Vote for your Women of the Year

Woman of the Year finalists

Aunty Lyn Martin is a Darug Elder, who has served the Canterbury-Bankstown area for quite a few years. Besides serving on the Council's Elders Committee and being part of many Council events, Aunty Lyn serves the First Nations Community and the wider Sydney Community is so many ways. There are not a lot of people who do not know who Aunty Lyn Martin is! Aunty Lyn is a member of the Bankstown Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), organises meetings and activities for the group and schools in the LGA; organises Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week guests for the Council through her many big contacts, which shows her strong leadership skills, and how she gets the job done! Aunty Lyn is always advocating for the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA, where her heart is, and she makes many things happen because of her involvement.
I have known Norma Smith since 2008. She provided aged care in the home to my parents for 10 years or so. Norma's community involvement includes: • volunteer in Canterbury-Bankstown for 25 years; • Justice of the Peace for 25 years and President of the local branch. She organised the first JP desks in Campsie and Lakemba Council Libraries; • member of the Canterbury-Bankstown Interfaith Group creating harmony and understanding across cultures; • teaching English class in Lakemba Library for over 10years; • helping Seniors from various cultural groups participate in community events at Campsie and Lakemba Libraries. • Volunteer Consumer Representative (vp) at Canterbury Hospital. • has volunteered at elections providing voting information to assist the public. In summary she is a dedicated, tireless & respected worker in Canterbury-Bankstown.
Marlene is a very strong woman, mother, friend, daughter, boss and to everyone around her. She is very empowering, helpful, persevering, she is a symbol of power and strength. As a mother I saw her how she loves her children and grandchildren. She is prone to put her life at risk for her loved ones. As a daughter I see how she respects, love and cares for her mother. As her friend, colleague and her subordinate I admire and love her for her generosity, for being so helpful and understanding to me and her employees. And as a boss and a support worker she is the best to give care to the elderly, to the kids that are under her care, she always treats them as her family. She deserves this award and more.
Sandra is an inspiration! She is passionate about providing support to women of all ages, shapes and sizing for them to achieve their health goals. She has helped many women at different stages of life and on their health journey. She is an asset to the community as she shows a passion for health and wellness whilst encouraging others to be their best self. Her positivity is contagious, and she absolutely revels in the success of others. Sandra knows no limit: she is a wife, mother, trainer, entrepreneur, pod caster, photographer, and the woman who is always in your corner. I highly recommend Sandra for the Woman of the Year award. Although she does what she does because that is her calling in life, I hope she can see how much she has truly made a difference in the community.
Thea has been a member of the Rotary Club of Padstow since March 2016, as well as being a member of the View Club. Both of these are community based non-profit organisations. Over the past couple of years Thea has been active in a wide range of community-based projects including the End Trachoma kits to Indigenous school aged children in the Northern Territory, the annual Little Ray of Giving Christmas gift drive, organised knitting lamb jumpers with her view club, involved in running the monthly Panania markets and volunteering at our monthly Padstow Bunnings BBQ. Thea has also taken on the role of liaison between the Rotary Club of Padstow and our Interact Club at East Hills Girls Technology High School. They engage in various projects to fundraise for charities.

Community Woman of the Year finalists

Diana works at Creating Links, a not for profit multicultural community service provider that works with children in foster care. Diana's determination and dedication to the employees, families and children she works with is outstanding. Diana gives so much attention to details to ensure the safety of the children in care. Diana presents a warm, cheerful attitude to children, young people, families and peers. Diana remains solution focused and mediates and negotiates to ensure the best outcomes and safety for the children in foster care. Diana is an asset to Canterbury-Bankstown and her devotion to the LGA is making a positive impact to the community.
