Community.
Showing up for people.
My community work spans volunteering, emergency response, language access, cultural events and shared learning. Explore the work by theme, with dated stories, photographs and links to the original records.
Service timeline → · Media coverage → · Personal reflections → · Community albums →
Volunteering & service
التطوع والخدمة
Health, Rotary, Red Cross and a continuing commitment to giving back.
Multicultural connection
As a community advocate in Shepparton, I work to strengthen understanding across cultures and help people feel heard, included and connected.
My involvement with the Iraqi Community Centre and local volunteer networks is part of this commitment to service.
A continuing commitment to service
My volunteering has taken different forms: healthcare support, community membership, local events, emergency response and online service.
- Jan 2017–2024Emergency Services Team Member
Australian Red Cross, Shepparton team.
- Began May 2019Online volunteering
United Nations Volunteers (UNV) online volunteering service.
- Feb 2016–Feb 2018On-call volunteer · General duties
Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton. Community Cricket Cup · 26 March 2017 →
- Jan 2011–Feb 2014Hospital volunteer · General duties
Northern Hospital, Epping, including Emergency Department volunteering.
- Joined Jan 2010Authorised member
Iraqi Community Centre, Shepparton.
- Mar–Dec 2009Pathology research volunteer
Health Staff Association, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq.
- Mar 2007–Dec 2009Pathology research volunteer
Iraqi Red Crescent Society, Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq.
Rotary, students and community, working together.
On Friday 12 December 2025, I joined student and community volunteers at GSSC’s Aspiration Day, welcoming Year 5 students from across Shepparton as they explored future pathways and possibilities. Safa Zahir worked alongside me as part of the volunteer team.
The day brought together the college, volunteers and our community partners. I thanked the Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton and the Rotary Club of Shepparton South for their continued support, partnership and generosity.
في يوم الجمعة ١٢ كانون الأول ٢٠٢٥، شاركتُ مع صفا (Safa Zahir) ومتطوعين من الطلاب والمجتمع في يوم الطموحات بكلية شيبارتون الثانوية الكبرى، لاستقبال تلاميذ الصف الخامس من أنحاء شيبارتون وتشجيعهم على استكشاف مساراتهم وفرصهم المستقبلية. وشكرتُ نادي روتاري موروبنا — النادي الفرعي في شيبارتون، ونادي روتاري شيبارتون ساوث، على دعمهما وشراكتهما وكرمهما، وكل المتطوعين على وقتهم وجهدهم. نُشر توثيقي للفعالية في ١٤ كانون الأول ٢٠٢٥.
See the two full photographs → · The education connection → · Earlier Aspiration Day volunteering · 2023 →
Working with Rotary at Aspirations Day.
At the Year 5 Aspirations Day at Greater Shepparton Secondary College in December 2023, I joined student and community volunteers to help with the barbecue and food service. Students including Kadir SUT worked alongside us, contributing to the day through practical service and teamwork.
In my public posts, I thanked the Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton and the Rotary Club of Shepparton South Inc. for their support and partnership with GSSC. These connections brought school and community volunteers together to support the visiting Year 5 students.
My 10 December 2023 posts shared “Picture Group 1” and “Picture Group 2”; a further post on 11 December thanked our Rotary partners. The posts describe the event as taking place the previous week.
Also shared on my public Facebook page: Aspirations Day photo post 1 ↗ · Aspirations Day photo post 2 ↗
العمل مع روتاري في يوم الطموحات
في يوم الطموحات لتلاميذ الصف الخامس في كلية شيبارتون الثانوية الكبرى خلال ديسمبر ٢٠٢٣، شاركتُ مع متطوعين من الطلاب والمجتمع في إعداد الشواء وتقديم الطعام. وعمل معنا طلاب، منهم قادر SUT، وساهموا في دعم الفعالية من خلال الخدمة العملية والعمل الجماعي.
شكرتُ في منشوراتي العامة نادي روتاري موروبنا – النادي الفرعي في شيبارتون ونادي روتاري شيبارتون ساوث على دعمهما وشراكتهما مع الكلية. وقد جمعت هذه الروابط متطوعي المدرسة والمجتمع لدعم تلاميذ الصف الخامس الزائرين.
