Australian Hajj pilgrims begin to arrive in KSA

The first group of Hajj pilgrims from Australia have arrived in KSA. This is the first year pilgrims from Australia have been chosen through a new e-registration mechanism, itself a part of a digitalisation initiative by the KSA Ministry of Haj and Umrah. The e-portal is said to offer competitive rates for Hajj packages, and streamlines e-visa issuances.

The Ministry of Haj and Umrah also shared details of domestic pilgrim registration. Over 297,000 applications had been received, with the highest proportion of applicants aged 31 to 40. There was no preference given to those who had responded the earliest.

Islamic Council of Victoria announces funding initiatives

The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) welcomes the announcement from Minister Ros Spence, Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, that the Victorian government will be providing A$20,000 to support halal food pack distributions to needy families.

ICV President Mohamed Mohideen said, "We'd like to thank Minister Spence and the Victorian government for this much-needed financial contribution that will allow the ICV to continue our work supporting Muslim families, refugees and international students during the holy month of Ramadhhan, made even more urgent during this challenging time."

The ICV has set up a separate emergency fund of A$20,000 for Muslim families experiencing severe financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.

In addition, the ICV started an initiative to help mosques leverage online technology to connect with their communities. The government in Victoria are providing A$5,000 to cover the costs of subscribing to Zoom.

"The current restrictions on community gatherings provide an opportunity for Muslim families to focus on the message of spiritual renewal and empathy for those less fortunate, as a family," Mohideen said.

The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, had earlier announced that Ramadhan would begin in Australia on 24 April as the moon was visible after sunset for 19 minutes in Sydney, and for 22 minutes in Perth.

Islamic Council of Victoria advises on burial process for COVID-19 deceased

The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV), in consultation with the medical community, religious and community leaders as well as most of the Muslim funeral directors in Victoria, Australia, has come up with guidelines on handling and burying a person who has passed away due to COVID-19:

- All funerals (janazas) are to be carried with strict infection control procedures

- All staff involved in the funeral will follow personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines

- The body of the deceased must not be removed from the sealed bag

- Ritual cleansing of the body will be performed with tayyamum (using clean sand) over the body bag, or masa (wiping over the body bag with a damp cloth). The ritual will be performed by the funeral director or other trained person. If the deceased is female, the procedure will be performed by a female member of the funeral service.

- The body should then be covered in cloth over the sealed bag in preparation for the funeral.

- The body is to be taken directly to the cemetery.

- Funeral prayers with the family are to be conducted at the grave site, but social distancing rules apply. The maximum number of attendees is currently 10, but is subject to change.

Details:

Read the guidelines for prevention and control of infection in healthcare

Read the guidelines for PPE

Read the guidelines for funerals

Australia shares live sheep export review outcomes

​The Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources said mid-May that it supports the recommendations made by Dr Michael McCarthy, a vet with experience in the export industry, in his review of live sheep exports to the Middle East during the northern summer (Australia is currently undergoing winter), and will be working to implement them, subject to further public consultation and testing of the findings relating to heat stress risk assessment.

The review was called after distressing footage appeared of conditions on a ship sending live sheep to the Middle East, including a high number of deaths, and aimed to establish whether there were problems in the preparation, selection or management of the consignment prior to export, or if disease or other factors caused high mortalities during the voyage.

Dr McCarthy recommends moving from a heat stress risk assessment based on mitigating the risk of mortality (as few deaths as possible) to mitigating the risk of heat stress (ensuring the livestock are comfortably cool), which represents a paradigm shift in the management and regulation of live exports, the department said.

Several of the recommendations will be implemented immediately, including moving to an allometric model - a calculation based on size - to determine stocking density and reducing the notifiable mortality level for sheep exported by sea to the Middle East from 2% to 1%. In the past, mortality rates above 2% in consignments triggered a review of the preparation and management of sheep during voyages.

"Others areas, such as the heat stress risk assessment, require more research, testing and public consultation to ensure an informed and effective implementation—which Dr McCarthy did not have capacity to complete in the timeframe," the department said in a statement.

"The department is committed to ensuring exporters manage animal welfare and will implement Dr McCarthy’s recommendations to improve conditions for sheep exported to the Middle East during this northern summer."

