AUSTRALIA
NEWS 1-2
BOOMERANG 3-5
COMMUNITY 6-9
AUSTRALIA 10 - 11
LIFESTYLE 12 - 14
“Indigenous culture & Islam” AMUST
Interfaith dialogue at Al Siraat College, Melbourne Dr Sonia Cheema Melbourne’s Al Siraat College conducted an interfaith program on their school grounds on Tuesday 17 May with the theme “Indigenous Culture and Islam” where the invited Wurundjeri Elder Ian Hunter conducted the Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony. The event was part of an ongoing interfaith dialogue program joined by three schools located within the City of Whittlesea in Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Al Siraat College commenced an ambitious partnership with St Monica’s College last year, interacting through an interfaith program for the first time. The results had such a positive impact on the students and staff involved that it was decided to widen the circle this year and include another school Thomastown Secondary College. The interfaith program aligns with one of the Al Siraat College’s strategic directions: Their Identity as being an Australian School in the Islamic Tradition. This is aimed at promoting and implementing the understanding that there is no conflict between being an Australian and a practising Muslim at the same time. The interfaith theme for Term 1 was “Learning essential skills for interfaith dialogues”. St. Monica’s College took the lead and conducted this program, with Al Siraat College and Thomastown Secondary College attending. This term’s theme is “Indig-
Interfaith Dialogue at Al Siraat: From left, Maria Meilak (Scientology), Zartash S. (Vice-Captain Al Siraat College), Rebecca Ewer (YMCA), Albert Fatileh (Victoria Police), Jan Lester (Scientology), Ian Kavelin (Baha’i Community), Avraham Schwarz (Jewish Community/JCMA), Maqsood (Al Siraat pony), Tanya Kubitza (JCMA/Al Siraat College), Venerable Tinh Dao (Chua Linh Son Buddhist Temple), Claire (St Monica’s College), Raiyan Ouaida (Islamic Relief), Zahraa Abdelzaher (Islamic Relief). enous Culture and Islam”. In their roles as interfaith ambassadors, all 33 students from the three participating schools learnt about indigenous culture as well as various perspectives, the different religions hold of Aboriginal people. Dr Sonia Cheema is the Head of Wellbeing at Melbourne’s Al Siraat College.
Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony at Al Siraat College on Tuesday 17 May, conducted by Wurundjeri Elder Ian Hunter.
Exclusion and Embrace: Disability, Justice and Spirituality conference
AMUST Media
Ramadan Kareem I and members of Western Australia Police wish you and the WA Muslim Community a blessed and happy Ramadan and joys of Eid-ul-Fitr. from Dr Karl O’Callaghan Commissioner, Western Australia Police
www.police.wa.gov.au facebook.com/WA.Police | twitter.com/WA_Police
10
Australasian Muslim Times
An Early Bird offer closes on 17 June for the multi-faith ‘Exclusion and Embrace: Disability, Justice and Spirituality’ conference taking place 21-23 August at Jasper Hotel, Melbourne. The conference explores the relationship between spirituality and disability and has attracted excellent speakers presenting a range of thought-provoking topics and personal experiences. Sheikh Isse Musse, Imam of the Virgin Mary Mosque in Hoppers Crossing will be providing the conference with Islamic insights about disability. He is a member of the Dispute Settlement Centre in the Department of Justice. The conference will also hear from Saara Sabbagh, founding director of Benevolence Australia, an organisation formed to meet the growing needs of Australian Muslims in Melbourne. Saara is particularly interested in how we can change our condition through promoting spiritual excellence, revival of sacred knowledge and creating welcome community spaces. The three day conference includes keynote speakers Prof Hans Reinders, Chair of Ethics at Holland’s VU University, David Tacey, Emeritus Professor Humanities at La Trobe University and Rev Bill Gaventa, an international expert in faith-based support.
www.amust.com.au
Rev Gaventa will focus on ways congregations can be supportive. Dr Emmanuel Nathan and Dr Dermot Nestor from Australian Catholic University will explore the human body in relation to Hebrew and New Testament Bibles and Dr Lorna Hallahan from Flinders University will discuss the importance of spirituality within the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The ethical responses of the Good Samaritan story are the focus of Griffith University’s Dr Jayne Clapton’s presentation and disability inclusion/exclusion within John’s Gospel feature in a talk by Dr Louise Gosbell from Mary Andrews College, Sydney. The conference also features an art exhibition that reflects people’s experience of disability and spirituality. The conference is endorsed by a wide number of organisations including the Jewish Christian Muslim Association, the Faith Communities Council of Victoria and the Victorian Council of Churches. To learn more, go to http://exclusionandembrace.melbourne/ or phone Ann Byrne on 03 9251 5404.
June 2016