Blacktown’s Woman of the Year

Published on 08 March 2019

Activist, founder and Director of Afghan Women on the Move, and Domestic Violence Prevention Officer at SydWest Multicultural Services, Ms Maryam Popal Zahid, has been named 2019 Blacktown Woman of the Year.

Due to the number of outstanding candidates, a new category, highly commended, was introduced this year and was awarded to registered nurse and senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University, Dr Olayide Ogunsiji.

Ms Zahid, a proud Peace Ambassador with the International Women`s Peace Group said she was honoured with the nomination and will work hard within the community to make a positive influence.

“I’m very much privileged, this means a lot to me,” Ms Zahid Said.

“It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to serve the community and I will try my best to inspire other women.

“When you are able to acknowledge that we have women with voices but also many women without voices, you can then begin to make a change.”

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 the culturally diverse committee aims to further highlight the crucial role women play in Blacktown City.

“We are a dynamic group of women committed to providing a forum where the issues and needs of women can be raised and discussed,” she said.

“It’s with great pleasure that we present Maryam Popal Zahid with this award and recognise the skills and achievements of all the nominees.”

Blacktown City Mayor, Stephen Bali, said all the nominees were a true product of the multicultural City of Blacktown.

“I congratulate the 2019 Blacktown Woman of the Year, Ms Zahid, and our Highly Commended award winner, Dr Olayide Ogunsiji, and thank all of the nominees for their ongoing contribution and outstanding work in our community,” Mayor Bali said.

“Their talents and community work have made an indelible impression on the award judges,” he said.

2019 Blacktown City Women of the year finalists Lisa Gobo Ms Gabo works on the Community Hubs Australia project for Settlement Services International and is the Community Hub leader at Colyton Public School in Mount Druitt. Focusing on Cross Cultural engagement and using First Nations approaches Lisa creates a gathering place where all ancestors are honoured, every voice is heard and everybody matters. Ms Gabo is a long-time resident of Blacktown and is in the final stages of a BA in Community Development. She has six years’ experience working with marginalised and vulnerable communities in local community centres across the Blacktown LGA.

Dr Olayide Ogunsiji Dr Ogunsiji is a registered nurse and senior lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University. She migrated from Nigeria to Australia in 1999 with a Sociology degree and experience as a Lecturer. As a new migrant, she was unable to gain employment and was turned down on several occasions due to a lack of local experience. After several unsuccessful attempts at getting a job, she went back to University to gain new qualifications resulting in a successful career path.

Jane Attard-Taylor In 2014 Ms Attard- Taylor decided to change her career path to work in an industry that she felt passionately about.  Jane attained a Cert III, IV and diploma in Community Services at Nirimba TAFE and is now working as a Program coordinator at the Blacktown Women and Girls Health Centre. She has been deeply moved by the large number of women and children affected by domestic violence. Jane is a strong advocate for reducing domestic violence against women in the community.

Maryam Popal Zahid Ms Zahid’s work focuses on gender, women’s rights and the displacement of Afghan diaspora around the world. She is also a volunteer advocate for human rights, health, justice, and promotion of democratic values. She is currently working as a Domestic Violence Prevention Officer at SydWest Multicultural Services to reduce violence against women and their children in Afghanistan, Indian and South Sudanese communities. She is also the founder and director of Afghan Women on the Move Pty Ltd. The organisation supports women and girls outside religious and community influences to help them have a voice and become socially, economically and emotionally independent.