Explore:

Read Dr McCarthy’s full report, the list of recommendations and the regulator’s response

Sabah Al Ahmed Masjid and Islamic Education Centre opened in Canberra

The Kuwait News Agency has reported that the Kuwait Ambassador to Australia, Najeeb Al-Bader, inaugurated the Sabah Al Ahmed Masjid and Islamic Education Centre on 4 May in Canberra, Australia.

The inauguration ceremony was held at the Canberra Islamic Centre and was attended by over 450 people.

In his speech Ambassador Al-Bader shared that the construction of the mosque and centre is the result of a partnership between the Kuwaiti embassy and Canberra Islamic Centre, backed by a donation from the Council of Ministers of Kuwait for about A$2 million. The project was launched after the Canberra Islamic Centre communicated the need for a mosque and centre to provide educational and religious services to the 10,000-strong Muslim community in Canberra. It aims to help the community to integrate into Australian society, spread the message of Islam, as well as promote interreligious plus intercultural dialogue and understanding. 

The Ambassador said the mosque is the first of its kind in Canberra and Australia, and is large enough to accommodate 1,200 male and female worshipers. It also includes classrooms that will host lessons on Quran memorisation, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Arabic. The gardens can be used for events.

Ambassador Al-Bader called for the continuation of the partnership between the Kuwaiti Embassy and the Canberra Islamic Centre. The Kuwaiti Embassy is to be a permanent member of the executive committee of the centre. 

Chris Crewther, Member of Paraliament for Dunkley-Victoria, spoke on behalf the Australian Prime Minister, the Honourable Malcolm Turnbull. He noted the importance of the achievement for the Muslim community, and said the launch reflects multicultural Australian society and its religious integration. 

Dr Walid Al-Shuaib, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs for the Holy Quran and Islamic Studies, representing Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs Dr Fahd Al-Afasi, shared that Kuwait provides humanitarian aid and charity to the disadvantaged anywhere in the world, regardless of religion, country, gender or colour. He stressed that the project would promote tolerance and equality while imparting Islamic values. 

Explore:

View photos of the events on Facebook

Qurban.SG offers qurban in different countries

Source: Qurban.SG website. A sheep.

Qurban.SG is offering meat from sheep and cows from Australia this year.

The rites will  be held in a halal-approved abattoir in Melbourne, Australia, with the process will be inspected* by a Qurban.SG representative. The cut meat will then be flown to Singapore, where it is further butchered the meat into portions ready for doorstep delivery, or distributed to the needy in Singapore.

Qurban in Australia will be held on 1 September 2017, the first day of Hari Raya Haji. Delivery and donations will take place between 5 and 10 September 2017.

Those who would like to visit the qurban process firsthand can consider qurban in Johor, Malaysia. Families may witness the slaughter and an individual may also opt to slaughter the animal, with guidance from the team on-site.

For the 5th year running, Qurban.SG is also offering the option of qurban in Indonesia, with the meat to be distributed to the needy in Indonesia.

Qurban can be performed in in Semarang, Central Java or Pasuruan, East Java. It will take place in Pasuruan on 1 and 2 September, and in Semarang on 3 and 4 September. Different qurban teams will be deployed in each location. Distribution will be held in Semarang, Pasuruan as well as other parts of East Java. 

For those who wish to perform qurban in India, Qurban.SG is introducing qurban performed by the Musthafa Sabiya Educational Trust in Dindigul i Tamilnadu, South India, with the meat to be distributed by the charity in India. According to Qurban.SG, the Musthafa Sabiya Educational Trust is a registered charity working for the welfare and upliftment of poor Muslims and underprivileged people in Tamilnadu.

Qurban options are also available for the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka; three locations in Cambodia; and in Vietnam. Fidyah (الفدية), money given to feed the poor for a day in compensation for a day of missed fast during Ramadhan, is available for Cambodia.

Interested?

Australia

Qurban for one name, S$330 for an Australian sheep

Average weight of meat flown to Singapore: 18kg 

Qurban for seven names, S$2,100 for an Australian cow
Average weight of meat flown to Singapore: 105kg 

Price includes delivery to the doorstep. Read the terms and conditions for Australia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

Cambodia

Qurban for goats will be performed at Madrasah Darul Ulum, Hasyimiyah, Kampung Treas, Cambodia, and at Maahad Tahfiz Ibnu Abbas, Kampung Chey Soksan, Cambodia. Qurban for bulls and cows will take place at Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.

