I S L A M I C C O U N C I L O F V I C T O R I A ANNUAL REPORT 2015 - 16 ISLAMIC COUNCIL OF VICTORIA ICV MEMBERS Afghan Islamic Society Goulburn Valley Turkish Islamic & Cultural Society AICOM - Afghan Islamic Centre and Omar Farooq Mosque HIYC - Hume Islamic Youth Centre Al-Ehsan Centre IISCA - Islamic Information and Support Centre of Australia Ararat Islamic Welfare Association IMAN ASWJ - Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jama'ah IMCV - Indonesian Muslim Community of Victoria Australia Bangladesh Islamic Council Inc. Islamic Association of Monash Mosque Inc. Australian Bosnian Islamic Centre Deer Park Islamic Education and Welfare Assoc of Dandenong Australian Islamic Mission Islamic Guidance Society of Australia Australian Islamic Social Association (Milli Gorus) Islamic Society of Albury-Wodonga Australian Muslim Media Islamic Society of Ballarat Australian Muslim Social Services Agency (AMSSA) Islamic Education & Awareness of Casey Association (IEACA). Bendigo Islamic Association Inc ISOMER - Islamic Society of Melbourne Benevolence Australia Islamic Society of Victoria - Preston Mosque Bilal Ethioopian Community Association Victoria Maarefa Group Bosnia Hercegovina Islamic Society Mano River Association of Victoria Cyprus Turkish Islamic Community Inc. MICS - Melbourne Islamic Cultural Society Inc Dandenong Turkish Islamic Cultural Society IISNA MyCentre - Islamic Information and Services Network Daru Bilal Newport Islamic Society Darussalam Society Oromo Islamic Resource Centre El Sedeaq Islamic Society The Light Foundation Eritrean Islamic Society of Australia United Muslim Migrant Association FAMSY - Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Youth USMAA - United Sri Lankan Muslim Association in Australia GAMCI - Gippsland Australian Muslim Community Inc Werribee Islamic Centre AFFILIATED MEMBERS Arkan Toledo Care With Me Islamic Practice and Dawah Circle Islamic Weekend School Islamic Relief Australia MCCA Minhajul Quran Vic Muslim Legal Network Nurul Huda Acedemy Victorian Police Muslim Association BAILP Muhajiroon Community Association Inc Muslim Aid Australia Australian Muslim Unit Trust ( AMUT) ABOUT THE ISLAMIC COUNCIL OF VICTORIA The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) is the peak Amidst our current social challenges, the ICV Muslim body representing an estimated 200,000 leads the way, both state and nationally, as a Muslim population in the state of Victoria peak Muslim body championing cohesion and through its 60-plus member societies. harmony through efforts and services in recent years; The ICV vision statement is: a greater sense of shared purpose, belonging “to foster and enable a vibrant Islamic community and acceptance amongst all where Muslims enrich society through the values of Islam”. services and activities that foster understanding, appreciation and respect for cultural diversity The vision is intended to remind us all of the high and equality level of responsibility we have as Victorian Muslims, as Australian Muslims and as active promotion of a harmonious, inclusive and Australians. respectful society The ICV operates on two key platforms; strategic partnerships and collaborations with peak faith and multi-faith organisations. 1) Advocacy – on matters of interest and concern to Muslims through advocacy, consultation and consultations, meaningful engagements and cooperation with governments, other peak partnerships and delivery of initiatives/activities bodies, faith communities, service providers, the media and the general public. The ICV currently works with over 70 organisations (Muslim and non-Muslim) 2) Social Welfare Services – we run over a dozen including over 20 Multifaith and Multicultural community programs, helping improve the groups. welfare of disadvantaged and vulnerable groups within the Muslim community. We aim to support all Victorian Muslims to have a strong sense of belonging, through important The ICV's success in playing a leading role in and strong relationships with key stakeholders social cohesion and harmony. The Muslim leading to increased understandings and respect population is increasingly diverse. New for all. communities are establishing themselves, and several faith communities are experiencing major growth and with it challenges of settlement and integration. OUR APPRECIATION TO OUR VALUED PARTNERS The ICV wishes to express our sincere appreciation to a host of organisations who have worked with and supported the ICV in various capacities throughout the 2015-16. ABS – Australian Bureau of Statistic Census Initiatives of Change AFIC - Australian Federation of Islamic Councils Interfaith Centre of Melbourne AFL - Australian Football League Interfaith Network (Dandenong) AFP - Australian Federal Police Islamic Relief AG - Attorney Generals Dept JCCV – Jewish Communities