تتضمن المنشورات مجموعتَي الصور ١ و٢ بتاريخ ١٠ ديسمبر ٢٠٢٣، ومنشور شكر بتاريخ ١١ ديسمبر ٢٠٢٣. وتذكر النصوص أن الفعالية أقيمت في الأسبوع السابق؛ فهذه تواريخ النشر وليست تاريخًا محددًا للفعالية.
Food, volunteering and community connection.
On 29 October 2017, I joined the Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton at the St Georges Road Food Festival, on the corner of St Georges Road and Hayes Street, Shepparton. We helped serve food and sausages to festival visitors.
In my public invitation that day, I also looked back on our participation at the Numurkah Food Festival on 21 October 2017. These occasions brought practical service, teamwork and conversations with the wider community together.
The photograph collection covers the October 2017 festival activities and time in Numurkah.
خدمة المجتمع مع روتاري في مهرجانات الطعام
في ٢٩ أكتوبر ٢٠١٧، شاركتُ مع نادي روتاري موروبنا – النادي الفرعي في شيبارتون في مهرجان الطعام بشارع سانت جورجز، عند تقاطع شارعَي سانت جورجز وهايز في شيبارتون، وساهمنا في تقديم الطعام للزوار. وفي دعوتي المنشورة في ذلك اليوم، أشرتُ أيضًا إلى مشاركتنا السابقة في مهرجان نوميركا للطعام يوم ٢١ أكتوبر ٢٠١٧.
تجمع هذه الصور ذكريات من أنشطة أكتوبر ٢٠١٧ وزيارة نوميركا، وتوثّق العمل مع المتطوعين وإعداد الطعام واللقاءات المجتمعية.
Volunteering as a way of belonging
My commitment to service began with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society and continued through volunteering at Northern Hospital in Epping from January 2011 to February 2014. In Shepparton, volunteer driving, community activities and working alongside local organisations have given me opportunities to listen, build friendships and offer practical support.
Research in service of my community.
My commitment to community service began in Iraq through health care, research and volunteering. Alongside my early health-care work and volunteering with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society, I prepared my first book in 2009 as a preventive-health researcher.
واقع المدينة: الواقع البيئي والصحي لمدينة الحمزة
The book’s photographic section records the places and community visits that formed part of this 2009 field study, connecting the written research with its visual documentation.
Explore the 2009 field study, book and community records
First-edition manuscript cover · 2009قراءة وتنزيل الكتاب (PDF)
Read / download the PDF١٧٣ صفحة متوفرة · نحو ٤٣ ميغابايت
173 available pages · approx. 43 MB
The book was a field study of the environmental and health conditions of Al-Hamza. The book comprises 382 pages across several sections. With limited financial resources, I arranged for the manuscript to be handwritten by calligrapher Haider Hashim, the educational counsellor at Al-Hamza Secondary School in 2009. A printing company in Al-Diwaniyah photocopied 100 copies, which were professionally bound.
I distributed all 100 copies free of charge to the government institutions and departments relevant to the study, accompanied by official correspondence.
«واقع المدينة: الواقع البيئي والصحي لمدينة الحمزة» هو أول كتاب ألّفه حسام الصراف، وقدّمه بصفته باحثًا وقائيًا سنة ٢٠٠٩. يتكوّن من ٣٨٢ صفحة موزّعة على عدة أقسام، وكتب مخطوطته الخطاط الأستاذ حيدر هاشم، المرشد التربوي في إعدادية الحمزة آنذاك. نظرًا إلى محدودية الإمكانات المادية، لم يُنضّد الكتاب بالحاسوب؛ بل أُنتجت منه ١٠٠ نسخة بالاستنساخ لدى شركة طباعة في مدينة الديوانية، وجُلّدت تجليدًا احترافيًا، ثم وُزّعت مجانًا على جميع المؤسسات والدوائر الحكومية ذات الصلة بموضوع الدراسة، بكتب رسمية.
يوثّق قسم الصور التوضيحية المواقع والزيارات المجتمعية التي شملتها الدراسة الميدانية سنة ٢٠٠٩، ويربط البحث المكتوب بشواهده المصوّرة.
View the field-study photographs →
Section Three, “Photographs without comment”, covers pages 259–267. Section Four, “Documentation of visits”, covers pages 268–296 and preserves handwritten records by the people visited, with dates, signatures and official office stamps. Their words of thanks and encouragement are a treasured recognition of service to Al-Hamza.