Qurban per goat in Cambodia, S$300; three goats cost S$870

Qurban per bull or cow in Cambodia, S$998

Fidyah of S$4 for 4.5kg of rice, equivalent for three days of fasting missed, can be distributed to the poor villagers in Cambodia. Individuals may also pay S$13 for 15kg of rice, equivalent to 10 days of fasting missed.

Read the terms and conditions for Cambodia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

India

Qurban per goat in India, S$210; three goats cost S$600 

Price includes delivery to the doorstep. Read the terms and conditions for India qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

Indonesia

Qurban per goat in Indonesia, S$210; three goats cost S$600

Qurban per bull or cow in Indonesia, S$1,350
Qurban for one-seventh of a bull or cow in Indonesia, S$200; Qurban.SG will combine orders so that it is seven names per bull or cow

Read the terms and conditions for Indonesia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 2 September 2017 at 6pm

Malaysia

Qurban will be held at:

Surau Khatijah, Jalan Abdul Smaad, 80100 Johor Bahru on 1 September, and at 

Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-anak, Yatim Islam Mersing, 3 Jalan Endau, Bukit Pedoman 86800 Mersing, Malaysia on 2 September. 

Please arrive by 7am on each day.

Qurban per goat in Malaysia, S$330; three goats cost S$960 

Read the terms and conditions for Malaysia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

Sri Lanka

Qurban for one name, S$210 for a Sri Lankan sheep

Qurban for seven names, S$770 for a Sri Lankan cow

Qurban for one-seventh of a cow in Sri Lanka, S$130; orders are combined so that it is seven names per bull or cow

Read the terms and conditions for Sri Lanka qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

Vietnam

Qurban in Vietnam will be conducted on 3 September 2016, in a village of Long Khanh Province, Vietnam

Qurban for seven names, S$1,250 for a Vietnamese bull/cow

Read the terms and conditions for Vietnam qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

*Due to Australian regulations, pictures of the animal before or after slaughter cannot be taken in the abattoir.

Islamic art of illumination workshop available this May in Melbourne

Tezhip – The Islamic Art of Illumination is a two-day workshop held at the Islamic Museum of Australia over a weekend in May. The art of Turkish tezhip (التذهيب ), which refers to decorating with gold, is the ancient art of illuminating (decorating) manuscripts. 

Course instructor Gulay Pelin is one of Australia's most unique miniaturists. Pelin draws on the symbolism of the traditional miniature, paper marbling, and gilding in the Ottoman style to create her own contemporary interpretations. 

Interested?

Tezhip – The Islamic Art of Illumination

May 13 and 14, 2017

11am to 4pm

Islamic Museum of Australia

15A Anderson Road, Thornbury 3071, Melbourne, Australia. 

A$110 

All equipment and materials will be provided. The hands-on course is suitable for all levels of experience. 

Register

Watch Instagram videos of tezhip being done by Dilara Yarci Diniz

Registration now open for the 2017 Australian Muslim Artists exhibition

Source: Islamic Museum of Australia Facebook page.

Australian Muslim Artists (AMA) an annual shortlisted exhibition presenting the work of emerging to established Australian Muslim artists across all mediums, is calling for participants for the 2017 edition.

The exhibition aims to facilitate a new movement of expressions and cutting-edge exhibits and provide a professional platform for artists to exhibit at the Islamic Museum of Australia.

Interested?

Entries close on 15 January 2017, and the exhibition will open on 15 February 2017, running till 15 May. Register

New Australian Islamic Centre takes shape in Melbourne

Source: AIC website. Model of the AIC.

An exhibition at the National Gallery Victoria, Glenn Murcutt: Architecture of Faith, celebrates architect Glenn Murcutt's work on the Australian Islamic Centre (AIC), which is currently being constructed in Newport/Hobsons Bay, Melbourne Australia. The initiative by the NIS will provide more facilities for the growing Islamic community. According to the NIS, there are currently more than 10,000 Muslims in the area.

Murcutt and Hakan Elevli of Elevli+ Architects, a Melbourne practice, worked with the Newport Islamic Society (NIS), a non-for-profit organisation, for nearly a decade on the creation of a contemporary Australian mosque and Islamic centre. Murcutt is well known for environmentally sensitive designs with a distinctive Australian character. His buildings are a blend of modernist sensibility, local craftsmanship and respect for nature.

