The NSW Government has established a new Religious Communities Advisory Council in order to strengthen the engagement with the state’s multicultural and multi-faith communities.
Following a competitive, merit-based assessment process, 15 members have been appointed to the new council, which will be led by Multicultural NSW Advisory Board Chair Nick Kaldas.
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure welcomed the new members, on Monday 19 November, who will advise on matters relating to religious communities across NSW.
“I want to thank each member for self-nominating themselves and helping the NSW Government strengthen engagement with faith communities,” Mr Coure said.
“While this is the first time a council like this has been created, it’s actually formalising the work and active collaboration that’s been happening between the NSW Liberal-National Government and religious communities for years.”
“We understand when communities and government work closely together, it leads to better outcomes for everyone, and that is exactly what we will achieve for religious communities across the state with this new advisory council.”
The members, who will all serve two-year terms, include:
- Imam Shadi Alsuleiman of the Australian National Imams Council
- Dr Basim Al-Ansari of the Office of the Ayatollah Al-Ansari
- Mr Darren Bark of the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies
- Mr Murray Norman of ICCOREIS
- Reverend Father Fadi Nemme of St Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church
- Rt Reverend Dr Michael Stead of the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney
- Pdt Ramachandra Athreiya of the Australian Council of Hindu Clergy
- Mr Surinder Jain of the Hindu Council of Australia
- Reverend Heather Joyce Topp of the Buddhist Council of NSW
- Mr Elias Attia of the Islamic Council of NSW
- Reverend David Riethmuller of the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and ACT
- Mr Gawaine Powell Davies of the Buddhist Council of NSW
- Very Reverend Father Tadros El-Bakhoumi of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Diocese of NSW
- Ms Monica Doumit of the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney
- Mr Parviz Deamer of the Australian Baha’i Community
The Council’s work is guided by the Multicultural Principles, which are enshrined in the Multicultural NSW Act 2000 as the policy of the State in NSW. The council’s first meeting will be held on Monday 23 January 2023.
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