يضم القسم الثالث «صور بدون تعليق» الصفحات ٢٥٩–٢٦٧، ويضم القسم الرابع «توثيق الزيارات» الصفحات ٢٦٨–٢٩٦. وتحفظ سجلات الزيارات كلمات الأشخاص الذين تمت زيارتهم بخط أيديهم، مع التواريخ والتواقيع والأختام الرسمية، وما فيها من شكر ودعاء يعتز به حسام كوسام من أبناء مدينته.
Read the documented visits · توثيق الزيارات →
The fifth and final section, Documents (pages 297–382), brings together government letters facilitating the research, information and official records relating to the study, and registers identifying the schools within the research area. The album includes research records on pages 305–320 and the school registers and colour key on pages 330–334. The fourth part presents the researcher’s questions on page 335 and handwritten responses and contributions on pages 336–357. The final part continues with further documents and statistics.
يجمع القسم الخامس والأخير «الوثائق» (الصفحات ٢٩٧–٣٨٢) الكتب الحكومية لتسهيل مهمة البحث، والمعلومات والوثائق الرسمية المتعلقة بالدراسة، وسجلات المدارس المشمولة بمنطقة البحث. ويعرض الألبوم وثائق البحث في الصفحات ٣٠٥–٣٢٠، وسجلات المدارس ومفتاح ألوانها في الصفحات ٣٣٠–٣٣٤. ويضم الجزء الرابع أسئلة الباحث في الصفحة ٣٣٥ والإجابات والإفادات بخط اليد في الصفحات ٣٣٦–٣٥٧، ويأتي بعده الجزء الأخير لتكملة الوثائق والإحصاءات.
Explore Section Five: Official documents · قسم الوثائق → · Research records · الوثائق المتعلقة بمادة البحث → · Schools in the study area · المدارس المشمولة بمنطقة البحث → · Questionnaire and handwritten responses · الاستبيان والإجابات بخط اليد →
Health awareness with the Iraqi Red Crescent.
حملات التوعية الصحية مع الهلال الأحمر العراقي
During my volunteering with the Iraqi Red Crescent Society in Al-Diwaniyah, we carried out avian influenza awareness campaigns in schools and government institutions.
خلال عملي التطوعي مع الهلال الأحمر العراقي في محافظة الديوانية، شاركنا في حملات التوعية بإنفلونزا الطيور في المدارس والمؤسسات الحكومية.
Volunteer service: March 2007–December 2009 · فترة التطوع: مارس ٢٠٠٧–ديسمبر ٢٠٠٩
View all 5 photographs → · عرض الصور الخمس كاملة
COVID-19, floods & emergencies
كوفيد‑19 والفيضانات والطوارئ
Practical help, accessible information and neighbours supporting neighbours.
Supporting people in emergencies
A week of interviews · October 2022
On 27 October 2022, I shared a collection of local and international coverage about the flood emergency. The saved material includes ABC News, SBS Arabic24, The Guardian, The Age, Brisbane Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and an ABC video displayed by The Korea Herald.
My media-archive post → · All 21 supplied screenshots · PDF ↗
18 October 2022: my earlier “From the local and worldwide news” post preserved nine screenshots. Read the post and archive →
My Guardian interview: Personal post ↗ · Nine supplied clippings · PDF ↗ · Report and source details →
During the 2022 Shepparton floods, I worked with other volunteers to help an Arabic-speaking family reach a relief centre, as reported by ABC News.
Erwin Renaldi’s ABC News report was published on 22 October 2022. Thank you to Erwin and ABC News for documenting the experiences and concerns of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
Full title, source and saved coverage → · Read the saved screenshots · PDF ↗
Read the ABC flood-response story ↗I founded the Multicultural Round Table Emergency Response in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, to help organise support for multicultural communities in times of crisis. I volunteered with the Australian Red Cross Shepparton Emergency Services team from January 2017 to 2024.
On 1 December 2020, Australian Red Cross acknowledged my service with a Victorian Fires 2019–2020 commemorative pin, presented on behalf of the Premier of Victoria and the Victorian community. View the pin and recognition of bushfire service →
GV Cares: neighbours helping neighbours
GV Cares brought more than 200 volunteers together to support people during Shepparton’s 2021 lockdown. Led by Lisa McKenzie and Rob Priestly through the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project initiative, the team helped households access food, medication, baby essentials and other practical support.