Murcutt is the only Australian recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize which is awarded annually to “honour a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture".

Murcutt has reimagined the geometry, colours, materiality and spatial organisation of a traditional mosque to create an accessible contemporary place of worship, learning and community. The AIC adopts Murcutt’s ethos of design, maximising the climatic conditions and using materials which are related to local bluestone quarries and the Aboriginal heritage of the location.

The minaret, a traditional part of a mosque and where the call to prayer is made, has been eliminated in Murcutt's design. In the Australian context, the call to prayer or adhan can be announced internally, avoiding disruption to local communities of a different faith. Similarly, Murcutt has taken away the often-standard dome of the mosque, incorporating lanterns that extend over the main roof and orientated to capture the light at the different times of each day. A pool is designed to deflect the afternoon sun into the prayer hall and throw water reflections onto the ceiling and walls.

The establishment is designed to include worship, educational and recreational facilities and will be built in three phases:

Phase one:

• A mosque with approximately 1,200 sq m of prayer areas for both male and female worshippers.
• An Educational Centre consisting of a library and other facilities
• Offices
• Cafe and restaurant
• Imam’s residence
• Two guest houses

Phase two:

• A school with eight classrooms for Arabic and Islamic Studies
• Dedicated study areas

Phase three:

• Indoor recreational and functions centre
• Mens' gym
• Ladies' gym
• Multifunction Hall

Interested?

The Australian Islamic Centre is at 23-31 Blenheim Rd, Newport, Victoria 3015, Australia. Check out construction milestones

Architecture of Faith is at NGV Australia, Federation Square, NGV Design Studio, Ground Level. The exhibition runs till 19 February 2017 and is open 10am to 5pm daily. Entry is free

10th Annual Muslim Achievement Awards names winners

Source: AMAA Facebook page. The winners of AMAA 2016. From left: Nazeem Hussain, Creative Artist of the Year, Sana Karanouh, Volunteer of the Year, Steve Dabliz, People's Choice of the Year & Social Media Award, Talal Yassine, Man of the Year, Father Rod Bower, Anglican Parish of Gosford, Abyssinian Award, Yasmin Khan, Lifetime Achiever, Dalya Ayoub, Role Model of the Year, Somayra Ismailjee, Youth of the Year, and Samah Sabawi, Creative Artist of the Year.

The 10th Annual Muslim Achievement Awards (AMAA) were held on 11 December. Organised by the Mission of Hope, the achievements of Australian Muslim individuals and organisations were celebrated in Granville, New South Wales.

"Mission of Hope is all about enhancing our community and providing opportunities that will enhance the lives of the most needy within our community. The Australian Muslim Achievement Awards is just one of those opportunities to help the community celebrate achievements of individuals who have excelled within their respected categories," said the President of Mission of Hope Nasreen Hanifi in a message shared by the AMAA Facebook page.

Winners included:

Yasmin Khan - Australian Muslim Lifetime Achiever of the Year
Talal Yassine- Australian Muslim Man of the Year

Sherene Hassan - Australian Muslim Woman of the Year
Somayra Ismailjee - Australian Muslim Youth of the Year
Father Rod Bower, Anglican Parish of Gosford - Australian Abyssinian of the Year
Associate Professor Halim Rane - Australian Muslim Professional of the Year
Usman Khawaja - Australian Muslim Sportsperson of the Year
Samah Sabawi - Australian Muslim Creative Artist of the Year
Nazeem Hussain - Australian Muslim Creative Artist of the Year
Sana Karanouh - Australian Muslim Volunteer of the Year
Dalya Ayoub - Australian Muslim Role Model of the Year
Steve Dabliz - Australian Muslim People's Choice of the Year and Australian Muslim Social Media Award of the Year
The White Coats / Homeless Run - Australian Muslim Community Organisation of the Year
Pillars of Guidance Community Centre - Australian Muslim Best New Community Project of the Year
Eid at Taronga Zoo - Australian Muslim Event of the Year, a Crescent Wealth event
OnePath Network - Australian Muslim Media Organisation of the Year
Crescent Wealth - Australian Muslim Business of the Year

In his acceptance speech Father Bower said that he was deeply humbled by the award and accepted it "with acknowledgement to every human being who has ever sought refuge from persecution". "I along with many others here tonight remain committed to the same principles that guided the decisions of the Negus of Abyssinia. Human need always comes before ideology; the spirit of hospitality always overcomes the fear of the stranger and at the end of the day bridges will always make us feel safer than walls," he said.

