Remember – please support your NCJWA – ISRAEL projects in lieu of gifts, at you next Simcha.

JNF – Golda Park;

Ilan,

Haifa University Ethiopian Women’s Scholarships;

Haifa Rape Crisis Centre.

I attended the Asia Pacific Women’s Conference which was held at Philippine Normal University. The theme of the conference was Women, Peace and Security; Visions for a New World. I travelled with Melba Marginson of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC) and a group of approximately 12 women, 6 of whom were originally from Afghanistan.

Before the conference began, we had a day to look around Manila. We were taken to a very poor part of the city where people live in makeshift dwellings beside and under a bridge. They are known as ‘bat people’ because when the river floods their homes are under almost a metre of water and they live in hammocks just under the roof, like bats. The poverty is hard to imagine. In the afternoon we saw some of the historical sites and went for a ride in calesas, small horse-drawn carriages. We travelled beside the old town wall that separated the original Spanish city from the indigenous people on the outside.

There were 80-100 women at the conference from 16 countries: Australia, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Singapore, USA, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Ghana, Israel, Indonesia and Brazil. The group I went with was made up of women from Afghanistan, Bosnia, Samoa, Finland, Lebanon and Philippines, as well as Australia.

We heard some very interesting and also moving presentations. This included talks by a survivor of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, a Naga woman from a small ethnic group in India, and Afghani women now living in Australia. Some of the interesting topics included the causes of poverty in Kenya; crimes against women by Japanese forces in World War 2 (given by a Japanese woman); the behavior of UN peacekeepers in Bosnia, which included trafficking, nightclubs and brothels; the politics of food production in Bangladesh and the cornering of the seed market by multinational companies; Physicians for Human Rights in Israel; Isha l’Isha, a feminist organization in Israel. The speaker from this organization was a Palestinian woman who told me their office is in the same building as the Haifa Rape Crisis Center, which is one of the projects supported by NCJWA in Israel. She invited me to visit her when I am next in Israel visiting the Rape Crisis Center. We also heard from a group of Japanese people who are working for a nuclear-free world.

My presentation was well received. I spoke about ICJW and NCJWA’s platforms, NCJWA’s interfaith events and celebrations of Passover and Hannukah, ICJW’s interfaith involvement and the JCMA Women’s Interfaith conferences. The women from Afghanistan were very interested in the interfaith activities and some of the other Australian women would also like to come.

On the first night we had a ‘solidarity’ evening, with many women dressing in their national costumes and singing songs from their country. The Australians sang ‘Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree’. It was a very colourful and fun evening. Needless to say, the Australians were not dressed in any national costume. Another evening we visited the Intramuros Light and Sound Museum, which gave some of the Philippine history, up to the end of the nineteenth century. This was very well done and helped us understand Manila and the Philippines a little better. It is a country that has been occupied by Spain, Japan or the US for most of its history.

After the conference I moved to the Makati district, somewhat up market from where I had been staying. I attended services at the Jewish Center and ate Shabbat dinner with the rabbi and his family and a number of members of the community. After shul on Saturday there was a big kiddush and I also went back in the evening for a light meal and havdalah. I had the opportunity to talk to the rabbanit and some of the women about ICJW and NCJWA. They were very interested in ICJW and joining as a group. They are also interested in the group being involved in community service work – there’s so much to do there. I spoke to them about some of the community service work NCJWA is involved in and gave them some old Links newsletters showing community service work in a number of ICJW affiliates, as well as some ICJW newsletters.

Overall, my trip to the Philippines was very worthwhile and very productive. Jewish women have put our name out there and shown others what we can do when we work together. We have raised the profile of ICJW and NCJWA among women internationally and within Australia, and we have also reached out to Jewish women in another part of the world. Personally I have learnt a great deal and made some good connections.

I would like to sincerely thank ICJW, specifically the ICJW Asia Pacific Region, for the grant which has allowed me to both attend the Asia Pacific Women’s Conference and meet the Jewish women of the Philippines, bringing news of ICJW to them.

Di Hirsh OAM

National Vice President

WORLD DIABETES DAY NOVEMBER 14TH.

Begg et al. (2007) identified a group of health risk factors which explained one-third of Australia's total health loss in 2003.

These include overweight and obesity, physical inactivity, poor diet, alcohol misuse and tobacco smoking, all of which are key determinants of preventable diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, Type 2 (maturity onset) diabetes, cancer (including breast and cervical cancers) plus other major risk factors such as high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.

Overweight and obesity, i.e. a high body mass is now identified in Australian women as being major lifetime risk factors in developing Type 2 diabetes. Women are particularly prone to inactivity as well, which exacerbates this risk, while overweight women are more prone to other health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression.

