The Future Leaders program at the University of Queensland (UQ recognizes graduating students who have gone beyond their typical program of studies to make a positive impact on campus, their community and even the world. From nearly ten thousand new graduates each year, only a few hundred (that is, about 2 percent of all UQ graduates at any given year) are chosen for demonstrating a superior commitment to leadership, representing.

This group is underpinned by a broad definition of extracurricular leadership including high achievers, ambassadors, student leaders, mentors, valedictorians, volunteers, philanthropists, emerging researchers, executive board members and world-class athletes.

 

Members can be as diverse as student presidents leading a large club, emerging researchers promoting their advancements around the world and philanthropists inspiring their colleagues through fundraising and volunteerism efforts. Ultimately this group represents a collection of UQ graduates who we believe will become the influential leaders of our future.

One such student, who was awarded this prestigious award on completion of her double degree (Biomedical Science & Arts), is Kuraby resident, Nabeela Cassim.
 

Upon graduating, Nabeela also received the UQ Advantage Award. This award is awarded to students who in addition to their degrees have demonstrated qualities in the following areas: Social Responsibility & Leadership, Global & Cultural Engagement and Research & Entrepreneurship.
 

Some highlighted aspects of the awards include her participation in Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME) - an engaging program that highlighted the importance of understanding Indigenous people and their culture.

 

Nabeela told CCN: “Mentoring university and school students is of utmost importance to me, as I believe the youth of today face so many challenges, not only Muslim students but students from all nationalities and diverse backgrounds.”

 

In addition; Nabeela also participated in the Australian Anthropology Conference where she was the head volunteer representing students at UQ. She also undertook research at the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and is an active member of a number of student societies on campus/volunteer organisation.

The following organizations endorsed the submission to the Federal Attorney-General regarding the Exposure Draft of the Freedom of Speech (Repeal of S.18C) Bill 2014:

 

 

Over 550 friends and family of Rotary Club Archerfield attended the Club's Family Fun night at Michael's Oriental during the week.

 

President of the branch, Mr Zaffar Khan (pictured above conducting the auction), was lauded for his efforts in bringing greater awareness of the work of Rotary in general and his Club in particular.

 

 

The National Anthem sang by the nasheed group	Special Guests Janeth Deen and Peter James Mapp	Play presentation by Year 11
PowerPoint presentation by Year 9 students	Students wearing their poppies for ANZAC Day	Some words from Peter Mapp
A publication presented by Janeth Deen from the QLD Muslim Historical Society	“ I still call Australia Home” Nasheed	Speeches by Year 3s about ANZAC day

 

As part of the Oxfam Trailwalker 100KM walk from Mount Glorious to Mount Coot-ha on 22 – 24 June, a grass roots Brisbane fundraising activity to help the people of Syria involving two teams of four has begun training in earnest for the event and is looking for two more participants to complete the teams.

The participants from the two teams, with the assistance of the community, will also help raise funds in the lead up to the event. Cultural Diversity Queensland and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) will fund the registration of one team each.

 

Funds raised will go through the Muslim Charitable Foundation for a project that has been identified by Muslim Aid Australia in Syria.

Mr David Forde will lead one team and Shane Johnson (Community Liaison Officer) from the AFP the other.

 

Four hundred teams of four take part in a highly professionally organised annual event in which the target is to complete the route in up to 48 hours.

Each team requires a support vehicle that is being supplied through the community and training has to be undertaken as this is not a “walk in the park”, but a physically challenging event.

 

Contact David on 0413 874 008 if you would like to participate or contribute to the cause.

 

Funds raised will go towards a Vocation Education and Training project for Women in the Babussalam. 45 women will be trained for six months in sewing, embroidery, stitching, as well as character building to learn independence and business skills to maintain their livelihoods when they have successfully completed the course. Once the course has been successfully completed, each trainee will receive their own sewing machine which will allow them to implement their newly acquired skills to support their families.
 

The funding target is $15,000 and any additional funding with provide for monthly family food packs that cost $60 each.

Islamic schools in Australia remain a relatively new phenomena, the earliest a little over 30 years of age.

 

Interestingly, Islamic schools represent one of the fastest growing category of Independent school in Australia.

 

Often they have waiting lists for entry and feature consistently high in school academic ranking and student test score tables.

 

Despite these indicators, the next phase in Islamic Schooling in Australia requires a more informed understanding of their effectiveness via empirical research to better understand their strengths and weaknesses.

Research on Islamic schools in Western countries including Australia suggests undue attention on academic results and sometimes the practices employed to ensure these results, compromise faith based priorities.

 

Such faith based priorities feature largely in school vision statements and were major reasons behind the establishment of Islamic schools.

 

Criticisms on this front also have follow on effect on the quality of Islamic curriculum, teaching and pedagogy approaches, and the outcomes collectively this has on students graduating from Islamic schools.