In the Lighthouse account shared with my June 2022 reflection, volunteers made 2,726 food deliveries and 657 special deliveries over two weeks. These figures describe a collective effort involving volunteers, services, local groups and individuals across the community.
On 16 May 2022, GV Cares won the Pandemic Response Team award at the Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards. I was honoured to join the GV Cares table as one of 20 representatives of the wider volunteer team.
The evening was an opportunity to thank everyone who contributed, including the other teams nominated in the category. It remains a reminder of what people can achieve when they look after one another.
View the award and all 9 ceremony photographs →
Read my 1 June 2022 reflection ↗ · Read Lighthouse’s GV Cares account ↗
Community-impact account credited to Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project; ceremony photographs from my personal collection.
COVID-19 community support
On 16 May 2022, GV Cares won the Pandemic Response Team award at Greater Shepparton City Council’s Volunteer Recognition Awards. I attended as one of 20 representatives of its wider volunteer team. Read the team’s story →
Encouraging COVID-19 vaccination
My community outreach also included video messages in English and Arabic encouraging people to receive a COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. These videos for the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District were published by Healthily in 2022.
Open original video ↗ · Vimeo
Open original video ↗ · Vimeo
Sharing practical updates · August 2021
Shepparton News credited me with providing photographs of ADF personnel arriving in town. Another rolling update on culturally appropriate care referred to my earlier comments about language access. I shared the updates on 27 August 2021.
During the 2021 outbreak in Shepparton, I translated school and public-health information into Arabic and shared it through community networks and social media.
Monique Preston’s report of 25 August 2021 featured my work as “Samy” helping Shepparton’s Iraqi community access information. Thank you to Monique Preston and Shepparton News.
Read the report and four saved clippings →
Read the 2021 report ↗Service through the Red Cross.
My Australian Red Cross emergency-services volunteering included service recognised with the Victorian Fires 2019–2020 commemorative pin, presented on behalf of the Premier of Victoria and the Victorian community.
Translation & communication
الترجمة والتواصل
Arabic–English language support, community media and the IMPARO workshops.
Helping information reach people.
My Arabic–English language support connects families with schools, services and emergency information. During the COVID-19 outbreak, I translated and shared school and public-health updates. During the floods, I helped people understand information and communicate their needs.
These experiences also informed my advocacy for stronger interpreting and translation support, and my participation in Monash University’s IMPARO workshops.
From emergency response to lasting language support.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 floods, language barriers made it harder for some families to receive and act on important information. My participation in IMPARO was a chance to help shape longer-term support for regional interpreters and translators.
I joined Monash University student mentors, fellow participants and the project team for two days of discussion, group work and feedback. We explored training needs, our roles as bicultural mediators, mentoring and opportunities for professional development.
In my post on 30 June 2023, I asked stakeholders to support the program and its participants: identifying the problem needed to be followed by practical support for the solution.
About the program: IMPARO stands for Interpreting Mentoring and Professional Advancement Regional Opportunities. The official project record dates the workshops to 27–28 June 2023 at MEAC in Mooroopna.
My original reflection and sources → · 11 workshop photographs → · Official project background ↗
Related coverage: COVID-19 information, 2021 · Flood planning, 2022 · IMPARO report and toolkit, 2023
Community conversations and volunteering.
Events & community solidarity
المناسبات والتضامن المجتمعي
Sport, cultural celebrations, shared meals and important community occasions.
A welcome at our Iraqi Community Centre.
Safa visited Imam Kadhim Mosque – The Iraqi Community Centre in Shepparton for the Ashura commemoration. His visit was a welcome connection between young people and our wider community.
In his post dated 26 June, Safa thanked the community for its warm welcome and reflected on the courage, justice and compassion associated with the life and legacy of Imam Hussain (a.s.).
These shared occasions connect my work with young people to community life, creating opportunities to listen, learn and show respect for one another.
Select a photograph to open the full image.
Arabic · العربية
زار صفا جامع الإمام الكاظم – المركز العراقي في شيبارتون للمشاركة في إحياء ذكرى عاشوراء. وكانت زيارته مناسبة للتواصل بين الشباب ومجتمعنا الأوسع.
