Stories.

From newcomer to youth leader

Bree Harding profiles GSSC student leader Safa Zahir and his commitment to youth advocacy. Quoted as the college’s Multicultural Liaison Leader, Hussam reflects on Safa’s determination to make a difference, the school’s cultural diversity and giving back to the community.

Safa and Monawara: courage, kindness and a proud teacher.

At GSSC’s 16 December 2025 Awards Night, I celebrated Safa’s Brian Birrell Advocacy Award and his sister Monawara’s Bella Ainsworth Award for Kindness and Compassion. My reflection recognises their courage, empathy and contribution to school life.

A new chapter in language education

I announced a new Language Instructor role with the Victorian School of Languages School Council, alongside my continuing Arabic teaching at VSL and multicultural liaison leadership at GSSC. My reflection focused on language, cultural identity and belonging.

Education roles and announcement →

Welcoming Year 5 students, together.

I joined Safa Zahir and fellow volunteers for GSSC’s Aspiration Day, encouraging younger students to explore future pathways. My post thanked the Rotary Club of Mooroopna – Satellite Club in Shepparton and the Rotary Club of Shepparton South for their partnership, and all the volunteers for their time and energy.

The Class of 2025: a journey together.

From working with this cohort in Year 7 to celebrating their Year 12 farewell and formal graduation, these memories reflect growth, friendship, resilience and cultural pride. My December group-photo reflection celebrated the strength they found in one another.

ذكريات رحلة مع دفعة ٢٠٢٥ منذ السنة السابعة وحتى الوداع والتخرّج، تحتفي بالصداقة والتنوّع والإنجاز المشترك.

Farewell reflection ↗ · Formal graduation reflection ↗ · Celebrating togetherness ↗

Celebrating the achievements of fellow students.

On 8 September 2025, Safa presented congratulations to Charlotte Drinnan and GSSC’s agriculture and horticulture students for their Victorian Merino Wether Challenge success. I shared photographs and a video reflecting on his youth leadership and the team’s achievement.

Language, culture and community: leading the Arabic station.

I led the Arabic station at VSL Shepparton’s first Cultural & Languages Expo, held at GSSC. Arabic learning activities and cultural displays helped young visitors explore language and heritage, alongside the wider celebration of our community and VCE language graduates.

تولّيتُ قيادة المحطة العربية في أول معرض للثقافات واللغات في VSL شيبارتون، من خلال موارد لتعلّم العربية وأنشطة وعروض ثقافية للزوار.

Two nominations for Arabic language education

Hussam shares his Victorian Early Years Awards nominations for Educator of the Year and Early Childhood Teacher of the Year, recognising his Arabic language teaching with the Victorian School of Languages.

Read the original post ↗Two nominations →Classroom photographs →

A student voice reaching beyond the classroom.

My July 2025 reflection celebrated Safa’s participation in the YMCA Victorian Youth Parliament and his work as Youth Advisor and Youth Engagement Officer with Kim O’Keeffe MP.

Hats off to GSSC’s MLO team

The school’s team feature includes Hussam (Samy) Saraf and the colleagues who support multicultural students and families.

Multicultural liaison officers

The college explains how its team connects students, families, teachers and community support.

Every Day Counts

In a message shared by GSSC, Hussam discusses balancing family life and work through strong habits around school attendance and punctuality. Speaking as a father, volunteer and local community member, he highlights the value of everyday routines that support learning.

Watch the video ↗Read GSSC’s original post ↗

Celebrating multicultural student leaders

Hussam’s article as Multicultural Liaison Leader reflects on a school celebration of student leadership, cultural contributions and inclusion. It describes student presentations, engagement surveys, Open Dialogue discussions and a shared cultural meal.

Embarrassing Diversity in Education: a forthcoming book

I introduced my forthcoming book, Embarrassing Diversity in Education: A Call to Redefine Our Future, reflecting on a decade of learning and community work. The announcement connects this writing with my first Arabic book in 2009 and my participation in the 2017 Ask the Cows project.

Book details, cover and earlier writing →

Breaking barriers, building bridges

A GSSC profile of Hussam’s work connecting students, families and staff, supporting cultural understanding and strengthening belonging. Hussam thanks Richard Bryce and Shepparton News for the feature.