Other research has pointed to the lack of training for teachers entering Islamic schools. The absence of research based principles or teaching frameworks means teachers are generally not equipped with a nuanced based understanding of Islamic education for an Australian school. Many Islamic school teachers take up this challenge themselves in isolation as do stand out Islamic schools which adds to the already significant burden on teachers and administrators.

Dr. Mohamad Abdalla, Director of the National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies (NCIES) at Griffith University, and a team of researchers have been working hard to fill this research gap and offer empirical research to support the next phase of Islamic schooling in Australia and elsewhere in the West. Muhammad Abdullah’s study, focused on Prophetic pedagogy, stands to offer a great deal for teachers in Islamic schools.

 

Dylan Chown’s study relates to school vision and educational leadership which will offer insight on Islamic school effectiveness and Gregor Shepherd’s on the experience of Arab speaking students studying in Australia which will broaden understandings of the education experience in Australia.

Dr. Mohamad Abdalla, Muhammad Abdullah and Dylan Chown recently facilitated a professional learning workshop in Melbourne for over 50 Islamic Studies teachers across six (6) different Islamic schools.

 

A major stumbling block for the Islamic Studies subject throughout Australia has been the absence of a syllabus, even thirty (30) years down the track. A syllabus would inform and pave the way for an Islamic Studies curriculum that would sit alongside other National Curriculum documents in the pool of subjects Islamic schools offer.

Common criticisms in the research concerning the Islamic Studies subject relate to the lack of relevance to students lives; the absence of rigorous and challenging themes that engage students; the absence of critical thinking in the pedagogical approach; content based teacher centred learning that lacks coherence and up against students experience in other subjects becomes foreign and unrecognisable, thereby diminishing the significance to students of a central subject in an Islamic school.

 

More and more committed Islamic Studies teachers and stand out Islamic schools are aware of these common criticisms and are taking meaningful steps to address them.

Thus, the theme of the workshop was, "Establishing Contextual Understanding of Islamic Education for the Australian Muslim student".

 

Dr Abdalla opened the workshop with a discussion on the historical context of Islamic Studies programs. In particular he highlighted the significance of the teacher over and above the institution as the ‘Islamic’ has traditionally been taught through ‘Ṣuḥba’ – companionship/fellowship.

 

In the current context, to make what is taught relevant, Dr Abdalla advised that it is important to be familiar with the issues that are or will challenge Muslim students in an Australian setting.

Mohammed Abdullah questioned the audience as to what do they mean by an Islamic school? What they view is an Islamic education?

He offered understandings from his research forthcoming of a pedagogical framework for classroom teachers that incorporate Prophetic teaching practices and principles.

 

His framework provides a common language for teachers in Islamic schools to reflect on their practice and meaningfully inculcate the ‘Islamic’ via the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of teaching not merely Islamic content or the ‘what’ of teaching.

Dylan Chown spoke of the importance of the Islamic Studies program and its curriculum being informed by the vision of the school. Dylan and Mohammad were both able to demonstrate the incredible synergy with aspects of the National Curriculum in terms of general capabilities and cross curricular priorities. Finally, Dylan offered advice on how to inculcate critical thinking in Islamic Studies and provide students with frameworks for understanding challenges that Muslim students face in their lives.

Helen Schiele, an Educational Consultant for the Victorian Education Department, who coordinated and organised the Professional Learning Workshop spoke in glowing terms and has promised further workshops in the future.

 

NCIES aims to build on their contribution to this important field and via the empirical studies and practical experience of the researchers will continue to work with a number of schools as they tackle the challenges characterised in this next exciting phase in Islamic schooling in Australia.

US President Barack Obama has acknowledged that even today a number of people from the South Asian origin — particularly those from Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities — are becoming victims of hate crimes in America.

 

US President Barack Obama has acknowledged that even today a number of people from the South Asian origin — particularly those from Hindu, Muslim and Sikh communities — are becoming victims of hate crimes in America.

"Even today, South Asian Americans, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu and Sikh, are targets of suspicion and violence," Obama said in a presidential proclamation that recognised the contribution of Asian-Americans in the socio-political and economic milieu of the country.

"Like America itself, the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community draws strength from the diversity of its many distinct cultures - each with vibrant histories and unique perspectives to bring to our national life," Obama said.

"Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have helped build, defend and strengthen our Nation - as farm workers and railroad labourers; as entrepreneurs and scientists; as artists, activists, and leaders of government.

They have gone beyond, embodying the soaring aspirations of the American spirit," Obama said.

Noting that May month marks 145 years since the final spike was hammered into the transcontinental railroad, an achievement made possible by Chinese labourers, who did the majority of this backbreaking and dangerous work, Obama said this May, they will receive long-overdue recognition as they are inducted into the Labour Hall of Honour.
"Generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have helped make this country what it is today," he said.

"Yet they have also faced a long history of injustice - from the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and its devastating impact on the history, language and culture of Native Hawaiians; to opportunity-limiting laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924; to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II," he said.

