Photovoice exhibition

Tackling the Hathi in the room Photovoice exhibition

Haathi in the Room Inc. held a Photovoice Exhibition on 17 October to mark Mental Health Month. The forum gave us an opportunity to raise awareness within the community around mental health and wellbeing.

Each day in Australia more than 8 people die by suicide. 3 million Australians are living with anxiety or depression which can affect any of us at any time regardless of our culture and background. What is worse is that 54% of people with mental illness do not access any treatment – treatment which is readily available with many initial counselling sessions covered by Medicare. South Asians are considerably less likely to seek help for mental health conditions compared to the rest of the Australian population

Mental Health is defined as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to contribute to their community”. Life events such as loss of a partner, recent migration, redundancy, major health setbacks, recent bushfire and most recently COVID 19 Pandemic can affect mental health and wellbeing. There is a rife stigma attached to mental illness and little open discussion within our community associated with shame/‘sharam’. Those who suffer are often labelled as either “weak” or “stupid” and their concerns are often unrecognized and ignored.

Haathi in the Room’s vision is to start the conversation, and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the South Asian community. We wish to give a voice to the “Haathi in the Room” – Poor Mental Health and Wellbeing is the elephant in the room which we can all see but do nothing about. We wish to encourage our community to recognise the importance of early intervention and the need to provide support to sufferers just as we do for physical health conditions.

Haathi in the Room used PhotoVoice as the method of discussion at the Forum. PhotoVoice is a powerful photographic and storytelling technique – as they say a photo tells a thousand words. PhotoVoice is an empowering and flexible process that combines photography with grassroots social action and is commonly used in the fields of public health and education.

PhotoVoice participants can include community members of all ages and status including those who are discriminated against due to language, gender, race, class and disability. Through their photos, participants bring new insights and perspectives which raise awareness of hidden or overlooked issues and aspects specific to the community. The narratives from the photos can then be used to promote dialogue, to better understand triggers, reduce community barriers and help develop effective solutions and programs to address the identified issues and concerns.

The Forum was a great way to start the conversation and raise awareness of the social context of mental health and wellbeing within our community. It helped identify the triggers in our community – how do attitudes within our community and lack of understanding of mental health and wellbeing impact people’s ability to cope with the normal stressors in life?

PhotoVoice participants were trained by Multicultural Health Communication Services who provided expert advice and valuable guidance. The PhotoVoice Project and Forum was funded by Multicultural NSW.

Charishma Kaliyanda – elected councillor for Liverpool City Council, Occupational Therapist and Com-

munity Engagement Officer for Headspace Campbelltown was the keynote speaker at the Forum. As a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the National Grown Areas Alliance, (NGAA), Charishma has put mental health and youth infrastructure on the agenda for Australia’s fast growing outer urban areas. Charishma provided valuable insights into her own journey since arriving in Australia and provided excellent tips on how to deal with the day to day stressors. Her insights resonated with the audience.

The Forum was well attended and the Haathi in the Room team received excellent feedback from the attendees.

Haathi in the Room team members are: Nitasha Bhatia, Vidhisha Khetwani, Monica Das, Megha Agarwal and Sue Advani.

For more information please visit Haathi in the Room Facebook page.

happy Diwali

JULIAN LEESER MP FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BEROWRA

Level 11, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills NSW 2120 02 9980 1822 julian.leeser.mp@aph.gov.au julianleeser.com.au julianleesermp

Legally Banga

We spoke with Samir about his passion for the law & how Banga Legal came to fruition. We also asked him a few questions that our readers have for lawyers. CRIMINAL LAW • FAMILY LAW • IMMIGRATION LAW

Q. What makes a good lawyer?

Lets’ make this simple, someone you understand. Going deeper, someone you can communicate with effectively and a lawyer that has the right experience.

Don’t ask a compensation lawyer to do your criminal matter.

