Board directors
The AWECC Board of Directors provides the strategic leadership and management of the organisation. The Board is accountable to the members and the community through transparent decision-making, responsible management of the budget and organisational risk, and setting strategic direction.
Through a collaborative, community-focused approach, our directors strive for organisational excellence and maximum community impact.
Through a collaborative, community-focused approach, our directors strive for organisational excellence and maximum community impact.
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Contact: Rupinder is a Wodonga resident, who moved to Australia from India in 2007. Rupinder is a passionate advocate for people in need, particularly in helping victims of family/domestic violence. Rupinder serves as a White Ribbon advocate and the Deputy Chair for its Victorian branch, and is also a committee and executive member for other government and non-government organisations. As a nursing graduate (Bachelor of Nursing), Rupinder has developed various community and corporate skills and is passionate about using these abilities to support the local community. With her empathetic approach to helping people in need, Rupinder has established relationships with many like-minded state and local service agencies. She is also a graduate of Wodonga’s New and Emerging Communities Leadership Program and is currently a participant in the Alpine Valleys Community Leadership Program. Rupinder has been presented and honoured with number of prestigious awards and titles, including being named Wodonga Citizen of the Year for 2019, and being awarded a bravery medal in 2017 for raising awareness about violence against women. As well as serving on the AWECC Board since October 2017, Rupinder has volunteered with Lifeline, and holds a Certificate III in Business Administration (Legal). Her many hobbies include cooking, writing and make-up artistry. |
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Born in Bhutan, Pahal left his country of birth in 1991 due to ethnic cleansing occurring in the country at the time. He would spend the next 19 years of his life living in a refugee camp in Nepal. During this time, Pahal studied and worked in the camp school for 11 yrs. After eventually being resettled in Australia in 2011, Pahal continued to learn, initially completing certificates in Spoken and Written English through the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), and later through various courses in aged care, home and community services, disability support, and security. Pahal was also a graduate of the 2017 'New and Emerging Communities Leadership Program' (through Leadership Victoria) and is a trained Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) community advocate. After short stints working in a factory and in the security industry, Pahal now holds several jobs, as a carer with Westmont Aged Care Services Ltd., as a support worker for Uniting and casually with the VEC. Pahal’s commitment to the community saw him appointed as the first chairperson of the Wodonga Bhutanese Community Inc. and as a volunteer with refugee and migrant communities through the St Vincent de Paul Society. Pahal has a passion for assisting people who need a helping hand. |
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Micky Sharma is a local business owner migrated from India who has supported many locals with employment, housing and other needs. Micky has volunteered his time to various local community groups and supports new migrants. His passion is to help the local community in every condition, be it fires, floods, or the pandemic. With 2 daughters of his own, he is a big believer in closing the gap around family/domestic violence. Micky volunteers his time with local ethnic sporting groups. Micky is also a big believer in starting the conversation around men’s mental health, especially within ethic community groups and would like to spread more awareness around this important topic |
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Marcello is a Congolese community leader, living and working in the Albury Wodonga region. His background is in Multimedia and Community development. Marcello has worked with worked with UNHCR, Kenya as an interpreter and translator. Marcello’s professional journey in Australia has been full of interesting experiences, from working in the settlement services at Albury Wodonga Volunteer Resource Bureau as a bilingual support worker, The Department of Education and Training as a Multicultural Liaison, The Murray Art Museum Albury as a Communications Officer and currently as a Regional Community Development Project Officer at STTARTS. Marcello has a passion for humanity and AWECC promotes this through multiculturalism by offering opportunities for integration of ethnic communities and cultural exchange. |
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Penny has lived in the Albury Wodonga Region since 2012 and was one of the founding members of AWECC in 2014. In 2019, Penny was invited to join the Board due to her background in health and connections to the local ethnic communities and having been involved in working with the ATSI & Multicultural Community for more than 30 years. Penny is a Registered Nurse/ Midwife and began the Multicultural Clinic at Gateway Health when she first came to the region. Penny believes everyone should have access to Health care, be aware of our Health Services in Australia, be able to understand their health and make choices – As such Penny is a VERY STRONG advocate for Interpreter access. Named Wodonga Citizen of the Year for her support and advocacy over many years to the Albury Wodonga Multicultural Community, Penny finds it a great honour to be able to support our local ethnic communities. |
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Born in Samdrup Jongkhar in Bhutan, Tara worked as a heavy machinery operator in the public work department of Bhutan for 10 years. Tara left Bhutan in 1990 and spent 18 years living in a refugee camp in Jhapa, Nepal. While in the camp, Tara worked for the camp management committee and as a school volunteer. Tara migrated to Wodonga in 2008. After settling in Australia, Tara became a volunteer with the Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga from 2010 to 2016, helping new migrants and newly arriving Bhutanese family's with their initial settlement needs, such as helping them with their shopping, etc. Tara has also served on the Advisory Body to the Wodonga Bhutanese Community Inc., from 2011 to 2016. Since 2010, Tara has worked for Aware Industries and is presently a team leader. He also continues to volunteer at various community events. Tara is interested in providing social and community help to people in need. Tara was elected to the Board of Directors and nominated as Secretary in October 2019. |
Staff
AWECC staff supports the mission of AWECC through research and advocacy, capacity-building programs, and community partnerships. AWECC staff operate across a diverse range of policy and service areas, including, settlement, women, citizenship, health, family, youth, employment, ageing, and more.