Education and school community →

GSSC cultural officer brings own heritage to the job

A profile of how Hussam brings cultural understanding to his work at GSSC. The article describes sharing information about Ramadan, teachers adapting learning activities for fasting students, and the value of prayer spaces, Harmony Week and colleagues who make time to support young people.

Read the source ↗Also published by Country News ↗

Looking back at Learn to Lead

I shared the “Learn to lead” newspaper clipping from 11 December 2020, remembering the GSSC students’ Alpine camp and the work of encouraging families to take part.

Report and newspaper details →

The Way to Freedom: sharing our film’s festival selection

I celebrated The Way to Freedom (Part 1: The Journey), which I wrote and directed, and acknowledged producer and co-director Darryl McConnell and more than 350 GSSC students and staff. This post announced official selection and finalist status; the film later received the Chairperson’s Refugee Stories Award on 19 June 2025.

Follow the journey from selection to the award →

A journey towards safety and belonging

An introduction to the documentary, its directors and the purpose behind Hussam’s storytelling.

A school community tells its story

How more than 350 students and staff helped create the documentary, written by Hussam and co-directed with Darryl McConnell.

A new milestone in community leadership: MICDA

I shared my ICDA membership and the authority to use MICDA, reaffirming my commitment to ethical leadership, inclusion and continued learning. I thanked my family, friends, colleagues and community for their support.

View certificate and membership details →

Hussam Saraf

A community-edited profile of Hussam’s work in Australia and gardening achievement, with references to newspaper, radio and online coverage.

Thank you, Shepparton News and Taylah Baker

I thanked Taylah Baker and Shepparton News for telling the story of the march and bake sale with care. My reflection connected these different expressions of solidarity through compassion, community and support for people in Gaza.

Read the newspaper report →

Standing for humanity at the Parliament of Victoria

From the steps of the Victorian Parliament, I shared a call for compassion, food access and protection for children and families in Gaza. I described this as an extension of community volunteering and standing alongside people in need.

Community solidarity and related coverage →

From identifying the problem to being part of the solution

After taking part in two days of IMPARO workshops, I called for support for regional interpreters and translators. With Monash student mentors, participants and the project team, we shared experiences, explored training needs and worked on ideas for future professional development.

The workshops took place on 27–28 June 2023 at the Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre. My reflection connects this work with communication challenges during COVID-19 and the 2022 floods.

View all 11 workshop photographs →
The community context →
Monash project coverage →

A milestone in community leadership: ICDA membership

I shared the news of receiving my membership certificate from the Institute of Community Directors Australia. The supplied certificate records the MICDA designation and a membership expiry of 1 July 2024.

View the certificate and dated membership record →

GSSC MLO team nominated for volunteer recognition

Hussam shares the team’s nomination and certificate of appreciation at the 15 May 2023 Greater Shepparton Volunteer Recognition Awards, celebrating service to multicultural communities.

Read the original post ↗Watch the Facebook video ↗Certificate & photographs →

A week of local and international flood interviews

I shared a selection of that week’s local and international news interviews about the flood response and the need for accessible information. This archive brings together 21 supplied screenshots, including broadcaster pages, newspaper excerpts and social previews.

Read the complete screenshot archive · PDF ↗
Watch the ABC interview →
Community context and source guide →

From the local and worldwide news

I shared news coverage of the Shepparton flood response and the need for information across languages. The nine saved images include Guardian coverage, an SBS Arabic24 post, social and search previews, and Turkish- and Persian-language excerpts.

Read all nine supplied screenshots · PDF ↗
Original Guardian report and interview archive →

GV Cares wins Pandemic Response Team award

Hussam reflects on attending the 16 May ceremony as one of 20 representatives of more than 200 GV Cares volunteers. The team’s award celebrates its support for households during the 2021 lockdown.

Read the original post ↗Council announcement ↗Story & photographs →

Well done, Shepparton: sharing the community updates

I shared Shepparton News updates about practical support and culturally appropriate care during the COVID-19 outbreak. The saved coverage acknowledges my photographs and earlier comments on the need for accessible information.

Read the companion post ↗
Read both newspaper updates →

Two volunteer nominations and an inspiring evening

Hussam reflects on his Male Volunteer and Long Serving Volunteer nominations, thanks his supporters and shares the encouragement he found in meeting Paralympic swimmer and guest speaker Ahmed Kelly.

