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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA | WA EDITION
GOVERNANCE SPECIAL
APRIL
2017
YOUR WA BRANCH COMMITTEE
A message from the Branch President BY LEONIE
ALEXANDER
Dear Members and Activists, If you’re interested in having a strong voice within Amnesty and the human rights movement this second edition of the WA newsletter is for you! Many of you will have received the notice of our Branch Annual General Meeting (BAGM) to be held on 20 May 2017, and I would like extend a personal invitation to you all to attend. BAGM is a day of acknowledging the work of our regional activists and leaders, a chance to celebrate the successes of the past year, and an opportunity to connect with our community of committed activists and the wider movement. National Director Claire Malinson and the National President will provide an overview of the 2016 global and national campaign challenges and
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successes via video link. Regional Representative
Greg Stitt and National Vice President Simon Rumore will be in attendance to report on National Board decisions and be available to answer your questions. The Branch Committee is working to have all Action Groups and campaigns represented on the day, and there will be opportunities to share your group’s campaign work, successes, challenges and plans for the future. As a grassroots member-led organisation, Amnesty activists and supporters have unique influence into decisions regarding the direction of AIA, the campaigns that are prioritised and the allocation of resources. Members are able to vote on a variety of campaign issues, offer opinions on campaign priorities, ask questions of your regional and national leaders, and elect Branch Committee Members and Delegates to the National AGM (NAGM). Amnesty is only as powerful as its supporters, and financial membership is a vital demonstration of commitment to the human rights movement in Australia. If you haven’t already joined, please consider doing so as soon as possible. All members and supporters are welcome at BAGM, however; only financial members can vote and stand for leadership positions. Call 1300 300 920 to check your membership status or to join. BAGM promises to be inspirational, thought provoking, educational and affirming! Looking forward to seeing you all there! Warm Regards, Leonie Alexander WA Branch President
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BAGM - what can I do? RESOLUTIONS,
QUESTIONS
ON
NOTICE
VOTING
Members or groups who feel strongly about an
Financial members are entitled to vote on all
issue are able to ask the WA Branch or the National
matters put to BAGM, including any resolutions,
Board to consider taking an action on an issue
and the election of Branch Committee Members
through bringing forward a resolution. Resolutions
and Delegates to the National AGM (NAGM).
are debated at BAGM, and if passed are debated at
NAGM.
Proxy Vote Can’t attend BAGM but still want to be heard? If
Two successful WA resolutions over the past few
you’re a financial member you can ask another
years have been asking for regular reporting on
member to vote on your behalf. Ask us for a proxy
work done towards a Human Rights Act in
form and hand it in before 9.30am on 20 May.
Australia, and prioritising work on the death penalty. Members can also raise issues to the National Board or the National Director through a Question on Notice. Questions on Notice are due to the WA Branch President by 5pm on May 5 to allow the Board to provide a considered response. A video/teleconference on Resolutions and Questions on Notice will be held at 6pm at the WA Action Centre on 2 May.
IMPORTANT DATES 2 May | 6pm | WA Action Centre - Video/teleconference on Resolutions and Questions on Notice 5 May - Due date for Questions on Notice to WA BP 12 May - Due date for Resolutions to BAGM 20 May - BAGM
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BAGM and Activist Leaders RECOGNISING ACTIVISTS
THE AND
WORK
OF
OUR
LEADERS
DO
YOU
HAVE
AT
A
WHAT
IT
REGIONAL
TAKES
TO
LEAD
LEVEL?
Know an activist or group that makes an
To nominate for a position on the Branch
outstanding contribution to human rights work in
Committee, chat to Leonie and ask for a
WA? The June Fassina Award is awarded annually
nomination form. Please note you must be a
to an activist or group that has made an extensive
current financial member or become a member
and long term contribution towards human rights.
ASAP to nominate to join your Branch Committee.
Candidates must be a financial member and have
If you want to check your membership status,
been an Amnesty activist for at least 5 years.
phone 1300 300 920.