Interested?

Watch a video of Eid at the Zoo

View the list of 2016 finalists

Hashtag: #EIDattheZOO, #AustralianMuslimAchievementAwards, #MissionOfHope, #AMAA

Yassmin Abdel-Magied will read from her book at the IMA

Source: IMA website. Poster for the event.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied will read from her book, Yassmin's Story: Who do you think I am?, at the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) this December. The reading, titled Burkinis, Burnouts and Boys, will be followed by an intimate conversation with the audience facilitated by IMA host Amna lqbal.

Abdel-Magied was born in Sudan and raised in Australia.  She is the Founder and Chair of Australia-based Youth Without Borders.

Interested?

The reading is on December 7 from 11am to 12:30pm. at the Islamic Museum of Australia, 15 Anderson Road, Thornbury, VIC 3071, Australia. Visit islamicmuseum.org.au or call 1300 915 171 for bookings and enquiries 

Watch Abdel-Magied on video explaining why she wrote a memoir at 24

Buy the book

Hashtags: #MorningTea, #IMA, #YassminsStory

Halal Expo Australia 2017 to extend halal industry's reach

Halal Expo Australia 2017, a two-day exhibition, will showcase stakeholders in the halal economy and allow them access for B2B and B2C networking under one roof.

There will be halal ethnic food stalls, Islamic cultural shows, cooking competitions, awards for excellent halal services, rides, amusements, and animal rides.

Source: Halal Expo Australia website. Event profile.

The International Halal Conference (IHC) will be held alongside the Halal Expo (Fair & Festival) to generate awareness about the significance of halal products and services within the Australian Islamic community.

Participants will discuss steps to enhance and strengthen the network of the halal industries and products/services in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region as part of the theme Halal as a Culture, Economy and Trade. Topics will include:

• Halal as a healthy lifestyle
• Halal certification and accreditation bodies
• Halal science
• Halal branding
• Halal investment & financing
• Prohibition of riba (ربا , interest)
• Islamic tourism
• Islamic residential and commercial developments
• Islamic fashion & design
• The role of the halal industry in the Australian economy

Interested?

Halal Expo Australia 2017 will be held at Rosehill Gardens, Sydney, Australia, from 11 to 12 February

Book a stall or booth

Participate in the conference

Contribute more event listings to the Suroor Asia events page

SalamFest on 1 October explores the many facets of Muslim heritage

SalamFest, the Muslim Arts Festival, will be held at the State Library of Victoria on October 1. Supported by the Islamic Council of Victoria, SalamFest captures the essence of the rich heritage of Islam and shows how it contributes to the broader Australian tapestry through several events:

Source: SalamFest website. Event poster.

At the SalamFest Sufi Festival
SalamFest will showcase the talents of contemporary and traditional performers, poetry and music.

Performances include:
+Whirling dervishes
+Sufi music and instrumentals
+Rumi’s recitals

Time: 2pm to 4pm

The Muslim Film Festival showcases short films from across the Muslim world, including award-winning and critically-acclaimed stories from Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Syria, Turkey and Australia.

Venue: State Library of Victoria – Village Roadshow Theatrette
Time: 4pm to 10pm

Session 1: Short Films
Time: 4pm to 8pm

By Compass & Quran (Australia)
Written and directed by Kuranda Seyit, produced and edited by Fadle El-Harris, this documentary explores the history of the outback Afghan cameleers. It features interviews with cameleer descendants and insights from historians on the 150-year history of the cameleers.

Coffee for all nations (Palestine)
In 1948, the Israeli army forced Abed’s family and other residents of Al-Walaja village near Bethlehem to abandon their homes. Despite the expulsion, Abed decided to open up a coffee shop for all nations on his land, which although surrounded by settlements, was in a spot that could be reached by Palestinians, Israelis and foreigners. Through his coffee shop, Abed shared his one possession: a stunning view. But, for how long?

Baby
Narges and her friend have just hours to find someone to take care of her baby for several days.

Jungle
In the heart of Istanbul, Omar and his daughter struggle for their lives after fleeing the war in Syria.

Nefertiti's Daughters
A story of women, art and revolution, told by prominent Egyptian artists, about the critical role revolutionary street art played during the Egyptian uprisings.

