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Active Beginnings

Co-design team

Our co-design team is comprised of researchers from the University of Canberra, representatives from the Healthcare Consumer Association and Multicultural Hub in Canberra, and women from diverse multicultural groups in the ACT who have worked together to develop the Active Beginnings program.

Prof Deborah Davis

University of Canberra

Professor Davis has been working in health care for over 30 years. She is a passionate midwife who is committed to woman centred maternity care and the promotion of service delivery models that provide women with the best clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Professor Davis is the inaugural Clinical Chair in Midwifery with ACT Health and the University of Canberra.

Dr Mary-Ellen Hooper

University of Canberra

Mary is a proud mental health nurse with a passion for maternal and child wellbeing. She is currently a member of a research strength at the University of Canberra aimed at improving maternal and child holistic healthcare. She is passionate about holistic healthcare, improving the quality of healthcare, and improving the mental wellbeing of woman and young people.

Zakia Patel

Multicultural Hub Canberra

Zakia Patel has a passion for using her skills to support marginalised communities, with a particular passion for young people. Zakia is the Regional Managing Director of the Multicultural Hub Canberra, with responsibilities for Multicultural Centres in Canberra, Queanbeyan, Goulburn, Bega and Cooma. Zakia has over a decade of experience working in the community sector, and holds a Bachelor of Law/Economics. In addition to her professional work in the community, Zakia has been a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) for 15 years and is the Unit Commander for the Queanbeyan SES Unit with over 100 volunteers. Zakia is passionate about encouraging and empowering migrant women to volunteer in a predominately male dominated industry and to challenge the cultural stereotypes that impact women being able to volunteer in these types of industries.

Ivapene Seiuli

Healthcare Consumers Association

Ivapene is a proud Canberran of Samoan descent, dedicated wife, and devoted mother of three. As the Multicultural Liaison Officer at the Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA), she is committed to advocating for the healthcare rights of the multicultural community in the ACT and region. Ivapene holds a Bachelor of Social Work and a Master’s in International Social Development, bringing over two decades of invaluable experience in community development. Her journey has taken her across diverse cultures in the Pacific and Africa enriching her understanding and perspective. Beyond her professional career, Ivapene currently serves as the President of the Multicultural Hub Canberra (mHub) board of directors. She is also one of eleven members of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism (MACM).

Kirandeep Grewal

Community member

Kirandeep Grewal is a community artist and art educator. Alongside her art practice, she is committed to involving and engaging the community in arts through different projects based in Canberra. She is the founder and facilitator of the Migrant Women’s Art group, launched in 2019 and supported by Gungahlin Arts. One of her current projects is Makers’ Workshop, a personal and home well-being initiative in collaboration with Multicultural Hub Canberra. During COVID-19, she started two initiatives - Neighbourhood Art on Wheelie Bins and Slow Stitching Group. The Slow Stitching group continues to meet in Dickson Library fortnightly. In 2015, the Rotary Club of Swan Valley, Western Australia recognized her dedication to the community through her two Artist by the River Projects.

Ruth Binty Koroma

Community member

As an ardent advocate for social change and empowerment, I am currently dedicating my life to both academics and meaningful community work in Canberra, ACT. I hold pivotal roles as a Community Youth Leader with the African Australian Council ACT and as a Youth Coordinator within my church, Abundant Life of Faith International Ministry. My commitment to societal betterment is driven by a deep passion for elevating the voices of young migrants, ensuring their narratives and contributions are recognised and valued within our community. My work extends beyond advocacy, as I actively engage in initiatives aimed at supporting the broader community. This year, with invaluable support from the Multicultural Hub Canberra, I have successfully launched Zion’s Mission. This passion project is close to my heart, focusing on supporting and empowering individuals experiencing homelessness. Through Zion’s Mission, I aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of those who find themselves without shelter, offering hope and assistance to the most vulnerable members of our society. I am driven by the belief that every individual has the right to a dignified life and that community support is fundamental in achieving this. My dedication to these causes reflects my vision for a more inclusive, compassionate, and supportive community for all, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Priya Chandra

Community member

Priya is a sole parent of a teenage daughter allowing her to gain a broad perspective in life and her work. She is passionate about supporting and empowering multicultural communities, specialising in program facilitation, design and development plus project work. With twelve years’ experience working within the youth and community sector in ACT/NSW, Priya has had the privilege of working in areas such as youth work, mental health, parent support, refugee/migrant support, creative arts programs, alcohol and other drugs (AOD), correctional facilities as well as homelessness, further embedding her passion and commitment. Priya’s strength lies in her ability to navigate complex environments using her broad range of skills, qualifications and personal experiences, utilising extensive vocational vehicles that she has developed and implemented as a form of therapeutic and educational engagement, both in schools as well as in the community.