Contact us: call (02) 6024 6895 or email [email protected]
Contact us: call (02) 6024 6895 or email [email protected]
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Roberta has worked across a range of areas in local, State and Federal government, media and community Not-for-Profit groups, at senior management and executive officer levels over 30 years. Her responsibilities have covered community engagement and empowerment, advocacy, strategic communications, communications, project and event planning, grant writing and capacity building and more. Roberta joined AWECC in 2020 and envisages building AWECC into a powerhouse of programs that build the capacity and skills of multicultural communities to take charge of their own future. Roberat is has an absolute passion for helping people to develop the skills and confidence in themselves to take on advocacy and leadership roles that help strengthen their place in community, to make their community more resilient and more able to adapt to inevitable change; to take charge of their future. |
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Richard is a trained and experienced lawyer who is passionate about legal and social justice. In addition to attending to legal matters in court, Richard has experience in legislative and policy development. Richard has a passion for strengthening capacities of multicultural community based organisations to realise their mission and goals and to ultimately achieve AWECC’s vision of a community where everyone belongs. Richard is also an active volunteer in the community including as a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service. |
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Sheree moved to Albury Wodonga in 2011 with her family to enjoy the benefits of the regional lifestyle and has since been an active participant in community projects as a volunteer for organisations such as PCYC, Red Cross and some school-based initiatives and events. She also has many years’ experience working in the hospitality and food industry as a Quality Assurance Officer in a large food processing plant. In 2018 Sheree decided to pursue her passion for Community Work and graduated with a Diploma of Community Services from Albury Tafe in 2019, with further study on the horizon to aid her work supporting families from multicultural backgrounds within Albury and Wodonga. She is a dedicated advocate for social justice and the rights of all people to be treated fairly, with respect for their rights to equitable support and systems that promote inclusive practices. Sheree respectfully acknowledges the First Nations of this country, and pays her respect to elders past, present and emerging. She hopes we can join together as Australians to support migration and celebrate the diversity of cultures within our community, and to encourage welcoming practices that ensure new migrants and refugees are given a fair go in Australia. |
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GRACE UWASE
Multicultural Support Worker 
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Bhakti arrived in Australia from Nepal, in 2009, later coming to Wodonga in 2014. Bhakti began working with Gateway Health in 2014, and, after meeting Brett from AWECC that same year, she decided to join AWECC as a casual Commlunity Support Worker and Interpreter. A member of NAATI, Bhakti is an accredited Interpretor in the areas of medical services, educational services & legal services. Bhakti is also strongly connected to the Bhutanese Community. Bhakt completed her Bachelor of Community Services and is passionate about community work and making a difference in the lives of individuals. |
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Birori Rwumbuguza Clement (Clement) is Congolese by Nationality and is married with 8 children, with 2 granddaughters back in Africa. He fled his country DRC due to war, going to Kenya Nairobi for 7 years. In Nairobi he worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as an Interpreter and then Community worker for 5 years. Clement arrived in Australia in November 2019 and now holds a Bachelor Degree in Community Development and a Certificate IV in Disability Support. He has also worked with the Red Cross (tracing families) and with Child Protection. From October 2020- 30th June 2021 Clement worked with Gateway Health, as Covid-19 Community worker. He is passionate about working with AWECC because he likes to work with the community. |