Session 2: Australian premiere of Kashf - The Lifting of the Veil
Time: 8pm to 9:30pm

Armaghan returns to Pakistan after 25 years to search out his Sufi master. During his journey through Lahore the physical and material worlds blur, diverting him from his original quest. He pursues a mysterious woman through the streets of Lahore, but her changing forms make her impossible to possess. His cousin Ali seeks his calling in Lollywood and becomes engulfed by fantastical hallucinations - has he found peace or lost his hold on reality?Kashf - The Lifting of the Veil explores the inevitable intrusions of the material world on those who seek out a different reality.

Interested?

SalamFest will be on from 2pm to 10pm at:

State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston Street
Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Tickets range from A$16.59 to A$52.99
Buy tickets

posted from Bloggeroid

Aqiqah Singapore opens registration for qurban 2016 in Australia

Aqiqah Singapore has opened up registration for qurban in Australia. The slaughtering, skinning and butchering of the animal is carried out in Australia, with a trusted representative supervising to ensure the entire process is done correctly, as per shari'ah guidelines.

The cut meat will then be flown to Singapore after the rites. Aqiqah Singapore will further butcher the meat into portions that are ready to be delivered to the door or distributed to the needy in Singapore. Registrants may choose to take all of the meat, a portion of the meat, or none of it, with the rest donated to charity.

Photography and videography are not allowed in the Australian abattoir, but qurban e-certificates are available on request. Certificates are not issued by default. E-certificates will be processed one to two months after the completion of qurban.

Interested?

A sheep for qurban costs S$295. Register by 6 September 2016 for the slaughter dates of 12 and 13 September. The meet will be distributed between 16 and 20 September 2016. Delivery to the door will cost an additional S$15 per sheep to a single location. The delivery charge is S$30 for two or more sheep to a single location. Register

Eighteenth Chand Raat Eid Festival set for July in four Australian locations

The 18th Chand Raat Eid Festival (CREF) is a multicultural celebration which will offer a fair and food with up to 300 exhibitors in three different locations in 2016. ‘Chand raat’, means ‘night of the moon', marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan and eve of the Eid-Al-Fitr holiday, and is open for everyone without religious or cultural boundaries.

The aim of the CREF is to promote culture, friendship and harmony through the traditional celebrations. The event engages multicultural communities and Australians across Australia as the events are being held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The festival is an opportunity for families to get together. The community groups, individuals, and business community place variety of stalls containing promotions of business, services, handicrafts, art, painting, clothes, jewellery, henna, bangles, shoes, toys and large variety of ethnic food.

The festival also provides children amusements and rides and live multicultural performances. CREF encourages and provides an opportunity for individuals, families and small business owners to introduce, exhibit and sell their products and services to thousands of attendees. CREF, being a non-alcoholic family event, provides fantastic opportunity to families and youth to enjoy wonderful amusements, entertainment activities and delicious variety of foods.

The CREF was first held in 1998 in the Sydney Suburb of Lakemba. since then, it has been the fastest growing multicultural events in Australia. Last year, (2015) over 60,000 visitors and over 350 exhibitors participated in the four events held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Interested?

Perth: 5 July, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, WA. About 10,000 visitors are expected.

Melbourne: 5 July, Broadmeadows Leisure Centre, Melbourne, VIC. About 5,000 visitors are expected.

Sydney: 6 July, Rosehill Gardens, Sydney, NSW. Some 25,000 visitors are expected.

Melbourne: 10 July, Springers Leisure Centre and Tatterson Park, Keysborough, VIC. About 20,000 visitors are expected.

Enquire about sponsorship or stall bookings

Halal Expo Australia expands to three events in 2016

Source: Halal Expo Australia website.

Buoyed by the success of the first Halal Expo Australia in 2015, the organisers of Halal Expo Australia will have three events in 2016: Halal Expo Melbourne on 3 April, the International Halal Conference (IHC) 2016 on Saturday 9th of April at Novotel Hotel Darling Harbour Sydney; and Halal Expo Sydney on Sunday, 10th of April 2016 at Fairfield showground, Fairfield (Sydney) NSW.

The inaugural edition of Halal Expo Australia, held in Sydney, was held in April 2015 was met with much acclaim. More than 10,000 people attended the 100-exhibitor event, including a number of community leaders, local politicians and celebrities. The organisers subsequently received invitations from people in other states to organise the event in other cities. 

