From time-to-time, SEVA International is invited by the NSW state and local governments to participate in forums/media briefings on topics related to important social issues of concern to communities living in NSW.

Some recent forums that SEVA International has participated in are:

April 2024

Ministry of Health Multicultural Media Briefing on respiratory illnesses

This media briefing was attended by Sue Advani (President of Seva International Inc.) was featured on SBS news on 18th April 2024.

This Multicultural Media briefing by NSW Ministry of Health and Multicultural Health Communication Services on the roll out of Flu, Covid and RSV vaccines was in time to prepare us for the onset of winter – particularly for the elderly and immuno-compromised.

Have you booked yours yet? Contact your doctor or pharmacist. A great opportunity to also consult about the barriers-to-access faced by multicultural community.

The Screening Panel Discussion of Dowry Videos by NSW Police

30 March 2023- Forum for Skilled Migrants: Highlighting the importance of skilled migration to Australia (https://ozarab.media/forum-for-skilled-migrants-highlighting-the-importance-of-skilled-migration-to-australia/)

20 July 2023- Women Leaders Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Forum held by Department of Communities and Justice (https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/community-inclusion/multicultural-communities/events-for-multicultural-communities/women-s-leaders-forum-.html)

31 July 2023 –A community consultation session to review and discuss the information related to Voluntary Assisted Dying. This was held by the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) and the Office of the Chief Health Officer (OCHO), Ministry of Health (MoH).

From 3 Aug 2023 to date – Participation in the Sydney Policy Lab’s Australia Cares project @ the Peoples Assemblies on Care in Westmead, NSW. Participants from a South Asian background (Indian) were recruited to the pilot study to discuss their experiences of care systems in both formal and informal settings. The forum aimed to discuss how citizen led policy development ideas might address care needs in Australia. SEVA was invited to join the delegation to Canberra to present the preliminary findings of the Australia Cares Report to members of Parliament. Evaluation and final Report are expected to be available in 2024. More information on this project is available at:

https://www.sydney.edu.au/sydney-policy-lab/research-and-policy/care.html#:~:text=Australia%20Cares%20aims%20to%20radically,care%20communities%2C%20researchers%20and%20policymakers.

From November 2023 till date- Participation in a Collaborative Working Group facilitated by a Multicultural Health Officer from South West Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and NSW Multicultural Health Service. The key health issues highlighted in the SWSLHD Multicultural Health Service “Needs Assessment” report were increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, cancer, stress, mental health issues and poorer maternal health outcomes.

The purpose of the Collaborative Working Group is to promote dialogue, collaboration, shared purpose and learning between various organisations and community leaders from South Asian populations within their district.