Linking Hearts Ambassador Program launch

On Tuesday 19 March 2019, Linking Hearts officially launched the first group of Linking Hearts Ambassadors Program, a program that was announced at the Muslim Women Association’s 35th Anniversary Dinner in November 2018 with the appointment of Mr. Graham Richardson, media commentator, as the first Linking Hearts Ambassador.

The Linking Hearts Ambassador Program is an alliance of male ambassadors who use individual and/or combined resources, knowledge and expertise to positively impact the sphere of Domestic and Family Violence in Australia; the goal is to end Domestic and Family Violence in Australia. On the day, Ambassadors, wearing the Linking Hearts pin, pledged to be catalysts of change, to influence social practices and community responsibility in putting an end to domestic and family violence in Australia.

We are excited with the array of distinguished and committed gentlemen, who recognise that together, we can make a difference towards a Domestic and Family Violence FREE (DFVREE) Australia.

The Ambassador Reference Executive is the core of the Linking Hearts Ambassador Program that drives the strategic direction and key initiatives. Plans are underway to embrace this powerful Linking Hearts platform to create a circle of influence in an inclusive and respectful way.

Established on 4 July 2019, the Ambassador Reference Executive engaged in a rich dialogue including “Catalyst for Change” inter-sectional ideas, authentic intentions on Men standing beside Women and Children against violence.

Linking Hearts, a service of the Muslim Women Association, provides domestic violence and homelessness support to women and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with safe and supported crisis and transitional accommodation.

Linking Hearts is the only CALD Domestic Violence specific service for women and families in the region it operates, Sydney and South West Sydney, areas which have a high proportion of people from CALD backgrounds. It provides families including women and children escaping domestic and family violence, single parents with children, couples with children and refugees with safe and supported crisis and transitional accommodation. As well as Domestic Violence and Homelessness Support for clients, Linking Hearts also provides community awareness, advocacy, and early intervention and support.

Ambassador Reference Executive 

Chair MWA CEO Maha Abdo 

Talal Ghattas, Consultant 

Chris Bonney, Indigenous Relations Advisor/ Cushman & Wakefield 

Lusiano Afeaki, Chief Operating Officer /Crunch Fitness / New Evolution Ventures 

Bruce Chan, Centre Manager, BaptistCare Counselling and Family Services 

Paul Albury, Campsie PAC Crime Manager Detective Chief Inspector 

Reverand Fr Dr Shenouda Mansour 

Om Dhungel, Consultant/ Om Dhungel Consultancy