Q. What was the motivation behind establishing Banga Legal?

To be able to provide bespoke legal services. Genuine, considered proper advice without the focus on cash. I have worked for firms of various sizes, both big and small. Worked with clients of high profile and the regular person. I wanted to be able to deliver the real deal, in an approachable sensical way.

Q What areas of law do you practice?

I mainly focus on Criminal and Family law. I am what we call an advocate, the lawyer that will run your matter in court. I don’t just give instructions. My team also handles Immigration law and we understand the importance of having an immigration lawyer on board.

Q. How do you support and develop relationships with clients?

We provide bespoke packages. We have a team that speaks English, Punjabi, Hindi and Greek, with more to come. We form an understanding of what our client needs, not just what they may want. We work with our clients to deliver and offer real, considered advice. We will not fabricate the possible outcomes, ethics plays a big part in our practice. We guide you through the minefield that is our legal system may seem to be.

Q. What experience do you have in law?

I have worked in both big and small law firms. Now, I present Banga Legal, which is what I consider a boutique firm. I have represented high profile clients, such as NRL players. Had cases that attracted media attention, however, I also take on Legal Aid matters

where I can. Support the people that are most in need and are often left behind.

The most important difference about me is that I am the person running your hearing. I am in court, at the bench. I am your advocate, I am the one who makes this happen. I don’t just advise you on what I have heard, I advise you with the backing of real practical experience.

Q. What does your typical day/week look like?

Ahh, well it is get up, get ready, go to court for my client, hopefully win the day, celebrate with a client – lawyer coffee and then hit the gym. Return home for preparation for the next days hearing.

Make sure I get some family time in there and we are good to go.

Q. What advice would you have for new and upcoming lawyers?

Don’t give up, remember, being a lawyer is not like suits and it is definitely not what it seems in university. In the legal field, the first job is the hardest to obtain. I would suggest growing your network and reaching out to potential employers early. Your network is your friend. hiring a lawyer? Some would ask how long is a piece of string?

We want our clients to understand that cost is relative to the complexity of your case. You will find some simple matters can be completed under a fixed fee agreement, however, there are complex litigious matters which cannot.

Let’s use the example of a drink driving charge and this being the clients first offence. This matter can be resolved in one or two court appearances. Perhaps 2 consultations with your lawyer and an outcome can be reached. Make this a high-range drink driving charge, 4th offence and you have a different story. The client in this case is likely to go to jail and we need to revaluate the preparation required, including the time spent on the matter. This would then become a bespoke matter as we call it at BL.

The family law equivalent would be a divorce matter. A simple divorce with the agreement of both parties can easily be completed under a fixed fee package.

Make this a complex parenting matter, add 3 children under the age of 10, now you face all new challenges. Multiple conferences, possibly an independent children’s lawyer and a 2 year long proceeding (if we’re lucky). Yes, multiple court appearances.

We refuse to fudge our numbers and give blanket false estimates. We pride ourselves in our ethics and our pricing standards. We explain the process and the reason the matter will cost a certain amount. We have had clients come to us complaining that they were told $2000 and the matter blew up to $10,000. Why not just be transparent in the first place?

For any legal assistance, Samir & his team at Banga Legal can be contacted on (02) 9152.8701 or via email at info@bangalegal.

Learning Experiences Change Lives!

I learn a lot from everyone around me -- from my parents, teachers, guides, teammate to my competitors to the random person.

By: Dr Parminder K. Saini

You can learn from reading wide variety of books, i.e. more genres - non-fiction; your vision will improve, you will understand the world around you.When you read academic books - economics - finance - accounts - sociology and other arts, you develop general knowledge about those subjects.You can become good at theory in almost all the subjects. You can learn math, finance, physics and a lot of stuff requiring calculations.You can learn everything related to Computers and Software - You can type your way into coding, designing etc etc….

But you can’t learn everything by reading books – Yes, its absolutely right! A lot of things require you to get out of bed - get into the field and learn the skill but if you hate doing that don’t be disappointed there are a few things that don’t require you to run around - You can learn quite a lot by storytelling!

