Overview

About AMAFHH

AMAFHH Federation is a not-for-profit Charity organisation that believes firmly in the service of humanity and that charity begins from home.

We believe in working together through education, professional development, and respect for cultural diversity to empower Australian Shia Muslims and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to face the challenges and realise the rewards of growing up in a multicultural society. AMAFHH provides direct support to people who are culturally, linguistically or religiously diverse, focusing on those of the Australian Shia Muslim faith who are disadvantaged due to their socio-economic circumstances.

Supporting an individual is a worthy cause. That is why we are here to support not just families but the entire community so we can improve the quality of our environment.

AMAFHH enhance access to education, information, advice and support services for Isolated, marginalised, disadvantaged CALD and Muslim individuals and families in Victoria.

The project intervenes to pursue the best possible service and support while working closely with specialists for more tailor-made, sensitive services. Our clients were looking for a faith-and-cultural sensitive service where they felt understood in their spiritual and cultural framework. We have consistently worked with Muslim Community centres, community leaders, service providers and society at large. We have worked tirelessly for over eight years to tackle the issues of Family conflict or dispute, domestic violence, sexual abuse, mental health, and

The AMAFHH Mission

AMAFHH Federation, an Incorporated Association, is a not-for-profit Charity Welfare organisation that supports migrants, refugees and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians. Founded by the Shia Muslim community, AMAFHH aims to build a spiritual and vibrant community by promoting well-being and empowerment and addressing social disadvantage, particularly among women and Youth, by developing the potential of its members and engaging with the broader society and serving humanity.

The AMAFHH Vision

We see AMAFHH becoming central to building an inclusive and harmonious multicultural Victoria in which the Shi’a Muslim community and the broader Victorian community work together to address problems such as family violence, marginalisation, and social disadvantage and promote inclusion, mutual appreciation and collaboration for the greater good.

Throughout the years, we have remained a completely independent service (reflected in our small budget and running costs) which can only be done with the wonderful support of our volunteers.

For those who do not know, our services are 100% reliant on volunteers and voluntary donations, support for which we are very grateful and which helps to ensure that we remain independent and focused on the needs of the community.

Due to the virtuous reputation, our services are able to get from the CALD communities, especially Muslims, the need has expanded a lot lately in the area of family welfare, dispute resolution and domestic violence cases. Most of the South Asian Muslim Communities’ first point of contact for family affairs services is AMAFHH.

Why Organisation named AMAFHH

Lady Kadijah (A.S) is an inspiration, motivation and a role model to any community worker who likes to work for the community.

AMAFHH is an acronym for the household of Lady Kadijah (S.A), her husband (the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)) and her family.

In honouring Lady Khadijah’s household, we are honouring her, for she was the ideal woman, wife and mother.

Which is an acronym based on these initials:

A –Allah, God

M –Muhammad, the last Prophet – Lady Khadijah’s Husband.

A – Ali, Her son-in-law

F – Fatima, Her daughter

H – Hassan, Her grandson

H – Hussain, Her grandson

The initials are placed as the federation’s name because it’s a symbol of role models to serve humanity and encouragement for women to be a leader of the community. To create a spiritual & vibrant community based on the values and practices of their faith by developing the potential of its members, engaging with the wider society and serving humanity.

Service Provision

Community work and community consultancy services: These include family affairs, counselling support services, dispute resolution and domestic violence issues. This service includes education and awareness in the community about different issues, and development of programs according to the need of those communities.

Women Support Services: AMAFHH helps to educate and empower women in various areas. This well-known saying can be attributed to AMAFHH: If you educate a man you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman you educate a nation. The AMAFHH Federation continues to expand its service provision to recruit volunteers and engage professional workers who can speak the native language of the community and work effectively with those community members who require support, especially women.

Services for Youth: Due to a range of factors, including social isolation, discrimination and poor educational opportunities, the Organisation has identified a significant need to assist younger members of migrants, Refugees, and CALD communities.

Services currently operating and planned include guiding Youth to bright futures through mentoring and educational activities. Forums and cultural activities for Adolescents and Youth contribute to this service.

We mentor young people by fostering strong relationships with our Youth and providing informal platforms for discussion and exchanging thoughts and ideas.

Achievements

AMAFHH Federation has been involved in many events that raise awareness of social issues and that have assisted AMAFHH in achieving its goals, missions and aims!

It was only possible because of a good team effort. We have developed a diverse membership that includes various ethnicities, minorities and religious groups and which has a focus on Youth. This facilitates members and partner organisations to promote the values and practices of their Faith for the spiritual and material well-being of humanity at large.