Read the original post ↗Certificates & photographs →

Community Cricket Cup: coming together through sport

I joined the Community Cricket Cup at Victory Park on St Georges Road, Shepparton. My post thanked multicultural and Aboriginal teams, Victoria Police (Blue Ribbon), junior cricket clinics and the Rotary Club of Mooroopna’s Satellite Club in Shepparton. I also thanked Senior Constable Matthew Walker and the Greater Shepparton Police Service Area for bringing people together.

In my original post, I thanked Shepparton News and WIN News for covering the event.

View all 13 event photographs →
Community participation and volunteering →

A welcome at our Iraqi Community Centre.

Safa attended the Ashura commemoration at Imam Kadhim Mosque – The Iraqi Community Centre in Shepparton. His post thanked the community for its welcome and reflected on courage, justice and compassion.

Tutti Frutti: Fruits

An essay about fruit, gardening and cultural history includes a brief mention of Hussam’s five-fruit grafting record.

Growing, learning and a moment of appreciation

A personal milestone celebrating GSSC’s appreciation for my commitment to the horticulture program and The Patch. The supplied photographs show the garden activity and the dated plaque.

The garden story and both photographs →

Grafting and the record tree

A recording of Hussam Saraf’s interview with Triple M Goulburn Valley, shared on his Gardens Journey channel.

Gardening in conversation

Hussam Saraf’s recording of his ABC Radio Sydney Weekend Evenings interview about gardening.

Sharing the art of grafting with agriculture students

GSSC thanked Hussam “Samy” Saraf for introducing Year 11 VCE Agriculture students to plant propagation, grafting and budding. A garden visit connected classroom learning with practical demonstrations and opportunities to practise new skills.

Read GSSC’s post ↗Explore the garden visit →

This man won a Guinness World Record for his tree that bears 10 types of fruit

CBC Radio coverage of Hussam Saraf’s multi-fruit tree and Guinness recognition.

Read / watch ↗Community forum reference · UBC Botanical Garden · 12 November 2021 ↗Featured in PMA Hand Picked · 24 November 2021 ↗

Fruit growers discuss the record tree

A discussion prompted by Guardian coverage includes Hussam Saraf’s own response explaining the difference between ten fruit varieties and the five species recognised by Guinness. The thread records questions and responses from fellow growers.

الباحث حسام الصراف يدخل موسوعة غينيس من خلال زراعة شجرة تحمل 5 أنواع ثمار مختلفة…لن تصدقوا!

لقاء تلفزيوني عن الشجرة المطعّمة ودخول موسوعة غينيس، منشور على قناة الجديد الموثّقة.

اقرأ / شاهد ↗ تسجيل بديل ↗

مشاركة المعرفة والعناية بالحديقة المنزلية

يتحدث حسام عن قناته الزراعية ومشاركة المعرفة العملية لمساعدة الآخرين على العناية بحدائقهم.

وللإبداع عنوان: حسام زهاء مرتضى الصراف

تدوينة للدكتور إبراهيم خليل العلاف تتناول مسيرة حسام الصراف وإنجازه في تطعيم الأشجار، وتعرض حديثه عن ربط تنوع الفروع والثمار بالتعايش السلمي وخدمة المجتمع.

دخل إلى موسوعة غينيس بـ 5 فصائل من النباتات في شجرة واحدة .. إليكم التفاصيل

تغطية عن حسام الصراف وشجرته متعددة الثمار، منشورة على قناة العربي ٢ الموثّقة.

اقرأ / شاهد ↗ تسجيل بديل ↗

حسام الصراف يدخل موسوعة غينيس بشجرة تحمل عشرة أنواع من الفاكهة

تسجيل اللقاء الإذاعي عن التطعيم وغينيس، أعاد حسام الصراف نشره على قناته.

من شغف التطعيم إلى موسوعة غينيس

قصة اهتمام حسام بتطعيم الأشجار والإنجاز الذي حققه في موسوعة غينيس للأرقام القياسية.

استمع إلى المقابلة ↗صفحة المقابلة بالإنجليزية ↗صفحة إذاعية إضافية على SBS · ٨ ديسمبر ٢٠٢٢، ٨:١٤ دقيقة ↗