وفي منشوره المؤرخ ٢٦ يونيو، شكر المجتمع على حفاوة الاستقبال، وتحدّث عن الشجاعة والعدالة والرحمة في سيرة الإمام الحسين عليه السلام وأثرها الملهم.
تربط هذه المناسبات عملي مع الشباب بالحياة المجتمعية، وتتيح فرصًا للاستماع والتعلّم وإظهار الاحترام المتبادل.
Safa’s mentorship story → · Open the community photographs →
Forty years of belonging.
In September 2025, I attended the 40th Anniversary Dinner of the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District at the Woolshed, Emerald Bank. It was an opportunity to celebrate four decades of work building belonging, inclusion and empowerment for multicultural communities across the Goulburn region.
The evening brought together elders, newcomers, young leaders, community advocates and long-serving contributors. For me, those conversations were a reminder of the strength of cultural diversity and the lasting connections we build through respect, collaboration and a shared commitment to community.
Standing together for humanity.
In August 2025 I helped organisers plan the peaceful Shepparton march held on 24 August. Taylah Baker’s coverage also described a separate fundraiser at Tinto Bakery. In my 30 August reflection, I thanked her and Shepparton News for sharing these community stories.
Young people taking part.
Kadir SUT was one of the young organisers and participants in Shepparton’s March for Palestine, alongside me. Our photographs record his involvement in this community gathering.
كان قادر SUT من المنظّمين الشباب والمشاركين في مسيرة من أجل فلسطين في شيبارتون، وشارك إلى جانبي في هذا التجمع المجتمعي. توثّق صورنا مشاركته خلال المسيرة.
Kadir’s role and the three photographs → · Original march post ↗
On 21 August 2025, I shared a reflection from the Parliament of Victoria calling for compassion, food access and protection for children and families in Gaza.
My Parliament reflection → · March and bake sale coverage → · Thank-you reflection →
Sharing a meal, strengthening connection.
I joined the Culture & Co Iftar gathering at SAM. The Shepparton Adviser’s report, published on 26 April 2023 by Natasha Fujimoto, includes me in its group photograph.
Explaining Eid al-Adha · 2021
In Caitlin Cassidy’s Shepparton News report of 30 July 2021, I discussed the celebration’s traditions of family, sharing and supporting people in need, alongside the effect of pandemic restrictions.
Community connection through cricket.
I joined the Community Cricket Cup at Victory Park on St Georges Road, where multicultural and Aboriginal teams, Victoria Police’s Blue Ribbon team and junior cricket clinics brought people together through sport.
I thanked the Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton for the opportunity to take part. My public post also acknowledged the Greater Shepparton Police Service Area and Senior Constable Matthew Walker for hosting the event and encouraging mutual trust and respect across communities.
In my original post, I thanked Shepparton News and WIN News for their coverage of the day.
Read my dated reflection → · 13 event photographs → · Original Facebook post ↗
My thank-you post · 26 March 2017 ↗
التواصل المجتمعي من خلال الكريكيت
شاركتُ في كأس الكريكيت المجتمعي يوم ٢٦ مارس ٢٠١٧ في فيكتوري بارك بشارع سانت جورجز في شيبارتون. ووجّهتُ الشكر إلى فرق المجتمع متعددة الثقافات، وفرق السكان الأصليين، وفريق شرطة فيكتوريا «الشريط الأزرق»، وأنشطة تدريب الصغار على الكريكيت.
كما شكرتُ نادي روتاري موروبنا – النادي الفرعي في شيبارتون، وشرطة شيبارتون على استضافة الفعالية، والشرطي الأقدم ماثيو ووكر على جمع المجتمعات وتعزيز الثقة والاحترام المتبادل، وصحيفة Shepparton News وقناة WIN News على التغطية.
Leadership & recognition
القيادة والتقدير
Learning with others, community leadership and recognition of shared service.
Institute of Community Directors Australia.
Current ICDA membership: my new certificate authorises MICDA and expires on 1 July 2027. Current certificate and announcement →
Professional membership: I announced my Institute of Community Directors Australia membership on 21 June 2023. The archived certificate carries an expiry date of 1 July 2024. View the membership record →
A shared milestone for the GSSC MLO team
Working with the Multicultural Liaison Officer team at Greater Shepparton Secondary College means building relationships across languages, cultures, families and schools. Our nomination for the 2023 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards recognised this shared commitment to community service.