Many AMAFHH volunteers are working on the front line, while others work behind the scenes, with the simple goal of making a difference in the Australian community.

Some highlights of Achievements.

Multicultural Fair in diversity week:

The fair fostered collaboration, strong cross-cultural and interfaith connections and opportunities for positive interaction among the different communities involved.

The festival was about showing commitment to the value of diversity as the expression of human similarities and differences through innovative festivity. Participants were from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds.

International Woman’s Day:

We celebrated it for the last five years with innovative themes on 8th March.

Eid Gifts to Royal Children’s Hospital: The AMAFHH Federation objectives to achieve goals in terms of strengthening the bonds of harmony, cultivating understanding among communities of different faiths and spreading the message of generosity and compassion by offering gifts to the Royal Children’s Hospital for the last three years with the thought-provoking message ‘Eid Mubarak! We wish you peace, happiness and good health always, Lots of love, your brothers and sisters in humanity’.
Annual Iftar Dinner: Iftar with a difference, with the co-existence and mutual understanding as a goal, has run each Ramadan for the last five years.

The Iftar events endorse multiculturalism and also promote, Intrafaith and Interfaith cohesion! “Breaking bread and breaking boundaries – celebrating Ramadan whilst eliminating cultural boundaries.”

Compassionate Community Affairs Program – CCAP.

Compassionate Community Affairs Program – CCAP.

Counselling
Advocacy
Consulting
Referralsincluding Refuge
Mediation

Vision

To be the steering source to empower individuals and families in Victoria through compassionate care services. Compassionate Community Affairs Program (CCAP) is a refuge and reference for the community to seek advice and consideration of their family and social affairs, individually and collectively.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Compassionate Community Affairs Program (CCAP) is to assist, educate, and facilitate the success and flourishment of people by providing compassionate and care services. The goal for the community is to develop a strong bond of humanity through the various social services and community development projects. The Program has to offer for individuals and families in Victoria.

Objectives

The CCAP is a confidential, non-judgemental, emotional and psychological support service:
To empower individuals and families through connecting with other organisations (Muslim and non-Muslim).
Use of holistic approaches through focused using a wide range of services to facilitate possible options.
Foster and strengthen good communication within families through referrals to general practitioners, mediators, and therapists.
Challenge the adverse effects of silence and shame around ‘taboo ‘issues and promote cultural understanding.
Work in partnership with all Muslim and non-Muslim organisations to bring about better services for Muslims who feel isolated from the mainstream.
Look at incorporating pre-marriage contracts and pre-marriage counselling so that marriages have a better start.
To improve the harmony between CALD/ Muslims and the wider Australian community through cross-cultural training and discussions.
Working towards better services to deal effectively and sensitively with those getting married or seeking a divorce.

Connect 2gether 4 Harmony; Grab A CuPpA & let’s talk !

Project description: Project intended to valuing our diversity through understanding and respecting the beliefs of others and their way of life, as we would expect someone to respect ours. It is about supporting individuals in keeping their cultural traditions alive and appreciating the fact that all these different traditions will enrich Australia’s life both today and in the future.

With the mission to increase our focus on interconnecting within the Muslim community and with other communities of Melbourne. In order to build and nurture such a society, which acknowledges the Australian values, which basically comprises of human core values or universal values of all cultures and faiths; empathy, mutual respect, justice, fairness, compassion, peace, love and friendship.

The phrase “Connect 2gether 4 Harmony”, features a series of innovative Art Activates, Festivals, Community programs and research. Participants are going to be from diverse ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious backgrounds and include migrants and refugees. ‘ GrAb a CuPpA and let’s talk! ‘Means according to Australian-Slang dictionary – Grab means ; pleased to make one’s esteemed acquaintance and Cuppa means; a cup of tea or coffee. Project will bring a range of different societies or people of different origins, religions and traditions to interacting together through dialogue and events.

There is a series of talks we have arranged under this project, and we will release the session details soon.

The AMAFHH Team:

AMAFHH has a wonderful group of people who volunteer their time, knowledge and skills to the AMAFHH Federation and includes professionals from different areas of expertise. AMAFHH also welcomes students on student placement and encourages them to develop their knowledge and enhance their studies.

We are working in the area of family affairs and welfare with Migrant and culturally and linguistically diverse families who really need our help. We rely on the generosity of community members and individuals. Believes we can only achieve our goal with the assistance of generous donations from members of our community. By giving back to those who are most in need, we aim to strengthen our relationship and interaction with the community and contribute towards cementing the values of giving and unity.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]