Finn O’Branagáin is the Artistic Director + CEO for Outloud, a youth arts organisation based on Darug land in Bankstown. Finn became CEO of Outloud in early 2020 and has steered its incomparable growth throughout the pandemic years. Finn’s special contribution to Western Sydney is her relentless efforts in finding paid opportunities and offering professional development to young artists of the area, in particular, those who are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. With Finn's initiative, Outloud launched the Muslim Peers Project in 2021, a program to support young queer Muslims experiencing mental health distress. It has since been nominated for a WayAhead 2022 Mental Health Matters Awards in the category of Rainbow Inclusion. Finn has acted as our media representative in multiple instances, speaking on behalf of Outloud on matters of gender, Western Sydney's cost of living and quality of life for youth for News.com.au, The Financial Review, ABC's 7pm News. Finn constantly looks for new opportunities for Western Sydney's young people, with a particular focus on LBGTQIA+ and culturally linguistically diverse youth, people with disability, as well as young people who may be experiencing homelessness. During her time with Outloud, she has applied for more than 70 grants to expand the reach of the organisation’s efforts, and has built countless relationships with local organisations, as well as fellow youth arts organisations. Outloud has expanded in every way since Finn’s arrival, in the number of its staff, the scope of its projects and the reach that the organisation has had. In spite of the pandemic, more of Western Sydney’s young people than ever before have benefited from Outloud’s programs. Finn is also a multi-award-winning writer, director, dramaturg and performer, and has been programmed nationally and internationally at major venues and festivals. She makes text-based work for physical performers, puppets, and interactive audiences, using mythology to talk about current social issues. She is passionate about creatively collaborating with artists and communities to create extraordinary work that give transferable life skills. With these focuses and past experiences, she has made an invaluable contribution to Outloud’s offerings to young people. Finn’s contributions to the organisation in three short years has been immeasurable, and we hope with great sincerity that she is considered for this nomination.
Laura started off volunteering as a teenager supporting Coolaburoo Neighbourhood Centre with Twilight Sports, Youth Week, after School programs and centre activities. She has shown her enthusiasm and commitment to helping both youth and seniors in the community. She has been employed with Coolaburoo for a couple of years and in that time has stepped in to support workers on the Love Bites program in local schools in educating young people about domestic violence, sexual assault, healthy relationships and consent. She has supported Coolaburoo in many projects and activities. She has shown great deal of compassion for our seniors and supports them through her caring nature and willingness to help. She has always been very reliable and has stepped in whenever and wherever she has been needed, keen to help at the drop of a hat.
Lee-Anne is one of the team leaders of the Koorana Supported Playgroups. Lee-Anne has been working with Koorana for over 20 years and everyday demonstrates her commitment to delivering supports to our families. She doesn’t only commit to understanding the families’ particular circumstances but volunteers herself to work with them to guide and provide support in all aspects of their lives. Lee-Anne makes positive changes to her team and passes on the actions to the community. With her long-lasting experience, she is well-known in the community. Lee-Anne has extensive knowledge and skills to facilitate social inclusion and supports for children with disabilities. Through the Supported playgroups she empowers and supports our families, ensuring their well-being is always a priority.
Mona is the founder and CEO of a busy Bankstown based charity called Community Support Services Inc. (CSS) I joined this charity as a volunteer 18 months ago and am amazed and humbled by Mona's commitment to re-shaping and improving the lives of families in the CB area. Mona resigned her position as a High School teacher to begin this Charity. Initially, and without funding, she used her own savings to run programmes, pay the rent and buy food for families in need. Today, her Charity runs workshops, TAFE Classes, Sewing Classes, operates a Food hamper division. She has paid employment who began at the Charity in a "work-for-the-dole" programme. She is the voice for vulnerable people in our Community.
