8 March 2018
Sudanese refugee, international model and masters’ degree candidate Anyier Youl of Blacktown has been named the 2018 Blacktown Woman of the Year.
Ms Youl, currently studying for a Masters of International Development in Refugees and Displacement at the University of NSW, works as a Youth Transition Support Worker with the Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC) in Parramatta.
She also has had success as a model, and is the first African woman to be featured on the cover of Lito Magazine.
“Anyier is a true product of the multicultural city of Blacktown,” Blacktown City Mayor, Stephen Bali MP said.
“Her combination of talents and community work made an indelible impression on the award judges,” he said.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked globally on 8 March each year to highlight women’s equality worldwide.
In 2017 Blacktown City Council established a Women’s Advisory Committee to provide advice on issues relevant to women.
Chairperson of the Women’s Advisory Committee, Councillor Julie Griffiths, said culturally diverse committee aims to further highlight the crucial role women play in Blacktown City.
“We are a dynamic group of 20 women committed to providing a forum where issues and needs of women can be raised and discussed,” she said.
“It’s with great pleasure that we present Anyier Youl with this award and to recognise the skills and progressive movements the nominees have achieved.”
Blacktown City Council’s theme for this year’s event, leave no woman behind, is an opportunity to recognise the importance of women playing significant roles within our city.
“Blacktown’s diverse multicultural make up, combined with its ability to bring together women from political, business, government and professional backgrounds makes it a powerful place for women of purpose,” Mayor Bali said.
“Blacktown City Council’s Woman of the Year Award aims to help recognise and celebrate the achievements and contribution woman make to the local community.”
“I congratulate Anyier Youl and thank all of the nominees for their ongoing contribution and outstanding work in the community,” he said.
Anyier Youl
Blacktown resident Anyier was born in a refugee camp in Kenya and is of South Sudanese descent. After losing both her parents in the Sudanese Civil war, she was raised by an aunt until she moved to Australia with her cousins when 10 years old. She completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Development Studies, Sociology and Anthropology and is now studying for a Masters of International Development in Refugees & Displacement at UNSW.
In 2010 Anyier was one of 8 young people selected to represent Football United at FIFA's Football Festival for Hope at the World Cup in South Africa and she relished this opportunity to motivate and inspire other young people. As a Hope team member, she competed in the football tournament and was selected to attend leadership development workshops with young people from 32 countries across the globe.
Anyier has used her advocacy skills in schools to promote Refugee Week, Human Rights Week, Youth Week and Harmony Day. Her role as a Football United youth leader and Ambassador led to her being granted the inaugural Football United UNSW scholarship award. She now facilitates sessions on advocacy and social responsibility as part of their Creating Chances education program. It is an interactive workshop which enables young people to identify issues in their communities and develop creative strategies and campaigns to raise awareness or contribute to solving the issue.
She has also made a name in the international beauty and fashion world, wining Miss Grand South Sudan at Miss Grand International 2016 and Miss Supranational Africa in 2017. This year, she will host her own beauty pageant, Miss Sahara.
2018 Blacktown City Woman of the Year finalists
Harinder Kaur
Harinder started the Harman Foundation, with her husband, in 2013 after their son died in a motor vehicle accident. The foundation aims to alleviate suffering in the multicultural community resulting from grief caused by uncontrollable events. The services offered include counselling, mental health workshops, support groups, food drives and Harmony Day events. The Glenwood resident has worked in Education for over 35 years, particularly with disadvantaged women in the prison system, and has held the role of Senior Education Officer at the NSW Department of Justice since 1993.
Kylie Smith
Kylie is the founder of Embracing Arms, a not-for-profit organisation that offers support for women suffering from depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. The Quakers Hill resident created the organisation following a traumatic birth experience with her second son during which she suffered in silence for 18 months. Embracing Arms has since become a wonderful community support network with more than 500 members, offering women a place to feel less alone and find strength and hope in their darkest moments.
Linda McDonald
Linda McDonald is a proud Aboriginal woman whose passion lies with helping and empowering women who are less fortunate than herself. Linda coordinates the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) at a drop-in centre in Emerton, where anyone can come in for a yarn, participate in wellbeing programs and attend parenting groups.
HIPPY provides pre-school aged children with a structured, education-focused program that lays the foundations for success at school. Parents are given skills to teach literacy, numeracy and language skills as well as physical skills so that their children are school-ready.
Nalika Padmasena
Nalika is a solicitor with Seniors Rights Service and acted as its Principal Solicitor during the latter part of 2017. The Schofields resident spent over a decade working as an anti-violence worker in the Women’s Health sector, she implemented various innovative award-winning community development and education programs related to domestic violence, raising awareness in culturally and linguistically diverse communities in particular. As an editor of the NSW Solicitor’s Manual’s retirement village law, Nalika has presented numerous conference papers on Domestic Violence, retirement village issues and Elder Abuse.
Sonia Kalsi
Sonia works alongside families with young children who have recently migrated to Australia, or those who are experiencing social isolation issues. The Kings Langley resident assists with case management for culturally and linguistically diverse women who are referred by Blacktown Hospital because of complicated pregnancies or post-natal depression, helping to establish support networks. Sonia also works closely with the Harman Foundation to combat domestic violence in Sikh and Indian communities and has joined with Pink Sari Inc. to increase the number of women in Indian and Sri Lankan communities in NSW being screened for breast cancer.
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