Thus a low GI (glycemic index) diet and increased exercise in those deemed to have a high BMI (body metabolic index) will help them to prevent future problems such as Type 2 diabetes. Most food products nowadays come with a label of "Low GI" on our supermarket shelves, while fresh fruit and vegetables and complex carbohydrates in moderation will assist the whole family in providing a lifestyle diet for a healthy progression into older age.

Malvina Malinek OAM M.Sc.

(Health and Bioethics, Chair NCJWA)

Delegates from  fifteen Affiliates to AWC attended this Annual General Meeting.

Reports from Affiliated organisations on Projects, completed in the past 12 months, are included in the AWC Annual Report 2009.

President, Dr. Gabrielle Casper outlined the AWC’s role in effective mechanisms to provide advice to Government on issues relevant to act on.  Main aim is to broaden networks to women’s organisations previously not involved.  Governance and optional activities for decision making were highlighted.  Effective communication was applied at face to face meetings through the year.

The highlight was the announcement that 2010 will be the year for Girl Guides,   approved by Prime Minister, a commemorative $1.00 coin will be minted.

Sally Moyle representing Office for Women congratulated AWC on their achievements, particularly on the Projects for Gender Equality, women’s security, in order to curb violence against women, improve status of women, promote leadership, involvement in National women’s health policy, and encouraged to  increase number of women on boards.

 Two Aboriginal women joined Australian delegation at the UN, reported on curbing alcoholism at Fitzroy Crossing.  Other projects undertaken by AWC were on women’s economic empowerment, pay equity, harmony projects, women trafficking, child abuse, tax review.  Sally also encouraged to nominate women for Awards.

Senator Claire Moore Chair of the Community Affairs, Senate Standing Committee on Regulations and Ordinances and many other Committees, spoke about her role in the 1994 Cairo Conference, before the Beijing conference and  outcomes that followed.  Her main interest is on issues concerning young people, focusing on maternal fatalities, young offenders situation, teenage suicide, trafficking of women and young girls.  Impact of the global economic downturn on women’s organisations.  Encouraged women to self promote,  be proactive on committees and take on leadership positions.

Effective Advocacy Skills and Strategies Training Workshop was held on Monday, one of the many offered free of charge by AWC around Australia.

An excellent program for future leadership on learning goals, lobbying for funding, increasing profile of your organisation internally and externally, negotiating skills, ‘Getting to Yes’, learning and practicing skills  in communication and dealing with media.  Using emotion to attract attention to drive the message across, art of promoting the work  and many other useful tips.

Everyone should take advantage of this offer.  Information about the workshops has been circulated to National Board, please encourage members to attend.

This has been a very positive learning experience

Rysia Rozen OAM

by Angela Davis   WA

Sept 22 20009 -  Whilst in Israel I visited Dr Shira Sanders at the HRCC  in Haifa and had first hand discussions with her of the work the organisation is doing and how critical our funding is.  The toll free phone line provided by HRCC covers an area of around 1 million residents and there are 9 RCCs geographically from Hadera to the Upper Galilee) 1 is for Arab Women.  There is also a hotline for men and one that caters for  more orthodox women. 

The hotlines are staffed by volunteers which is available 24 hours.  The main centre has support groups  and programmes  to assist women with eating disorders as many have body issues from having been sexually  abused,  drug rehabilitation and to empowerment and more .   The centre has trained volunteers who accompany women to police stations, hospitals and to the courts.   Staff are also trained in first aid, to be aware of the signs of abuse, the law, duty to report, enabling them to advise those who attend the centre. All the other groups are formed in various locations

The Outreach in prevention is vital and many workshops are run throughout the year for parents, university students, employees and employers  as this covers harassment in the workplace, women, school students and teachers, doctors and health professionals, youth at risk and to members in the military another area that is experiencing high abuse.

Youth At Risk covers the 16-18 age group and they currently working with a small group of 15 girls in a new pilot programme.  The girls have had no role model at home to follow. They have seen their mothers move from one unhealthy relationship to another.   These girls do not live at home anymore; they are under the protection of the courts and have come to the end of the road.  This is a new area to be funded for this particular group who are at Beit Lilach in rehabilitation and the aim is to eventually try to get them to be ready for the army and not to return home to an unsafe environment.  The programme they are planning to offer this group is for a full year and they would like to run this for about 4 years and requires. A $10,000.00 per annum in funding.  It is a very worthwhile programme for our additional consideration.

Unfortunately I missed the meeting with the lady who is going to be running the new Youth at Risk programme for these girls and was only able to spend an hour with Shira.  She is an amazing lady and runs the centre very efficiently, no wastage of funds.  I urge you to read the reports she sends regularly through our project Chair and disseminate the information to our general membership.

Sept 23 2009 - I also visted Marsha Segal at the Micha Centre for Deaf Children in Tel Aviv.  I was the first visitor in the special babies section as it had only opened the week I was there.  This is a new programme for early intervention and has babies from a few months old.  They are already helping 8 babies in the programme.

