We are deeply honoured to announce that our organisation has received a Certificate of Appreciation from the University of Canberra for our continued support of the UCX Food Pantry. This recognition is a testament to the impactful work we’ve been able to do together, ensuring that students and community members have access to healthy food during challenging times.
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It was an absolute pleasure to host the Stop It at the Start workshop on December 8th, 2024. We were fortunate to have the talented Keshavi from Cultural Perspectives lead the session, offering us invaluable insights into fostering respectful conversations with our children and the importance of parents serving as positive role models. It was an honour to have MLA Chaika Barry join us, along with our dear friend Nicole Lawder, who both graced the occasion with their presence and support.
A special thank you to Aradhna for her powerful performance on women’s empowerment, “Bekhauf,” which added such depth and inspiration to the event. We also appreciate Monica for capturing the day through photos and videos, ensuring that these meaningful moments are preserved.
Lastly, a heartfelt thanks to all the attendees for their active participation. Your engagement made the workshop not only informative but also incredibly interactive and enriching for all involved.
Looking forward to continuing these important conversations and actions.
Nishi Puri, President of MAC and GOPIO, was pleasantly surprised and honoured to receive the COTA Positive Ageing Award today. Nishi extend a special thank you to Ruby Community Care and its Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Thompson, for the thoughtful nomination.
The event was a delightful occasion, made even more memorable by a lovely lunch shared with fellow award recipients. With five award categories in total, It was a beautiful surprise and one that added a personal touch to the occasion. The vase, with its elegant design and exquisite craftsmanship, is a perfect reminder of this special moment.
This recognition is not only a personal honour but also a reflection of the wonderful community that supports positive ageing. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this memorable experience!
MAC and GOPIO hosted another engaging session on Artificial Intelligence, (AI) with facilitator Vijay Koul offering valuable insights, especially for the Senior group in attendance. Vijay explained that AI is a blend of technologies enabling computers to perform tasks typically carried out by humans.
He stressed the need for caution and responsibility in AI’s use, advocating for ethical and transparent practices. While AI promises transformative change, it also comes with significant environmental costs—its development, maintenance, and disposal all contribute to large carbon footprints.
Looking ahead, our next AI series will address the question of whether AI will eventually replace human roles. Stay tuned for more updates!
A big thank you to the large audience who attended and to the Burns Club for their generous support. We appreciate your participation in making this event a success!
It was a distinct honour for members of MAC and GOPIO to be invited to Government House today for a meeting with Her Excellency the Governor-General of Australia, Ms. Mostyn. The occasion was a wonderful opportunity to share insights into the work of our associations and the positive impact we have within the community.
Her Excellency impressed everyone with her warmth, friendliness, and approachability, creating an open and welcoming atmosphere for meaningful conversation. The dialogue was not only informative but also conducted in an incredibly friendly and down-to-earth environment, which made the experience even more memorable.
Looking ahead, we are excited about the prospect of future collaborations and are hopeful that we can bring more members of the community into future discussions and initiatives with Government House. As a gesture of appreciation, Her Excellency graciously presented us with a beautifully crafted commemorative coin—a token we will cherish deeply.
#Feeling Honoured with MAC/GOPIO members Kranti Amar, Ashok Jain, Deepak Raj OAM, and Krishna Hamal ji
Multicultural Association of Canberra (MAC) and GOPIO on 29/09/24 celebrated an early Diwali at the Canberra Clubhouse in Narrabundah. It was an honour to welcome our esteemed chief guest, Chief Minister Andrew Barr, along with other distinguished attendees including Mr. Yoginder Singh Ji from the High Commission of India, MLA Rebecca Vassaroti (Greens), MLA Dr. Marisa Patterson, MLA Nicole Lawder (Liberal, Brindabella), Deepak Raj Gupta, Shiji Titus, Ravi Krish Velmani, Shahji, Mallika Raj (Labor candidate), Amardeep Singh (Liberal candidate), and Jacob from the Liberal Party, who is also a patron of MAC.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our sponsors—the ACT Government, Akhilesh and Meenu Arora, Raj Sahu—and our generous patrons, Ravi and Hema Nayyar, Vineet and Dibya, Monica and Surender Nagar, and Niranjan Aggarwal Ji, for their invaluable support and guidance in making this event possible.
The event commenced with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the Chief Minister, followed by speeches reflecting on the true meaning of Diwali. Attendees were treated to an array of cultural performances from our talented artists. A huge thank you to our brilliant MC, Surender Nagar Ji, for his meticulous script editing and flawless hosting throughout the event.
As the President of the Multicultural Association of Canberra (MAC) and GOPIO, I am deeply honored to be featured in the latest advertisement for OwnIt.org, an incredible initiative dedicated to raising awareness about cervical cancer in women.
It’s a great privilege to be part of this important cause, which aims to empower women with vital information about prevention and early detection, helping to save lives in our communities.
Multicultural Association of Canberra (MAC) and GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) organized a heart health workshop aimed at the CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) and multicultural communities. The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Davinder Singh, a cardiologist from the Canberra Heart Clinic, and was fully booked with a highly engaged audience.
Workshop was interactive, with attendees asking a variety of questions related to heart health, including the importance of monitoring blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes to prevent heart disease. Dr. Singh provided valuable insights, emphasizing the role of healthy eating and regular exercise as key factors in maintaining a healthy heart. His comprehensive talk was delivered in a way that was easy for participants to understand, making it an informative and accessible session for all.
A special thank you goes to Dr. Davinder Singh for his time and expertise, as well as to all participants for their active involvement. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Udaya for capturing the event through photography and to Rebecca Vassaroti, MLA for the Greens, for attending and sharing a few words.
Lastly, a big thank you to the Labor Club for their generosity in supporting this event.
Multicultural Association of Canberra, in collaboration with GOPIO, hosted two workshops dedicated to promoting health and wellbeing within our community.
The event featured an early celebration of Women’s Health Week with the CALD community, supported by materials from the Jean Hailes Foundation. Key highlights included a talk by Fouzia, a bilingual health educator, who emphasized the importance of cervical cancer screening and early detection for women. The event also featured an interactive dental health session led by Dr. Aradhna Rastogi, who educated attendees on dental hygiene, the significance of flossing, and the differences between various dental procedures. The workshops were informative, engaging, and well-received by all participants.
On July 27, 2024, MAC & GOPIO hosted an engaging and informative workshop on cybersecurity, expertly facilitated by Kumar Vineet and Dibya. Participants acquired invaluable knowledge on critical topics such as, creating strong passwords, exercising caution before clicking links, regularly updating software, managing social media privacy settings, and ensuring data protection through automatic backups. The interactive session fostered a robust Q&A session,, with attendees expressing satisfaction with the information shared.
Cybersecurity expert Surender Nagar contributed insights on the risks associated with jailbroken iPhones, providing valuable security tips. Appreciation is extended to all facilitators, who are anticipated for future workshops.
In a parallel session, Dr. Sivaraj Rajadorai, a senior palliative care physician, discussed palliative care and Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD), highlighting the importance of raising awareness among immigrant communities and addressing psychological aspects of terminal illness. Plans for a more comprehensive workshop with Dr. Raj are underway.
The event also included an engaging poetry session by Dr. Aradhna Rastogi and Mr. Manohar Chabbra. Overall, the workshop facilitated important networking opportunities among community leaders and was attended by MLA Nicole Lawder, marking a successful effort in enhancing community education and awareness.
Multicultural Association of Canberra