Naomi Prepah received 20 separate nominations for the CBCity Women’s Awards program. Naomi is an amazing lady who has dedicated her life to looking after kids with disabilities. She is a kind-hearted person who loves children and has a passion for helping those who need it most. Naomi believes that everyone deserves to be treated equally, regardless of their condition, and she puts this belief into practice every day in her work with children with disabilities. Naomi has now been working in the sector for over 25 years, and she loves every minute of it. She enjoys spending time with children, playing games, reading stories and helping them with their daily activities. Naomi understands that every child is unique and has different needs, and she takes the time to get to know each child individually so that she can provide the best care possible. Naomi has exhibited a great and unmatched leadership within the area at any given time, having contributed so much in the disability and aged sector as well as youth empowerment in the jurisdiction. She has done a lot of philanthropic work which has actually benefited mass youth within the area. As a Teacher in the education sector with the qualification as a Special Education Teacher she has the knowledge and understanding of the needs of people with complex behavioural traits and physical disabilities. Naomi has been dedicating time and effort by working voluntarily in her spare time to look after children with special needs. She spends almost half of her salary to buy sensory items and food for these kids. She later last year decided to set up her own company and is now the founder and CEO of Whole-hearted care and support services, Australia. Naomi takes it upon herself to provide exceptional support to the community of Wiley Park and through her Whole-hearted care and support services, she discerns quickly the individual needs of the community and moves efficiently to provide key information, recommendations and direct help. Her services include student support throughout the substitute care program, mild intellectual disability support, early intervention support for early childhood, therapeutic support, household tasks, assistance to maintain/access employment, just to name a few. Through her services and experience, the community of Wiley Park has been thriving and the difference she has made in the community should not go unnoticed. Her passion for individual wellbeing within the area is exceptional as a behaviour therapist, an academician, a teacher and community care giver are much to be reckoned or desired with.
Pat is the team leader of the Koorana Start Strong Pathways (SSP) program. Pat has been a part of the Koorana Child & Family Services team for 4years. Pat is a dedicated & strong leader. Pat works alongside 70-80 children & families each week in the community to provide support to early education access, strengthen engagement with children, & promotes the importance of early years education. Pat has built strong rapport with Early Childhood Professionals & Family Support Partners in the area & is continuously sourcing ways to support the children and families. Pat goes above and beyond to assist families who are new to the country by helping them making internal referrals, introducing them to other family members, & making them feel welcomed. Families speak highly of Pat & her programs.
Ronnie understand the needs of the migrant community and is able to provide tailored support. She always organised information sessions and group activities to help migrant women settle in Australia and engage with the local community. Ronnie is a strong advocate for migrant working women's rights and supports women in low-paid and exploitative jobs. She has organised English and computer classes to improve the employment skills of migrant women, which has helped them secure better jobs and improve their financial independence. Ronnie’s support for migrant women also extends to those experiencing domestic violence. She is dedicated to empowering women to stand up for their rights and find the right services and support to escape abusive situations.
Sanjalin is a Community Hub Leader at Villawood East Public School. She is an inspiring individual who has a grounded passion for the vulnerable communities. Over 21yrs she has worked at various schools. She has proven to be a tireless and dedicated worker and most importantly, a strong advocate for the needs and wellbeing of families in Canterbury-Bankstown. Sanjalin helps migrant, refugees and asylum seeker parents settle into a new life and education system and is the mainstay of support for isolated women. “I feel very proud and thankful to Sanjalin that now I have an identity. When I came from Syria I couldn’t speak. I learnt English from TAFE and feel now I have a voice to communicate, currently studying computer and First Aid. I am also an active parent volunteer for Villawood East Public School."
Ms Afiouny has been instrumental in serving the Multicultural community for the past 32 years. Her dedication and outstanding contribution have had significant, life changing and long-lasting impact on the social, educational, vocational, cultural and mental wellbeing of communities, in particular women and their families. As a role model for the younger generations and an inspirational community leader, Souhair has over the years, facilitated and promoted social cohesion and community harmony, organised many intercultural and interfaith dialogues between diverse communities which has had a lasting impact encouraging the community in becoming positive participating citizens. Working over the years with various government and community not for profit organisations, Souhair has made her mark.