IFP AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS IN FAMILY DISPUTE RESOLUTION
On Friday 22 May, 18 recipients of the Scholarship in Family Dispute Resolution received their awards from Jane Woodruff, CEO of UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families at the official Scholarship Launch at Riverside Theatre Parramatta.
The evening began with the beautiful voices of a Samoan choir made up of students from James Meehan High School organised by one of the Scholarship winners Fiaese Pesa. Richard Green gave the Welcome to Country and Clive Price, Director of Unifam Counselling and Mediation, hosted the proceedings. Toni Pirani, Assistant Secretary Dispute Management Family Pathways represented the Federal Attorney General and Zulekha Nazir from the Baulkham Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre spoke about her involvement with the Scholarship selection process. The evening ended with a spectacular display of drumming and dancing from West African group Doudoumba.
The Institute of Family Practice in conjunction with Unifam Counselling and Mediation offered the Scholarships in Family Dispute Resolution to people from an Aboriginal and also from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background. The Scholarships were made possible with funds from the Federal Attorney General’s Department. The new Vocational Graduate Diploma in Family Dispute Resolution developed by IFP meets the new accreditation and registration requirements of the Federal Attorney General’s Department.
Lynette Beames said she almost did handsprings when she found out she had the Scholarship. She currently works as an Aboriginal Community Contact Officer on the mid-north coast. “ It is a dream come true for me and it’s where my feet have been leading me from my Diploma in Aboriginal Studies to my degree in criminology and criminal justice and a Masters Degree in Indigenous Studies at SCU this year. I really like the idea of working with families and the fact that mediation keeps families out of court.”
Nishat Mahmood works in Western Sydney as a Family Service Advisor for the Parramatta Family Relationship Centre, which is under the auspices of Anglicare, and also works closely with her Bangladeshi community. She was very happy to receive a Scholarship and believes there is a great need for CALD workers in mainstream services.
“The community workers and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioners while dealing with clients of diverse cultures often point out there is a need to educate staff on specific cultural issues. I am currently involved in research here at the FRC working with UWS in developing a culturally responsive mediation model.”
Mohamed Dukuly is originally from Liberia and is an African Families in Cultural Transition Project Officer at STARTTS (NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors).” Coming from an African family, I have witnessed different kinds of family dispute resolution. I hope that the Scholarship will enable me to gain the knowledge I have always desired and use it to better the lots of people of my cultural background. “
