ABOUT Women’s Association South East Melbourne Australia (WASEMA) Inc.
Social networks and community connections
WASEMA began as an informal network at the end of December 2015, where leaders from twenty women’s groups came together in collaboration, working collectively to grant-write and achieve each individual group’s particular aims and goals.
These leaders were Elaine Smith, Jolene Stewart, Sarita Kulkarni, Su Sullivan, Nika Suwarsih, Chaw Po, Nga Hosking and Maria Agelonitis.
After successfully acquiring these grants in 2016, a period of collaboration over 18 months began, which was the precursor to establish the Women’s Association South East Melbourne Australia (WASEMA) in January 2O18; a network for women’s and community groups in the South East, meeting the last Friday of each month to:
- Come together and network
- Address current issues affecting women’s and community groups in South East Melbourne
- Gain understanding and knowledge of available services and information and the means to access these
With the underpinning values of:
- Women supporting each other in friendship
- Building an inclusive society
- Celebrating diversity
- Finding pathways for women to gain access to education, employment and business
- Finding information, networks and agencies to provide assistance for women’s and community issues
WASEMA has been formed to deliver:
- Networking
- Advocacy
- Training
- Workshops
- Mentoring
- Events and Festivals
- Pathways to Employment
- Pathways to Entrepreneurship
On 14th June 2019 WASEMA acquired a Mutual Understanding, Support, Tolerance, Engagement and Respect (MUSTER) Grant from the Department of Social Services and established the MUSTER Grant Committee:
Rossetti Kwan, Nabila Marzouk, Sura Abu Al Assal, Dianna Masciulli, Rovel Shakelford, Jackline Okiya, Malay So, Susi Tevaseu, Sarita Kulkarni, Binita Hada Maskey, Sadia Ali, Vivienne Fernandes and Cristina Taylor.
Through trust and common vision, the informal network took the decision to incorporate on 28th July 2019, so as to be able to deliver services and activities more effectively in the communities that their women’s and community groups represent, and to establish WASEMA Friendship Cafes which aspire to provide a safe, welcoming environment for isolated women in South East Melbourne to come together, relax, connect with others, make new friends and contacts, share experiences, learn new skills, find pathways for training, employment and entrepreneurship, access necessary services, and receive support and referrals.
WASEMA Friendship Cafes have been established in:
Springvale, Dandenong, North Dandenong, Endeavour Hills, Narre Warren South, Berwick, Officer, Cockatoo and Emerald.
Before COVID-19, they met on designated days; Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.00 am – 12.00 pm within the Victorian State school term, via the a hybrid delivery model – both onsite and remotely online, simultaneously.
During COVID-19 lockdown, and WASEMA’s government funding under the MUSTER grant being exhausted all of the cafes were suspended, ended or moved online.
WASEMA Friendship Cafés
Email: admin@wasema.org.au
CITY OF GREATER DANDENONG
1. SPRINGVALE
Tuesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Springvale Neighbourhood House, 46-50 Queens Avenue, Springvale VIC 3171
Phone: (03) 9548 3972
Mobile: 0451 571 895. Email: springvalewfc@wasema.org.au
2. NORTH DANDENONG
North Dandenong WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Wednesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
North Dandenong Neighbourhood House, Deakin Centre, 41 Menzies Avenue and Latham Crescent, Dandenong North VIC 3175
Phone: (03) 9548 3972
Email: northdandenongwfc@wasema.org.au
3. DANDENONG
Wellsprings WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Thursday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Wellsprings for Women, 79 Langhorne St, Dandenong VIC 3175
Phone: (03) 9701 3740
Email: wellspringswfc@wasema.org.au
CITY OF CASEY
4. ENDEAVOUR HILLS
Endeavour Hills WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Tuesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Endeavour Hills Neighbourhood Centre, 10 Raymond McMahon Blvd, Endeavour Hills VIC 3802
Phone: (03) 9700 3789
Email: endeavourhillswfc@wasema.org.au
5. NARRE WARREN SOUTH
Strathaird WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Wednesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Strathaird Children’s Centre, 106-108 Strathaird Drive,, Narre Warren South VIC 3805
Phone: (03) 9709 9692
Email: strathairdwfc@wasema.org.au
6. BERWICK
Brentwood Park WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Thursday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Brentwood Park Neighbourhood House, 21A Bemersyde Drive,, Berwick VIC 3806
Phone: (03) 8743 2297
Email: brentwoodparkwfc@wasema.org.au
SHIRE OF CARDINIA
7. OFFICER
Bridgewood WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Tuesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Bridgewood ‘Our Place’ Primary School, 115 Bridge Road,, Officer VIC 3809
Phone: 0416 596 551
Email: bridgewoodwfc@wasema.org.au
8. COCKATOO
Cockatoo WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Wednesday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Cockatoo Community House, 23 Bailey Road,, Cockatoo VIC 3781
Phone: (03) 5968 9031
Email: cockatoowfc@wasema.org.au
9. EMERALD
Emerald WASEMA Friendship Café (WFC)
Thursday 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 p.m.
Hills Hub, 400A Belgrave-Gembrook Road,, Emerald VIC 3782
Phone: (03) 5943 4650
Email: emeraldwfc@wasema.org.au
WASEMA’s purpose:
- The Association is established to be a charity whose purpose is to promote social or public welfare by supporting and advocating for Victorian Women of multicultural backgrounds.
- Without limiting the ways in which the Association can pursue this purpose, the Association will:
- establish and run Women’s Friendship Cafes to provide culturally appropriate education, mentoring, and well-being opportunities for women across Victoria;
- provide information about women’s issues and opportunities to engage in community programs, including in collaboration with other women’s welfare agencies and service;
- provide a safe space for women to work together on common projects, grants, events and activities;
- advocate around issues relevant to the welfare of women of multicultural backgrounds.
- provide a network for women’s groups to share activities, experiences and challenges.