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

ABOUT WASEMA

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.

Wasema Group

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:
    1. establish and run Women’s Friendship Cafes to provide culturally appropriate education, mentoring, and well-being opportunities for women across Victoria;
    2. provide information about women’s issues and opportunities to engage in community programs, including in collaboration with other women’s welfare agencies and service;
    3. provide a safe space for women to work together on common projects, grants, events and activities;
    4. advocate around issues relevant to the welfare of women of multicultural backgrounds.
    5. provide a network for women’s groups to share activities, experiences and challenges.

WASEMA welcomes volunteers, Express your interests here