Council of Victoria Al Wasat Newspaper JCMA - Jews Christians Muslims Association AMES – Adult Migrant Education Services Leadership Victoria AMF - Australian Multicultural Foundation Lebanese Muslim Association Anglican Church Lord Mayor City of Melbourne ANIC - Australian National Imams Council MAG – Multifaith Advisory Group Australian Conservation Foundation MCCA – Muslim Community Co-operative Australia Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights Melbourne University- Chaplaincy Benevolence MFB - Melbourne Fire Brigade Cabrini Health NCEIS - National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies CCN – Community Care Network OHPI - Online Hate Prevention Institute CMY – Centre of Multicultural Youth OMAC - Office of Multiculturalism & Citizenship Corrections Victoria OTA – Organ Tissue Authority & Donate Life CRU - Community Resilience Unit PMC – Prime Minister and Cabinet Department of Health & Human Services Red Cross Blood Service DHS – Dept of Human Services RMIT – School of Global, Urban and Social Studies Diyanet - Turkish Ministry of Religious Affairs SHV - Spiritual Health Victoria DPC – Dept of Premier and Cabinet SMCT – Southern Metropolitan Cemetery Trust DSS – Dept of Social Services SRC - Social Research Centre ECCV - Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria ThinQ Group Emergency Ministry (VCC) Uniting Church Faith Leaders Group - Prison Chaplaincy VAADA - Victorian Alcohol and Drugs Association FCCV – Faith Communities Council of Victoria Variety Victoria First Guardian VCC – Victorian Council of Churches Foundation House VEOHRC – Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission Good Shepherd Microfinance Victoria Police Gosford Church NSW Victoria University - Centre for Cultural Diversity and Wellbeing HAI – Human Appeal Australia Victoria University – Sir Zelman Cowen Centre Hope Street Victorian Board of Imams Huddle – Nth Melbourne Football Club VMC - Victorian Multicultural Commission IMA - Islamic Museum of Australia Western Bulldogs Immigration Dept - Border Force Special Acknowledgements Our special gratitudes are particularly extended to our many wonderfully talented friends who have been incredibly supportive, whose personal and professional advice, mentoring and expertise has made huge differences; Adam Slonim Carl Gopalkrishnan Carmel Guerra Chin Tan Daniela Ascone Darren Hutchinson Gavin Ackerly Hakan Akyol Hass Dellal Irene Bouzzo Joe Illardi Kathy Laster Kerim Birinci Paul Waite Ranj Samrai Rudy Monteleone Tony Nicholls OUR PEOPLE EXCO Bayram Aktepe President Mohamed Mohideen Vice-President Seyfi Seyit Secretary Nazeh Baarini Treasurer Junaid Cheema Executive Member Omar Abdo Executive Member Zeynep Sertel Executive Member Samar Mougharbel Executive Member Barry Pestana Executive Member Ayan Shere Omer Executive Member Mohammed Eleissy Executive Member STAFF Nail Aykan Executive Director Ayman Islam Services Manager Sumeyya Kutlu Accounts Officer Liyana Schroeder Executive Assistant Suaad Warsame Executive Assistant Bakri Shanino Muslim Connect Post-Release Officer Bahriye Bol Communications Officer Asma Siddiq NILS Program Coordinator Cameron Thomas Media and Campaigns Coordinator Anthony Vitale CISP Program Manager Remzi Unal CISP Liaison Officer Esref Avda CISP Social Worker Sh Majidih Essa CISP Religious Services Coordinator Ahu Kocak CISP Senior Clinician Sh Abdinur Weli ICV Head Imam Sh Moustapha Sarakibi Prison Chaplain & ICV Imam Altaf Hussain Senior Prison Chaplain Yasser Soliman Prison Chaplain Rachid El Chaar Prison Chaplain Rahil Khan Prison Chaplain Irfan Majeed Mian Prison Chaplain Abdirahman Mohamud Prison Chaplain Hammad Guler Prison Chaplain Mukhtar Mohammed Muslim Connect Post-Release Coordinator Lina Ayoubi Hospital Chaplaincy Coordinator Sarah Charmand Volunteers Coordinator Ilker Abak Youth Engagement Officer Aamer Rahman Youth Engagement Officer Maryum Chaudhry Youth Engagement Officer PEOPLE BEHIND THE ICV Dr Aladin Zayegh Yasser Soliman Sadeeq Omarjee Sheikh Abdinur Weli Suaad Warsame Maryum Chaudhry Ayesha Bux Sheikh Muammer Guler Nada Kalam Sarah Charmand Anam Javed Sheikh Rachid al Chaar Cameron Thomas Mukhtar Mohammed Bakri Shanino Mahir Mohamed LETTER FROM PREMIER LETTER FROM OPPOSITION LEADER LETTER FROM MINISTER FOR MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT a p p ro a c h o f t h e I C V h a s Separately, we have signed a resulted in the voice of Victorian M e m o r a n d u m o f Muslims being heard at more Understanding with the Board places than ever before. of Imams Victoria to improve the authorisation of marriage Another notable first has been celebrants, executed a major re- t h e fi r s t ev e r P re s i d e n t s rewrite of the constitution to Summit, where member society ensure timely compliance with presidents and previous ICV new state legislation