The Liz White Award is a regional award that recognises outstanding and innovative contributions by individuals or groups. This award is established in memory of Liz White, a longstanding passionate and fearless WA activist and member of Amnesty Melville Group. Eligibility for this award includes at least 12 months of contribution and current financial membership. Contact the WA Branch Committee if you wish to nominate an activist or a group for either of these awards.
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During my time in YAG I worked with staff & activists to: Collaborate youth structures in WA including forming a Youth collaboration network between the university groups;
Welcoming the New YAG Rep BY
RICHA
MALAVIYA
Giving WA youth a national voice; Encourage youth to engage with governance; Encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds and Indigenous youth to engage with the Amnesty governance structure; and Working to establish relationships with Indigenous-led organisations within the youth framework. My time at YAG has allowed me to develop my professional skills, my confidence and has led to many opportunities. This includes opportunities such as participating at NAGM in Sydney 2015 and Adelaide 2016 as deputy Ombudsman; Conducting workshops and surveys for The Youth Consultation in 2016; Activist leadership training in sydney 2016; and my current position as Secretary for the WA Branch Committee. YAG has been a brilliant opportunity to engage with activists around the country; see what amazing
Hello Activists, I am Richa Malaviya, and for the last two years since March 2015, I had been privileged to be the WA YAG Representative. YAG, an acronym for Youth Advisory Group, is a group that reports to the National AIA activism and membership committee on all issues with a youth focus. YAG has representatives under the age of 25 from each region, who have come from all the areas of Amnesty. These representatives have diverse experiences, and often work on personal projects while committing to YAG responsibilities. 5 | WA
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programs and ideas are occurring nationally; to get involved with the governance structure, and to develop my professional and interpersonal skills. My time at YAG has now ended, but I am so privileged to introduce the amazing MARK BRISBANE as the new WA YAG rep!
Mark Brisbane YAG Rep for WA Mark is an amazing, committed and friendly WA activist who is the current convenor for Curtin University, a full time student studying Entrepreneurship and Marketing, and runs a not-for-profit called Improve Silence! In Mark’s own words“I organise an action group operating out of Curtin, with anywhere between 6 and 120 activists depending on the day. I've had the pleasure of working with other groups, most notably the Crisis and Indigenous Rights action groups and look forward to working with the Women's group and Refugee group more this year. My 9 to 5 is running a small non-profit called Improve Silence where we develop and run programs in the youth mental health, elderly isolation, cultural reconciliation and interfaith dialogue spaces.“ Stay tuned to some of the amazing work Mark gets up to!!!
SNAPSHOT OF A YAG
WANT TO GET INVOLVED?
All representatives are
If you are interested in
aged 18 to 25 yrs.
being the next YAG, keep
Role is for 2 years.
in touch! We will be
Representatives are from
advertising for the next
each region (some regions
round of applications
have more than 1).
through the newsletter,
Reports to the Activism &
facebook and through the
Membership Committee.
WA action centre! In the
Supervised by Naomi
meantime, there are other
Vaughan, National Youth
ways to get involved!
Coordinator.
Visit the WA BC Facebook
Reports on all issues,
at
concerns and matters
www.facebook.com/Amnes
related to youth in
tyInternationalWA/.
Australia. 6 | WA
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The Branch Committee looking towards 2017 BY
MARSHA
REID
AND
BHAGYA
KARUNARATHNE
The year 2016 was a year of changes for the Amnesty
communication, and attending and presenting at various
International Branch Committee of Western Australia. We
training sessions and workshops.
bid goodbye to three branch committee members, Barbara Taylor, John Tan, and Stephanie Withers, and we thank them
We look forward to what 2017 will bring, including a number
for their services and contribution towards achieving the
of exciting opportunities for networking, collaboration, and
goals of Amnesty International. We also made two new
partnerships in the region, and celebrating our activists and
additions to the Branch Committee by welcoming Aidan
their hard work at the upcoming BAGM.