Marsha and her team are so very dedicated and I spent almost three hours touring the small building and finding out about the various programmes.  I was also able to see a child having a hearing test, his first at the centre, having recently received two cochlear implants.   The programmes are state of the art and Micha  are  pioneers in their multidisciplinary methods of teaching. Approx 300 children attend Micha each year.  They combine lip reading and speech for the majority of the children who have the cochlear implants.  Sign language is used in the programme for children whose parents are deaf or hard of hearing.  Music is used, one on one assistance is also available.  There is a co ordinator who assists children with development of their motor skills and there is a special sensory room.  The centre is set up with several labs with one way glass enabling parents and siblings of deaf children to sit behind and view a class in progress to then be able to assist their child at home. 

What I found so wonderful was that all the groups were small, the children interacted with their teachers and helpers and were totally engaged in the programme.  The centre endeavours to assist each and every one of the children to enable them to lead a normal life. Approx 80% go on to the public school system, the army and the workforce.  Micha has been supported by QLd both Gold Coast and Brisbane and sporadically by other sections.  WA was fortunate to have been given a bequest of $50,000 in 2008 which was presented to Micha and Brisbane has recently donated $20,000 from a bequest. As with all our projects, funding is ongoing.  There are over 100 volunteers most are there weekly helping the staff in their work with child and families, throughout the years they are in Micha’s care.    Regular newsletters are available on the website as well as the video about Micha.  Website www.michata.org.il 

I attended the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia (FECCA) which took place over the 29^th and 30^th of October in Shepparton.

Approximately 500 delegates attended from around Australia and there were a number of outstanding speakers who spoke to the conference theme of ‘Strengthening Multiculturalism and Building Social Inclusion’.  In the following report I will provide some brief material as to the content of their presentations.

Speakers included Neville Atkinson, Chairperson Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation; Graeme Innes AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner and Race Discrimination Commissioner; Claire Martin, Andrew Demetriou, CEO Australian Football League/Chair Australian Multicultural Advisory Council; George Lekakis, Chairperson Victorian Multicultural Commission; Professor Andrew Jakubowicz, Professor of Sociology at the University of Technology, Sydney; Helen Szoke, Chief Conciliator/CEO Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and John Gibson, Founding Chairperson Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture Inc. and President Refugee Council of Australia

I was both surprised and pleased to hear the stories of Jews presented by diverse speakers.  Neville Atkinson, in his welcome speech reflected on the history of William Cooper, who led the first group in Australia to try and lodge a formal protest with the German government’s representative about the persecution of the German Jewish community, following Krystallnacht.  Less than one month after the horrific event, on December 6th 1938, on the other side of the world, a Victorian Aboriginal man, William Cooper, led a deputation of Kooris from the Australian Aborigines League, in an attempt to present the German Consulate in Melbourne with a resolution ‘condemning the persecution of Jews and Christians in Germany’.

Andrew Demetriou spoke of how he considered the AFL to be the pre-eminent sports league in the country, working to support multiculturalism and engagement.  He spoke of the World Cup, bringing young teams together from around the globe.  Included in this story was that of the Peace Team, with members from Israel and the Palestinian territories that had also been brought together promoting tolerance and conciliation in Australia at the time.  A movie on the World Cup was shown, much of which focused on the Peace Team. 

Graeme Innes and George Lekakis both spoke at length of the importance of social inclusion policy; and how the power of quality policy can change the lives of both complainants and respondents when concerns arise.  The point was also made that it is quite unfortunate that the Disability and Race Commission which Graeme Innes heads does not have the power to initiate action on its own – and can only act via the appeal of a complainant.

Professor Andrew Jakubowicz made a powerful presentation reflecting on how the government needs to be committed to developing multicultural policy that produces effective outcomes and reflected on why that may not happen.

John Gibson and Helen Szoke were both members of a panel on human rights for ethnic and religious minorities.  John Gibson spoke powerfully of the poor practices in Australia over the last decade and more that have trampled upon the rights of refugees; according to a number of international covenants to which we are signatories.  He also provided information on improvements over the last 12 months, and reflected briefly on the current situation as to the refugees upon the Oceanic Viking.

Helen Szoke discussed the development and importance of the Charter of Human Rights; what it would entail and how it would serve the community.  Following her presentation, there was a great deal of interest and further questions as to the operations of Exceptions and Exemptions in the area of religious freedoms and how they would affect various groups.  Helen made a particularly interesting point in that religious freedoms were not entirely universal, and would still entail all members of the community to act in a way that would not infringe upon the rights of others.

The conference presented articulate, thought-provoking speakers, many of whom focused closely on matters that are pertinent to the agenda of the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia.  I would strongly recommend Section Chairs consider approaching some of these speakers to present to our communities and share their reflections on contemporary issues.

Marcia Pinskier                                   

Vice-President