Let’s Talk Culture- Striving for Balance: Single Mothers & Mental Health in CaLD Communities

Ishar presents Let’s Talk Culture, an enriching event designed to enhance your cultural competency practices in the mental health and well-being space.

As service providers, it is crucial for us to recognise the diverse needs and experiences of the individuals we serve. This series of seminars aims to equip you with valuable information and insights on working with one of the most vulnerable cohorts in our community: CaLD women. By deepening our understanding of their unique challenges, we can better support their mental health and overall well-being.

The first seminar of the series, "Single Mothers and Mental Health in CaLD Communities," will explore the intersectionality of cultural, social, and economic factors affecting single mothers' mental health within culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities.

Expert speakers and mothers with lived experience will share their experiences, research, and strategies for providing culturally responsive care and support. As part of this seminar, we hope you will gain an understanding of: - the mental health challenges faced by single mothers in CaLD communities - culturally responsive approaches to mental health care for CaLD single mothers - Promoting holistic well-being and resilience in vulnerable populations.

Keynote Speaker 1: Aisha Nancy Novakovich - Creative & Cultural Diversity Consultant / Social Entrepreneur.

Aisha Nancy Novakovich is half Indonesian/Yugoslav, born in Indonesia, and came to Australia when she was 6 weeks old. Growing up, Aisha first lived in Coober Pedy, an outback opal mining town, and then Adelaide. Perth has been Aisha’s home since 1996. Aisha graduated from the University of WA (UWA) with the following degrees: A Bachelor of Arts (Political Science and English majors); Honours in Political Science and Feminist Literary Criticism; and a Bachelor of Law.

Most recently, Aisha co-founded a new platform called the Global Modest Fashion (Week) Association with 4 other founders from the US, Russia, France, Morocco and Indonesia. The inaugural Global Ambassador and President is H.E. Nur Asia Uno, wife of Sandiaga Uno, Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. Formerly, Aisha was the ex-Chair of Roots TV, a grassroots not-for-profit in WA that utilises film, digital media and the performing arts to provide platforms for multicultural and marginalised community members to develop and amplify their own stories.

Currently, Aisha is a board member of The Last Great Hunt, an internationally renowned collective of six theatre makers based in Perth. For Aisha, this represents an exciting opportunity to build more meaningful bridges between multicultural and mainstream communities. Previously, Aisha has sat on the boards of other organisations such as the Premier’s Anti-Racism Steering Committee, The Prime Minister’s Muslim Community Reference Group (Employment subcommittee), The Muslim Women’s Support Centre and the board of Al-Ameen College. Besides her Modest Fashion company,

Aisha’s second business is a creative and cultural consultancy, through which she works with clients such as Perth Festival, City of Perth, ABC Perth, and many grassroots community organisations. Aisha has won several awards for her work in community, including the Centenary Medal, Finalist in the WA Youth Awards and the Jennifer Inkster Memorial Law Award for Social Justice.

Keynote Speaker 2: Samar Mouawad - Counsellor / Creative Arts Therapist

Samar is a Counsellor and Creative Arts Therapist and a registered member of the professional association for Creative Arts Therapist in Australia, New Zealand and Asia (ANZACATA). She graduated with a master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Murdoch University, Perth. She has experience working with individuals and in group therapy. She follows a culturally responsive, trauma informed and person-centred approach using art for therapeutic, non-artistic purposes.

Her interests include working with women from a multicultural background, who experienced or are experiencing family domestic violence. She also works with youth and adults with grief, anxiety, self-esteem and other psychological difficulties.

Samar has a bachelor's degree with honour in speech pathology and had the privilege to work as a Speech Therapist in Dubai in the first governmental early intervention program, “Dubai Early Childhood Development Centre”. She was part of a transdisciplinary team and worked closely with family counsellors to empower families of children with disabilities and gained role enrichment in the areas of family counselling practices that highlighted the intertwined relation between the parents’ mental health and child development.