Yuen and Kombe Musonda. In 2016, the Branch Committee worked closely with the Branch to ensure that the region is a strong grassroots movement. We have developed a regional plan that supports the 2020 Vision of protecting and defending more lives, becoming an unstoppable movement and inspiring passion and commitment. We've provided support for groups by holding convenors meetings, attending group meetings, providing advice and support, opening lines of
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Q1: Events and Training BY
SOPHIE
HARTLEY
AND
SARAH
GOODERHAM
Amnesty WA has had an amazing start to the year.
relationships; look for opportunities to work
From running skillshare training workshops to
together and create a solid community of activists
rallying together for flash mobilisations, our
in WA.
activists have been committed to making 2017 our most powerful year yet.
Big things are coming for the next skillshare planned for later this year with activists already
ACTIVIST
SKILLSHARE
On the 18th of March, 30 of WA’s most dedicated activists came together for the first activist skill
making plans for what should be included. So if you are in WA and you want to be part of the WA famnesty make sure you're on our mailing list by
share of 2017.
getting in touch with waaia@amnesty.org.au and
Activist skill shares in WA first came to life at the
changemaker
don’t miss out on your opportunity to be a
end of 2015 and have quickly progressed from a mixture of staff, activist and guest speaker presented workshops to a full day of sessions
“Such an awesome day! The presenters were all
designed and run by activists. Activists are now
fantastic and knowledgeable and each session was
not only identifying the skills they want to
really interesting. The session on marketing was super
develop, but are designing and creating their own
insightful - I left the session feeling invigorated,
content and sharing it with their fellow activists.
inspired and well-equipped to help continue to move my group forward” - Bhaval Chandaria,
Every skillshare just gets better and better! The
Joondalup Group convener
chance to spend a whole day in the company of other passionate and committed activists provides such a key opportunity not just to hone skills and learn from each other but to build solid
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Q1 was an strong quarter for flash mobilisations. Keep reading over the page to get a sneak peak.
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SPOTLIGHT ON MOBILISATIONS
We’ll be holding at least one key mobilisation a quarter. If you’re time poor but are looking for a way to get active, then a flash action is for you. Just email Sarah on sarah.gooderham@amnesty.org.au to find out more. Here’s a quick recap of our key mobilisations for Q1:
VALENTINE'S
DAY
ACTION
IMMIGRATION
BAN
2.0
Nothing quite says a commitment to human rights
The Trump administration’s executive order was not a
like getting down on one knee and popping the
domestic issue for the US - it affected people around the
question to a fellow activist in the middle of Perth
world and helped to perpetuate the State-sanctioned
CBD. But this Valentine’s Day that’s exactly what
fearmongering and xenophobia that is today’s norm. That is
around 20 of our most dedicated human rights
why it became a priority crisis mobilisation for Perth activists
advocates found themselves doing. Led by a
in March.
moving speech from our very own LGBTQI activist David Gooderham, this flash action in support of
Our flash mobilisation for the Immigration Ban was an
marriage equality was a massive success. It was
amazing example of our activist’s resilience and flexibility.
moving to see our activists express their solidarity
With almost no warning as to when the order would finally
with LGBTQI couples around Australia in such a
be released, our activists had to have this mobilisation ready
symbolic way. This was a day to share in love: love
to go at a moment’s notice. We had volunteers painting
for the LGBTQI community, love for those who are
banners, making costumes, preparing speeches and rallying
still waiting to have their relationships legally
support right up until the moment the order was dropped.
recognised, and, just as importantly, love for our
On the day, we joined Amnesty activists right across the
own activists, and all they do for human rights in
country who were heading to their local US Consulate or
Australia.
