in Australia" session was held with the help of active volunteer Deepa Saxena and was attended by a group of migrant women that benefited from the great advice provided by Phillip Smith from "Training Wheels". Phillip donated his time for this occasion.
WIN's visit to Gladstone's NRG Power Station - September 9th 2010
On Thursday 9th of September WIN visited Queensland largest power station. We had a great time, enjoyed the commentary and learned a bit more about our Region. Thank you Ruth Sutherland for organising the outing. If you want more information about other upcoming WIN tours check the website of email/call us for more information.
WIN's Basic Conversational English Classes
On May 19, the Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN) saw the end to its first Basic Conversational English Program. To celebrate we had a small informal get together at the Community Hub. The participants received their certificate of completion as we all enjoyed some very nice dishes from all over the world. Congratulations all for this great achievement!!!
And a huge thanks goes to WIN’s volunteers Nandini Bhakta (project leader), Angela Bowen, Lyndal Hansen, Maria Richards and Diane Newbold for putting this program together so well! You are all gems! If you are interested in being part of our next series of classes (including male participants) please email womens.intercultural.network@gmail.com. WIN's First Gladstone Town Tour
On May 13, the Women's Intercultural Network went on its very first Gladstone Town Tour. Visiting the Gladstone Regional Council offices, The Gladstone Library, the Police Station and finally the Court House, we had an information filled morning. The WIN group would like to thank all the staff who so kindly showed us around and made us feel very welcome. Stay tuned for more activities like this one!
WIN's stall at the "Settling in Queensland" Seminar
The Women's Intercultural Network was present at the last "Settling in Queensland" Seminar held in Gladstone on Wednesday 23 June 2010. The event was organised by the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI). We meet a few new people and networked with a lot of organisations and businesses. Thank you to Noor, Ratna, Marianella and Maria for their help setting up the stall and promoting the network by wearing our very pretty pink shirts!!!
WIN's CV Building and Employment session
The multicultural community has once again benefited from activities organised by the volunteers of the Women’s Intercultural Network (WIN). On May 6, over 25 women from all different backgrounds and cultures attended an information session on CV/Resume Building and Employment in Gladstone. With the assistance of NEATO and International Workforce, the WIN group was able to deliver a great session to assist migrant and Australian ladies develop their resumes and find employment in the area. Network coordinator Natalia Muszkat was extremely pleased with the session and is planning a similar event for later in the year. Information about some of the topics covered can be found in the Links page. To be involved in the activities of WIN call 0423 177 411 or email womens.intercultural.network@gmail.com.
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