Halal Expo Australia aims to spread awareness about the significance of halal food, products and services among the growing population of the members of the Islamic community in Australia, and to those who do not possess clear or specific knowledge about the consumption of halal food or those who had never used any halal products and services

The first IHC is themed Islam, Halal Industry and Australia, and provides a forum for speakers to discuss and find resolutions on the issues in the larger interest of the Islamic community in Australia and the Pacific region. The speakers will talk about steps to enhance and strengthen the network of the halal industry and its products/services in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region while planning to widen the halal network to other countries and regions. They will make decisions and pass resolutions in connection with the furtherance of their goals of assisting halal industry players, manufacturers and retailers of halal products.

The IHC 2016 will also create awareness about the significance of halal products and services within and outside the Australian Islamic community. The Conference will provide experience and awareness to those who are not well versed or clear about the importance of halal products and services in multicultural Australia and how halal industry is playing a vital role in the Australian economy.

Key topics include:

The halal lifestyle
The science behind the halal slaughter practice
The importance of the role of Islamic scholars for the halal industry
Halal certification
Islamic finance – What is halal and haram
Halal banking and Investments
From indifference to Islamophobia – Australian Muslim responses
Islamic tourism and Muslim ummah (world)
Australian government and the halal Industry
The role of the halal industry in the Australian economy

The Director of Halal Expo Australia, Syed Atiq ul Hassan, is also the founding director of the Chand-Raat Eid Festival (CREF) which is held in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Interested?

Halal Expo Melbourne 2016 will be held on 3 April 2016 from 10am to 8.30pm at the Royal Melbourne Showgrounds. Tickets cost A$5 (children under 5 free). Get involved

The first IHC 2016 is on 9 April at Novotel Hotel Darling Harbour Sydney from 9am to 5pm; and 

Halal Expo Sydney is on 10 April at the Fairfield showground, Fairfield, Sydney, NSW. Tickets cost A$5 (children under 5 free). Get involved

Islamic Museum of Australia to feature Islamic coins from UAE collection

Source: IMA website.

The Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) is launching Australia's first Islamic Coins Exhibition on 12th March 2016 in conjunction with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Running to 30th May 2016, the event will present 100 original gold dinars dating from the Umayyad period through to the Ottoman era.

The coins will showcase the empires, sultanates, khanates, caliphates and territories from which they come, reflecting the norms of trade across different eras and illustrating the history of Islamic finance at the same time.

The coins are part of a personal collection belonging to coin specialist Abdullah Bin Jassim Al Mutairi. This Emirati historian and numismatist has 15,000 coins in his collection, representing one of the largest and most rare collections in the world.

Islamic arts symposium to be held at Islamic Museum of Australia in March 2016

The Council for Australia-Arab Relations and the Islamic Museum of Australia present An International Islamic Arts Symposium on 5 March 2016, on the theme Bridging the Gulf: How are we affecting change through art?.

The event will be followed by the Islamic Museum of Australia Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner 2016, on 6 March.

Interested?

The symposium will be held on 5 March at the Islamic Museum of Australia from 9am. Call 1300 915 71 to register

The Islamic Museum of Australia Annual Fundraising Gala Dinner 2016, will follow on 6 March at 6pm, to be held at 215 Bell Street, Preston 3072, Melbourne. A table of 10 costs A$1,000 while individual tickets are priced at A$110 per person. Buy tickets or call 1300 915 71 with questions

CAAR opens new grant round, closing April 2016

The Council for Australia-Arab Relations (CAAR) has opened a new grant round that will close at 1pm AEST on 11 April 2016.

In the 2016-2017 grant round CAAR is looking for projects that enhance Australia's economic, cultural and social relations with the Arab world. The projects should have clear outcomes and offer as much benefit as possible, particularly those that are likely to prove self-sustaining.

While the level of grant funding will be decided according to the merits of the proposal, funding will generally be above A$10,000 per grant. Funding for their project may also be sought from other sources.

Proposals must demonstrate relevance to one or more of the Council's strategic objectives. In addition proposals must either serve a CAAR flagship programme and/or address a CAAR priority sector.

CAAR flagship programmes include:

International Speakers Program – supports the two-way flow of influential individuals between Australia and the Arab world. Visits could encompass two to three locations for a week of public speaking, targeted meetings and media opportunities. 