Obama reiterated his determination to pass comprehensive immigration reform that would modernise the legal immigration system, create a pathway to earned citizenship for undocumented immigrants, hold employers accountable, and strengthen the border security.

He said with courage, grit, and an abiding belief in American ideals, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have challenged the Nation to be better.
 

"Nearly 5 years ago, I re-established the White House Initiative on AAPIs. The Initiative addresses disparities in health care, education, and economic opportunity by ensuring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders receive equal access to government programs and services," Obama said.
 

Source: DNA

 

On Sunday 18 May Muslim Aid Australia (MAA) and Muslim Charitable Foundation (MCF) will formally join hands by co-hosting a fundraising lunch at Michael’s Oriental Restaurant in Eight Mile Plains.

 

With the aim of the lunch being to raise funds towards exciting new international projects in Permaculture, the aptly named event “25 Seeds of Goodness” will see the two organisations combine forces and increase the aid and support provided to people in need both locally and internationally.

Guest speakers including Geoff Lawton, a world renowned permaculture expert, Sheikh Hassan Elsetohy, MAA’s CEO, and Mr. Yusuf Khatree of the Muslim Charitable Foundation.

Guests will also witness the signing of MAA and MCF’s Memorandum of Understanding – a first in Australia.

Limited number of tickets are available by calling Riyaad Ally of Muslim Aid Australia on 0434 984 520 or Yusuf Khatree of Muslim Charitable Foundation on 0401 246 228.

This is a unique event and definitely not to be missed.

Date: Sunday 18th May, 12:30pm
Venue: Michael’s Oriental Restaurant, 223 Padstow Rd, Eight Mile Plains

To purchase tickets visit the MAA website:

Individual Tickets: $50 : http://9nl.eu/25SeedsBrisIndividualTicket

Group Ticket - Table of 10: $450 : http://9nl.eu/25SeedsBrisGroupTicket

or call Yusuf Khatree: 0401 246 228 or Riyaad Ally: 0434 984 520

 

The time has come again for the Al-Nisa Annual Ladies Night!

 
This year Al-Nisa has been working in partnership with Islamic Relief Australia to fundraise money that will go towards building wells in Somalia and developing other sustainable community projects.
 

The theme for the night on 21 June is Glitz and Glamour, so ladies, it's time to pull out all the stops! Put your best dress on, bling it up and don't forget your wallets, as there will be a live auction on the night!
 

The Al-Nisa Team hopes you will join them for "what is sure to be a fun and entertaining night", whilst, at the same time, contributing to a very worthy cause.
 

Seats are limited, so you will need to get in quick.
 

For more information, see the flyer or call 0413 360 913.

Kuraby Madrassah

 

Seeking highly motivated individuals committed to the education of Muslim children.
 

Opportunities for:

Casual positions (4.00 pm – 6.30 pm, Monday – Friday)
Relief teaching
Professional learning, training and development (no commitment to work in the Madrassah required; open to qualified teachers; homeschoolers; parents; and others).
 

Weekly professional learning topics:

Islamic education philosophy
Evidence based teaching and learning strategies
Student centred teaching practice
Prophetic pedagogical strategies.
 

All interested candidates are invited for either employment or professional learning opportunities.

 

Contact:

 

Kuraby Madrassah   Email: admin@kurabymosque.org.au                        Phone: (07) 3219 7994

 

 

The Zamil family $2.9bn ($2.7bn) Saudi Arabia             
 

The Zamil family is leading the way in the diversification of the Saudi economy, and are clearly reaping the rewards as they go.

 

Zamil Group Holding Company was founded by the late Abdullah Al Hamad Al Zamil, a Saudi entrepreneur who established a modest trading entity selling food items and textiles in Bahrain in the 1930s.

 

Today, its activities span industrial and commercial interests, making its mark on everything from air-conditioning manufacturing to food processing, steel fabrication and travel services.

 

Zamil began investing in the plastics industry over 30 years ago, and today the group can count on a 12,000- strong workforce in more than 60 countries, vast manufacturing facilities and strong affiliations with international partners.

 

The family also has a significant stake in Bahrain-based Energy Central Company, which could prove a huge windfall given the region’s growing power demands.

 

NEXT WEEK: Another from the rich list next week
 

Source: ArabianBusiness

To commemorate Women’s History Month, we collected photos of Muslim American women.

 

We’ve compiled thirty-two images. One for each day of March, plus another because no one month can contain the awesomeness of Muslim Women.

These images show the status and the importance of Muslim women in our society. Muslim women are liberated, educated, and play the most important roles in our society.

Update: The purpose and intent of this article is not to showcase the ethnic and racial diversity of Muslimahs. No one article can do that. We meant to express the diversity of the roles Muslimahs play in society and to begin to re-frame how they are thought about. Going forward we will make sure to be all inclusive.

 

(5) Zainab Ismail – Professional Fitness Trainer at Nadoona Fitness

 

 

Another from the collection in next week's CCN.
 

Source: Trivial Room: Your eye into Muslim Australia