Saima Durrani

Community member

Saima Durrani is a committed counsellor, a mother of four and a proud CALD community member. As the Director of Odyssey to Healing, she draws on extensive experience as a school counsellor, private practitioner in a medical group facility, community leader, teacher, and motivational speaker. She is fluent in English, Urdu, Pashto, Hindko, and Panjabi, Saima provides inclusive counselling for diverse backgrounds. Guided by a humanistic approach, she helps navigate mental health challenges, creating a warm and nonjudgmental space and facilitating teens and mums groups.

Yvette Poudjom Djomani

Community member

Yvette is a community leader working with leaders of other multicultural communities in the ACT. In 2021, she and a few leaders founded the African Australian Council ACT Inc, a not-for-profit organisation and the umbrella body for all the African communities in the ACT and surroundings. She is also a leader of the African Catholic community in the ACT. Yvette is passionate about gender equity and believes in an equal world for all, especially for minority groups. Yvette's vision is to foster social cohesion amongst the African community and engage with other communities to better represent multiculturalism in the ACT and Australia wide.

Theresa Maiava

Community member

Theresa Maiava is a committed leader who works hard to make a difference. As the reigning President of Fono a Samoa ACT/Queanbeyan, she leads important projects and helps her community's voices be heard. In addition to her leadership roles, Theresa coordinates and hosts the Samoan Community Radio Program. Through this platform, she educates and informs, discussing important topics and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Samoa. Beyond her leadership and volunteering roles, Theresa works in the disability sector. She is committed to advocating for individuals with disabilities. Her work in the sector is marked by empathy, compassion, and a relentless drive for inclusivity and accessibility. Theresa is fluent in both Samoan and English languages. Her conversational proficiency in Tongan and Fijian expands her ability to engage with Pasifika communities. Theresa stepped into her role as co-design member with grace and determination, filling the void left by her predecessor Flo Sa’aga. Theresa is committed to the success of the Active Beginnings project and is dedicated to fostering positive change within the multicultural community.

Florence Sa’aga

Community member

Flo Saága is a dedicated leader in the Pasifika community, serving as the President of Fono a Samoa ACT/Queanbeyan in 2021-2023. Through her service and leadership, she built strong connections among Pasifika communities in the ACT and region, fostering unity and collaboration. Flo is passionate about empowering her community. Renowned for her innovative spirit and compassionate dedication, Flo pioneered two inaugural programs during her reign as the President of the Samoan community. She spearheaded the Education, Sports, and Leadership Excellence Awards (to support and celebrate Samoan youth) and established a groundbreaking program designed to enrich lives of Samoan elders. ‘Faafaletui a Lauao Sinasina’ provides a safe space for Samoan Elders to share stories and learn about services relevant to them, in their own language. Beyond her community service and advocacy, Flo consulted for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ensuring that individuals with disabilities had equitable access and support. A distinguished member of the Active Beginnings co-design team, Flo contributed her exceptional talents and expertise until she embarked on an exciting journey to her beloved homeland of Samoa to pursue new adventures.

Activity providers

Our activity providers are local women from Canberra who are passionate about supporting women to achieve physical fitness and to promote their health and well-being. They have been working alongside our co-design team to tailor activities that are suitable for women from diverse multicultural backgrounds.

Linda Berjaoui

Core and floor

My name is Linda and I have been a qualified personal Trainer since 2019. When I started SistaPT is was with the passion to offer exercise classes for those who for some reason don’t feel comfortable attending the traditional gym. I offer low cost, small group classes in boxing for exercise, circuit bootcamps, Strength and conditioning as well as classes designed to help women of all stages to who all looking at strengthening their deep core and pelvic floor muscles during and after pregnancy or to help with lower back pain, incontinence and abdominal separation. If one on one training is more your style this is another option that can be offered. Another passion of mine is to help women in the Canberra community both young and old get more active with a free body weight exercise class at my local Islamic Centre every Wednesday evening.

