Race discrimination workshop well received by Arabic speaking community workers

16 February 2022

ADNSW engaged with community workers from Arabic speaking organisations on 15 February. The organisations that assisted in the facilitation of the workshop included 3Bridges Community, Gymea Community Aid and Information Services and the Coptic Orthodox Church, Sydney. 

This event was the final focus group of ADNSW’s multicultural engagement project with some of NSW’s top largest language groups.

Community workers from the Arabic speaking communities initially expressed not knowing enough about ADNSW and what to do when they experience race discrimination. After participating in the session, they felt that the communities would benefit from ADNSW’s services around race discrimination and expressed their interest to support ADNSW by promoting our services more in the community. 

Further information sessions were suggested with ADNSW and individual Arabic speaking community groups. Community workers also suggested promoting case studies involving people with Arabic speaking backgrounds which resulted in a satisfactory outcome to motivate people experiencing race discrimination to use ADNSW’s free services. 

‘Even if community members may feel scared to report in some instances, the community need to know about this service so that they know it is an option available to them to take it up if they wish to,’ said Ibtisam Hammoud, Trainer/Assessor & Community Engagement at 3Bridges Community.

Community workers expressed that ADNSW’s conciliation services would be seen by the public as a less intimidating process than using the court system.  

ADNSW intends to partner with further Arabic speaking organisations in NSW to capture responses of diverse groups within the Arabic speaking community.