At the ceremony on 15 May, the team received a certificate of appreciation. The event tribute acknowledged the care and dedication shown to multicultural communities during difficult circumstances.
View the certificate and all 10 ceremony photographs →
Read my reflection ↗ · Watch the Facebook video ↗
Open original video ↗ · Facebook
Learning with Australia’s volunteering community
I attended the 2023 National Volunteering Conference at the Australian National University in Canberra. On the first morning, Aunty Violet Sheridan welcomed participants to Ngunnawal Country.
My reflection from the day recorded the engaging, inspiring breakout sessions: an opportunity to learn alongside others committed to volunteering and community service.
Community Leadership Program
I took part in Greater Shepparton City Council’s Community Leadership Program in 2017 and 2020. This involvement is part of my wider journey in multicultural leadership, volunteering and community service.
For me, leadership means listening, bringing people together and contributing through practical action.
Photo: Greater Shepparton City Council ↗
Photo: Greater Shepparton City Council ↗
Explore our 2017 team project: Ask the Cows →
Visit the council’s program page ↗ · Read more about my journey →
Encouragement to keep giving back
In 2019, I was nominated in the Male Volunteer and Long Serving Volunteer categories of Greater Shepparton City Council’s Volunteer Recognition Awards. The nominee profiles recognised my links between Red Cross emergency services and multicultural communities, alongside my longstanding involvement in the Iraqi Community Centre.
The evening also brought a memorable meeting with guest speaker and Paralympic swimmer Ahmed Kelly. Hearing his story of family, determination and sporting achievement, and his message to “Find a way”, was deeply encouraging.
In my reflection on 21 May, I thanked the Council, those who nominated me, and the family and friends who have supported my journey. The recognition strengthened my commitment to serving Greater Shepparton and contributing wherever I can.
View the two nomination certificates, programme profiles and all 27 photographs →
From the first gathering to graduation.
Photographs from the launch, networking dinner and graduation trace my participation in Greater Shepparton City Council’s 2017 program, alongside the team project that became Ask the Cows.
Open launch, networking dinner and graduation memories
Graduation and certificate presentation.
Completing the 2017 Community Leadership Program was a milestone in my community leadership journey. These photographs capture receiving my certificate, speaking alongside fellow participants and celebrating with the graduating group.
Browse all 17 graduation photographs and keepsakes →
Read the council’s graduation news · 27 October 2017 ↗
Graduation photographs on Facebook ↗ · Certificate presentation memories ↗ · More graduation memories ↗
Photos from the networking dinner.
The program’s networking dinner brought participants and guests together. These photographs include our team’s Ask the Cows project presentation and speakers addressing the gathering.
2017 program launch.
The launch of Greater Shepparton City Council’s 2017 Community Leadership Program marked the beginning of my journey alongside that year’s participants. These photographs capture the gathering and the people who joined the program.
Education, stories & shared spaces
التعليم والقصص والمساحات المشتركة
School–family connections, Ask the Cows, documentary storytelling and The Patch.
Connecting school and community
As GSSC’s Multicultural Liaison Leader since August 2025, following my work as a Multicultural Liaison Officer from March 2020, I help strengthen connections between school, families and the wider community.
I value community engagement that gives teachers, families and students space to share their needs and work together. My commitment to regional education includes helping students feel supported both in their learning and in the relationships around them.
GSSC multicultural liaison team ↗ · Explore my education work →
Within GSSC’s Multicultural Liaison team, I work alongside colleagues to connect families, teachers and school support. The college’s staff feature includes me as Hussam (Samy) Saraf and introduces the team behind this work. Read the GSSC staff feature ↗
Mentorship across school and community
My work with Hammood AL-Badry began when he moved from SELC to GSSC in early 2024. I support him both at school and through the Iraqi Community Centre, connecting his learning and creative ideas with opportunities to participate and contribute.
بدأ عملي مع حمّود البدري عند انتقاله من SELC إلى GSSC في مطلع ٢٠٢٤. وأدعمه في المدرسة وفي المركز العراقي المجتمعي، بما يربط تعلّمه وأفكاره الإبداعية بفرص المشاركة وخدمة المجتمع.
