GSSC and Ethnic Council Begin Third Year of Empowered Voices Partnership
Empowered Voices – Understanding Rights and Respect
Following two successful years of collaboration, Greater Shepparton Secondary College (GSSC) and the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc. are pleased to begin the third year of their partnership through the Empowered Voices – Understanding Rights and Respect program.
Led by Zahra Al Tuhmazy, Project Coordinator – Family Violence Prevention and Social Cohesion Through Education at the Ethnic Council, Empowered Voices provides culturally responsive opportunities for multicultural students to:
- Build confidence and self-respect
- Understand their rights in Australia
- Learn about discrimination and how to recognise it
- Understand where and how to seek help
- Connect with trusted support within their school and community
- Develop skills to advocate for themselves and their communities
Empowered Voices Sessions
A key part of the partnership has been the Empowered Voices sessions for multicultural female students.
Zahra has worked closely with Muzhgan Qazikhil, Strengthening School Engagement Officer (Afghani) and Multicultural Liaison Officer (Dari/Persian/Hazaragi), together with the GSSC Multicultural Team, to deliver and strengthen these sessions.
The sessions provide a safe and informal environment where students can ask questions, discuss important issues and learn about their rights and available support services.
Topics explored include:
- Legal rights in Australia
- Recognising different forms of discrimination
- Knowing when, where and how to seek help
- Building confidence and self-respect
- Developing self-advocacy skills
- Understanding how students can contribute to their communities
Strong Student Engagement
Over the past two years, the program has demonstrated strong engagement from students from a wide range of multicultural backgrounds.
The initial sessions attracted significant interest, including participation from Afghan, Syrian, African, Pacific and other multicultural students.
This strong engagement has highlighted the importance of providing culturally safe spaces where students feel comfortable learning, sharing their experiences and connecting with trusted adults and community organisations.
The partnership has also supported the development of multicultural student leadership at GSSC. Multicultural student leaders have contributed to a range of initiatives, including Harmony Week, Africa Week, Refugee Week, Year 7 Transition events and SELC Transition events.
Looking Ahead
The collaboration between GSSC and the Ethnic Council demonstrates the positive impact schools and community organisations can achieve when they work together.
The partnership brings together community expertise, culturally responsive support and the knowledge of GSSC’s Multicultural, EAL and wellbeing teams to create meaningful opportunities for students.
As the partnership enters its third year, GSSC and the Ethnic Council are committed to building on the achievements of the past two years and continuing to respond to the needs of multicultural students.
There is also ongoing work to explore how the Empowered Voices approach could be expanded to engage male students from multicultural backgrounds.
Listening to students and understanding their experiences will help shape future activities and ensure the program remains relevant and responsive to their needs.
The continued success of the partnership reflects the commitment of everyone involved, particularly Zahra Al Tuhmazy and the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc., Hussam Saraf and the GSSC Multicultural Team, Muzhgan Qazikhil, Mark Heathcote, school wellbeing staff and the many students who have participated and contributed to the program.
As GSSC and the Ethnic Council begin their third year of partnership, both organisations look forward to another year of collaboration, student leadership, learning and opportunity.
Together, the partnership continues to support multicultural students to understand their rights, find their voice, build confidence, develop leadership skills and make a positive contribution to their school and community.