Embassy to make their voice heard. Curtin Uni Group convener, Mark Brisbane, gave a moving and acrobatic speech that spoke of hope, resilience and belonging. You can still view this speech in the videos section of our WA Branch Facebook page. However, I leave you with the quote that tied our actions together, a quote that should be the basis of refugee policies around the world. Taken from 'The New Colossus' by Emma Lazarus, these are the words that guide Lady Liberty’s footsteps. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
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Staff Profile - Sarah Gooderham: Community Organiser BY SOPHIE
HARTLEY
Sarah Gooderham is, without a doubt, the heart that keeps the activist blood flowing throughout Amnesty WA. Having had the privilege of working in the Action Centre with Sarah for 18 months now, I have seen first-hand the number of hours and the amount of strength she invests in her work. But I think it’s her investment in people that has impressed me the most. Sarah believes in developing activists into leaders, she gives people the chance to test their strength, and is constantly thinking of new ways to build power. Honestly, Sarah is amazing, but instead of forcing you to cringe through paragraphs of my purple-prosed gushing, I thought I’d let her speak for herself. 1. What do you do as a community organiser? It’s hard to condense my amazing job into a paragraph but essentially what I do is work to grow the movement, both in absolute numbers (bring new people in) and in depth (building our strength). I spend a lot of my time looking for opportunities for us to target new audiences and develop activism in those spaces whilst working with our existing base to develop our leaders and step forward new leaders. My job is a lot about relationships and creating networks of people so that we have the resilience and the strength for collective action.
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2. What brought you to Amnesty?
and Curtin group have done to get Indigenous rights on the agenda of our state premier.
Honestly, anger! Anger at the world for being full of injustice and inequality. I was looking for
4. What do you do when you're not kicking
something to be part of that would be meaningful
injustice to the curb?
and actually help make a difference in the world. I still believe that Amnesty has given me that. Whilst
My absolute favourite thing to do is run or ride my
the single cause that led me to Amnesty rather
bike whilst listening to heavy metal as loud as
than any other social justice movement, refugee
possible. In fact Guns N Roses song Civil War was
rights is still an ongoing fight and source of
one of the things that led me on my journey to
distress for me. I know that by being part of
activism. Sadly the lyrics are as pertinent today as
Amnesty I am surrounded by millions of people
they were in 1993 when I was scrawling them on
who feel the same way I do and who like me, will
my school books.
never give up! 5. What hair colour is next? 3. What's your favorite Amnesty memory? Good question. I am open to suggestions. I am There are too many to name a favourite. It’s such a
considering maybe multi colours next maybe
privilege to spend my time shoulder to shoulder
purple and blue.
with such amazing activists doing such awesome and courageous work. Some stand outs though have been working on the Arts for Equality event as an activist and seeing the result of all that hard work. The progression of our activist skill shares over the last 18 months and recently watching the amazing work our Crisis response
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Upcoming and Important Dates WEBINARS
2 May: Video/teleconference on Resolutions and Questions on Notice - 6pm | WA Action Centre
BAGM
DATES
20 May: BAGM - 9am - 3.30 pm | Australian Asian Association Centre, 275 Stirling Street 5 May: Questions on Notice due - by 5 pm 12 May: WA BC Nomination Form due- by 5pm 12 May: WA Resolution Form due - by 5pm 12 May: NAGM Delegation Nomination Form due - by 5pm 20 May: Proxy Form due - 9.30 am *** All forms due to wabranchsecretary@amnesty.org.au or wabranchpresident@amnesty.org.au***
TRAINING
DATES
26 April: Personal Narrative Training - 6pm | WA Action Centre 3 May: Events training (how to hold strategic events) - 6pm | WA Action Centre
UPCOMING
EVENTS
28 April: Scarborough Action Group "What if it was you?" refugee rights speakers event - 6:30pm | Wembley Downs Uniting Church
NAGM
DATES
1-2 July: NAGM - Sydney Action Centre
*Want to see something your group is up to featured in the next Newsletter? Contact Sophie on sophie.hartley@amnesty.org.au
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Photo: Steve Kaye-Smith
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