Stories that build understanding
I wrote The Way to Freedom and co-directed it with Darryl McConnell. We completed Part 1: The Journey in 2023 for Refugee Week 2023. The film follows refugee experiences in Greater Shepparton and later received the 2025 Chairperson’s Refugee Stories Award.
Read about the award ↗ · View on SBS On Demand ↗
The festival’s official selection and winner certificates, together with the winner laurel, document this recognition. View the official film certificates and laurel →
Public screenings and panel conversations extend the film’s purpose: making room for people to listen to one another and reflect on belonging.
Explore The Way to Freedom, photographs and social updates →
Growing and learning at The Patch.
I contributed gardening knowledge to GSSC’s horticulture program and The Patch, connecting practical learning with growing, caring for plants and working together. The school recognised my contribution on 5 September 2023.
The Patch and the appreciation plaque → · Gardening as part of school learning →
Ask the Cows: a story about belonging.
As part of Greater Shepparton City Council’s 2017 Community Leadership Program, I worked with my team to develop Ask the Cows, a children’s picture storybook about difference, inclusion and belonging. It was our team’s program project, bringing together community leadership, storytelling and collaboration.
The story follows Baby Cow and Mummy Cow as they discover Shepparton through its Moooving Art cows. Illustrated by people from the region, the book introduces young readers to a community where differences are valued.
The people behind the book.
Sharing the book with the community.
From the idea to the community.
Explore the project, school visits, libraries and community photographs
Written by: Adelle Brown and Katrina Rowland.
Project team and contributors: Hussam Saraf, Kara McCann, Karen Sacuzzo, Katrina Rowland and Adelle Brown are acknowledged in the book for their work and advice, alongside the program’s facilitators, organisers and participants.
Supporters and organisations credited in the book: Greater Shepparton City Council; Word and Mouth; Shepparton Interfaith Network; Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District Inc.; and Imam Kadhim Mosque – The Iraqi Community Centre.
Illustrators and special acknowledgements
Illustration credits
| Illustration | Illustrator |
|---|---|
| Tourist Cow and Cowch Cow | Cosimo Rando |
| Police Cow | Dante Mori |
| Fruity Calf and Riverconnect Cow | Karren Pollerd (Shepparton ACE College) |
| Business Moo | Katie Mason |
| Nuclear | Helen Jeffs |
| Book Cowse | Alexa Mori |
| Skater Cow | Jet James (Year 8 student) |
| Bluey | Courtney Grigg |
| Rumbalara Cow | Ronald Thompson (aged 76) |
| Australia Cow | Peter Maloney |
Special acknowledgements
The book thanks Matthew Walker, Shepparton Police Multicultural Liaison Officer; Dean Lloyd, Shepparton Police Youth Resource Officer; Jim Gow of Word and Mouth; and The People’s Picnic organisers Helen, Steve, Jack and Zia, who helped launch the book.
It also acknowledges Greater Shepparton City Council’s assistance, advice, permissions, support and guidance. The original printed edition was limited to 200 copies.
Read the original acknowledgements and credits in the book ↗
Our Ask the Cows team distributed free copies to libraries, kindergartens, primary and secondary schools, community centres and other community settings across Shepparton. Sharing the book was part of bringing the project’s message of inclusion and belonging to local children and families.
Read the council’s project announcement · 3 October 2017 ↗
These photographs bring together memories of the leadership program, presenting the project and sharing the finished book with children and the wider community.
From a team project to shared community stories.
Our 2017 Community Leadership Program project continued through school visits, library visits, story time and community gatherings. Together, these photographs document the people and places involved in sharing Ask the Cows across Shepparton.
Presenting the project.
Presenting Ask the Cows connected our team’s storybook with Shepparton’s Moooving Art sculptures. These photographs capture moments from the project presentation.
Children, schools and story time.
Sharing the book with young readers was an important part of the project’s community journey. These photographs show school visits, copies being shared with students, and story time with younger children.
Libraries and local community spaces.
The book travelled into places where people read, learn and connect. These visits brought copies of Ask the Cows to library shelves, staff and local community spaces.
Meeting people and sharing the story.
Community gatherings created opportunities to introduce the storybook, talk about the project and share copies with people across Shepparton.
Photographs and book-cover image from my personal collection.
See the book in the library → · Explore the project in my journey →
Keep exploring.
News → · Stories → · Community photo albums → · Recognition and awards →