Visiting fellowships - supports talented academics from the Arab world to research, teach and learn at Australian institutions. 

Media internships – supports pilot programmes to encourage Australian media participation and exchange at news agencies in the Arab world. 

Promotion of women – supports an annual award or event specifically aimed at promoting women in the Arab world by encouraging diversity, innovation and female leadership.

Priority sectors for the grants round include education; business and trade; culture and arts; and media.

The previous round of grantees were announced in late December 2015. They included:

Source: Straight Street Media. World of Women Banner, featuring a picture of the Australian founder Hermoine Macura.

World of Women Film Fair - by Straight Street Media
Priority Area: Education
Flagship Programme: Promotion of women
Country: UAE, Lebanon

The World of Women’s Cinema - WOW Film Fair Middle East is the first women’s short film fair that promotes and awards the talents of women directors, producers and cinematographers in the film industry internationally. It is an event that offers emerging and established filmmakers the opportunity to screen short works giving a thematic perspective of ... “seeing the world through the eyes of women”. Created by Women in Film and Television NSW and supported by CAAR, this is the first of its kind in the Arab world. Committed to improving the status of women, both on and off the screen, the event aims to support and advance women working in film and TV.

This is the first project under the CAAR’s new flagship for the promotion of women.

Council for Australian-Arab Relations grant offer: A$20,000, GST-exclusive
Total project value: A$52,000

Australian Gulf Art Conference, Islamic Museum of Australia
Priority Area: Education
Flagship Programme: International Speakers Program
Country: Australia

The Australian Gulf Art Conference (AGAC) will be hosted by the Islamic Museum of Australia in 2016. This event will produce a melting-pot of ideas in relation to the arts, museums and cultural institutions operating in the Gulf and Australian regions. Renowned international artists, researchers, professionals, and influential persons will share their experiences from their relevant fields of expertise proposing philosophies, ideas, and collaborative projects for the future. Long-term, this conference will promote Gulf and Australian bilateral relationships, enlarging professional networks, and invigorating multicultural exchange - potentially leading to a follow-up conference in the Gulf.

Council for Australian-Arab Relations grant offer: A$55,000, GST-inclusive
Total project value: A$81,000

Mashrabiya: a Glimpse into Sacred Arab Art and Architecture by Bankstown Youth Development Service
Priority Area: Transport and Infrastructure
Flagship Programme: International Speakers Program
Country: Australia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman

Mashrabiya is a series of talks and workshops on Arab architecture and visual culture. It is an opportunity for design professionals and community members to engage with contemporary ideas and ancient design principles, and to apply these creatively. The project aims to expand our understanding of sacred spaces in Australian cities, and to celebrate their aesthetic, social and cultural value.

The project will include a series of talks by international artists and architects from the Arab world, and a complementary series of lectures to students at tertiary institutes. In partnership with Penrith and Bankstown Councils, students will work with international and local artists to facilitate workshops for communities to explore key principles of Arab art and architecture. Artworks from these workshops will be curated in an exhibition / installation across Bankstown and Penrith.

Council for Australian-Arab Relations grant offer: A$16,500, GST-inclusive
Total project value: A$28,100

Interested?

Read the detailed guidelines, watch the associated video or apply

Australia to open new consulate in Makassar, Indonesia

Australia will open its third diplomatic and trade mission in Indonesia in mid-2016, in Makassar - the gateway to Eastern Indonesia, disclosed Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Paul Grigson. The country already has missions in Jakarta and Bali.

Makassar is situated between Northern Australia, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and the major towns of Eastern Indonesia. With an economic growth rate of 7.6%, compared to 5% for the rest of Indonesia, Makassar is increasingly sought after as a city for investment, particularly in the rapidly expanding agriculture, manufacturing and retail and hospitality sectors, Grigson said.

Australia is South Sulawesi’s second largest source of imports with goods worth US$135.6 million. Australian firms are already present in the region. Grigson said PT Vale Indonesia’s construction services and One Asia Resources Limited, in Luwu Regency, which is exploring gold deposits, provide employment for local people. Indonesian enterprise Interflour, (Eastern Pearl), the fourth largest flour mill in the world, mills Australian wheat and has the second-largest market share for flour consumption in Indonesia, he said. 

"We’re looking forward to becoming part of the community and to help build better connections in business and investment, culture and education between Australia and Eastern Indonesia," he said in a statement.