Amanda Downing

Nia dance with Amanda

Hi, I’m Amanda, I love Nia and the way this practice enriches my life both on and off the dance floor: from dancing in the community, connecting with myself, and bringing mindfulness to all of my interactions, as a mother, grandmother, wife, friend, and an early childhood educator.I love being in nature, dancing, eating nourishing food, and connecting with people. I believe every person should be seen and heard and I delight in holding a safe, inclusive space for people to joyfully move in a manner that honours the design and uniqueness of their body, mind and spirit. Nia blends dance, martial arts, healing arts, music and joy into an inspiring and adaptable whole-body workout that anyone can do!

Sally Holliday

Nature Connection Walks with Landcare ACT

A steadfast believer in the transformational and healing potential of nature, Sally Holliday coordinates Landcare ACT's Women in Nature program - promoting nature connection and care for both personal health and wellbeing as well as conservation outcomes. Women in Nature is supported by a Community Grant from ACTEWAGL. During the Active Beginnings program, Sally is facilitating guided nature connection walks which are all about slowing down, tuning into your surroundings, activating your senses, and appreciating the little details.

Angela Douglas

Move for strength

My name is Angela, and I have been an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) for almost 18 years, though my main role now is educating future exercise physiologists (students) who are studying at the University of Canberra (UC). I teach about exercise and health in a wide range of areas including diabetes, cancer, arthritis, injuries and pain, mental health, and importantly, women’s health and pregnancy. In both my own clinical practice and my teaching, I promote respectful, inclusive and holistic care for each person as a whole. Part of my role at UC is also to support student learning out in the workplace, during their placements, and I am excited to have some wonderful (female) students involved with the Active Beginnings program. Together, we will be running the ‘Move for Strength’ classes to help you feel more confident and able to do strength-based exercise, and we will be providing some exercise videos on the Active Beginnings You-Tube channel.

Hayley Janmaat

Walk and Talk – Mama Connect with Hayley

Mama Connect is a Canberra-based social enterprise which focuses on promoting mothers’ mental and social wellbeing. Mama Connect offers a range of activities to enable mothers to navigate their unique journeys through motherhood. In this series of Walk’n’talk sessions women are invited to explore motherhood through being presented a topic with a Mama Connect facilitator and then have the opportunity to connect with others whilst chatting and walking. All women are invited, whether mothers or not, and the walks are pram friendly for bringing children along.

Becky Fleming

Zumba

Becky has dedicated her life to dance in all its forms and lives to share her passion through teaching, choreography and performance. She believes there is nothing more liberating and beautiful than dance and strives to enrich the lives of all her students with this philosophy. Becky leads classes in a range of dance styles. Zumba is a Latin Dance Fitness class combining rhythms of Salsa, Samba, Merengue, Cumbia, Cha Cha, Brazilian Funk, Soca and more! Get fit, have fun, learn new moves and burn calories without realizing you’re exercising! The most fun you’ll have in a workout, it’s “Exercise in disguise”.

Alena Sarri

Aqua aerobics

Alena Sarri Owner/Operator of Aquatots swim schools, a local business that has been operating for the past 22 years. Alena has been teaching swimming for 25 years and specializes in infant aquatics. She created and delivers Australia's leading infant aquatic development program for babies from 6 weeks of age along with her popular parent and bub aqua aerobic sessions. She is passionate about baby swim and the benefits the aquatic environment can give developmentally and physically to both baby and parent and presents both nationally and internationally on the topic of baby swim. Alena has been Austswims teacher of baby and toddler teacher of the year twice and was last year awarded the Swim Australia teacher of baby and toddler award for 2023. Her business has been a finalist in the Telstra business awards and won last years Canberra region business of the year 2023 for education.

Thank you

With special thanks to our research team from the University of Canberra who have supported the Active Beginnings project.

Associate Professor Cathy Knight Agarwal, Angela Douglas, Dr Myra Leung, Associate Professor Alison Shield

Contact us

Please feel free to reach out to learn more about Active Beginnings events or if you need any assistance to book in activities.

activebeginnings@canberra.edu.au or 02 6206 8278

Email us

Our people

Co-design team

Prof Deborah Davis

Dr Mary-Ellen Hooper

Zakia Patel

Ivapene Seiuli

Kirandeep Grewal

Ruth Binty Koroma

Priya Chandra

Saima Durrani

Yvette Poudjom Djomani

Theresa Maiava

Florence Sa’aga

Activity providers

Linda Berjaoui

Amanda Downing

Sally Holliday

Angela Douglas

Hayley Janmaat

Becky Fleming

Alena Sarri

Thank you

Contact us

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