Zahra Haydar Big has been appointed to the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s regional advisory council to speak up on behalf of the citizens of Hume.
Since settling in the City of Greater Shepparton in 2008, Ms Haydar Big has felt driven to advocate on behalf of communities from diverse backgrounds, including her own Hazara Afghan people.
For the next two years that advocacy will include representing the Hume region on the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s regional advisory council.
"I have a sense of belonging to the local multicultural community who always approach me as a local bilingual leader to advocate for them and to receive my social support,“ Ms Haydar Big said.
The first female Afghan independent candidate to run for a local council in Australia, Ms Haydar Big received 900 votes at the Greater Shepparton City Council election in 2020 and narrowly missed out on a place.
She is a board member for the Goulburn Valley’s FamilyCare support service and the Australian Country Women's Association Greater Shepparton branch.
With several years of social work experience, Ms Haydar Big said she frequently referred community members to relevant social and community services for support.
Ms Haydar Big is ready to expand her community work, speaking up about the issues that matter to emerging communities.
“I am looking forward to working together with VMC and the other regional advisory council representatives, providing them with on-the-ground insights into local issues such as employment, education, housing, citizenship, connection to our local rich cultures, and migrant and refugee settlement services,” she said.
To recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Haydar Big said the vaccination roll-out in Victoria should be accompanied by an effective and relatable campaign to address vaccine hesitancy among multicultural communities.
Ms Haydar Big said she observed vaccine hesitancy among children as well as adults.
“Also as we approach a ‘post-COVID’ life, local social and community services urgently need to start providing on-site support and social group activities for the local multicultural communities,” she said.
"This includes families and asylum seekers, and can improve everyone's mental and emotional health, employment and housing needs.“
Ms Haydar Big wants to help better identify potential solutions and strategies for achieving change and shaping policies and legislations, “so that our local government and community services are improved in meeting the local multicultural community's needs”.
The first meeting of VMC regional advisory council representatives is scheduled for February 21, and Ms Haydar Big will represent the Hume region alongside fellow Greater Shepparton leaders Neha Samar and Seema Abdullah.
The main towns in the Hume region of Victoria are Benalla, Beechworth, Bright, Corryong, Eildon, Euroa, Seymour, Shepparton, Mansfield, Wangaratta, Wodonga and Yarrawonga.
To contact Zahra Haydar Big, email zahra.haydarbig@y7mail.com or find her at facebook.com/zahra.haydarbig