Stories teach us about life, about ourselves and about others. Storytelling is a unique way for students to develop an understanding, respect, appreciation for other cultures and can promote a positive attitude to people from different lands, races and religions.

After the completion of my Doctorate degree I was very excited and wanted to thank my both the guides (Dr. Amanpreet Singh and Dr.J.S. Sohal), I immediately dialled number of Dr. Amanpreet Singh for paying my gratitude for his invaluable guidance during the research journey. Subsequently, I can never forget the blessings of Honourable Director Defence Services Welfare Punjab for the support and platform provided on each step. I was also planning to visit Directorate Defence Services Welfare, Punjab to thank for the envelope they provided, because I was so grateful to the Brigadiers, Colonels & Generals who played a major role in shaping up my personality not only as an Academician but their day to day guidelines turned me into a strong pillar of society.

In the evening I visited Dr. Amanpreet Singh. He has always been a charmer, amiable and more silent then silence but an intellectual person in his 50s who does not speak much and has his own style to manage the scholars of different background.

I was fed up with daily routine, as I was disconnected from almost every kind of social and personal activities due to the heavy workload of research work. After a long time I wanted to celebrate and enjoy the success in all the manners I can.

I asked him “Dr. Sahib from whom I should start paying my gratitude..?” He smiled & remained quite (as usual). I have always been awe of him and I kept silent for a long time. Perhaps he understood my tight lipped conversation. He broke the silence and told me a heart touching story narrated by Sudha Narayan, wife of Narayan Murthy, Co-founder of Infosys. He said, Sudha Narayan explained him a wonderful event celebration in Russia, when she was in Moscow, Russia. Sudha narrated like this:

The day, I went to apark, it was Sunday. It was drizzling and cold, though it was summer. I was standing under an umbrella and enjoying the beauty of the place... when suddenly, my eyes fell on a young couple.

It was apparent that they had just got married. The girl was in her mid-twenties, slim and with blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She was very beautiful indeed. The boy was almost the same age and very handsome. He was in a military uniform. The bride was wearing a pretty white satin dress, decorated with pearls and pretty laces.

Two young bridesmaids were standing behind her holding up the hem of the wedding gown, so as not to let it get dirtied. One young boy was holding an umbrella over their heads, so that they should not get drenched. The girl was holding a bouquet and the two were standing with their arms linked. It was a beautiful sight. I wondered why they had come to the park in this rain soon after getting married. They could surely have gone to a merrier place. I watched as they walked together to the raised platform near the memorial, placed the bouquet, bowed their heads in silence, and slowly walked back.By now I was curious to know as to what was going on...!!

There was an old man standing with them. He looked at me, my saree, and asked, ‘Are you Indian?’

I replied, ‘Yes, I am an Indian.’ And we began chatting amicably. I decided to use the opportunity to ask some questions.

‘How do you come to know English?’

‘Please tell me why that young couple visited the War Memorial on their wedding day?’

- ‘Oh, that is the custom in Russia. The wedding takes place normally on a Saturday or a Sunday. Irrespective of the season, after signing the Register at the Marriage Office, married couples must visit the important National Monuments nearby.

‘Every boy in this country has to serve in the Military for a couple of years at least. Regardless of his position, he must wear his service uniform for the wedding.’

‘Why is that?’

‘This is a mark of gratitude. Our forefathers have given their lives in various wars that Russia has fought. Some of them we won and some we lost, but their sacrifice was always for the country.’

The newly married couple needs to remember that they are living in a peaceful, independent Russia because of their ancestors’ sacrifices. They must ask for their blessings.

‘Love for the country is more important than any other celebrations. We, the elders insist on continuing with this tradition whether it be in Moscow, St. Petersburg or any other part of Russia. We must visit the nearest War Memorial.’

Dr. Amanpreet Singh added further, “Dr. Sahib, when we are happy, we are busy in shopping for new gadgets, sarees, buying jewellery, planning & preparing elaborated menus and partying in discos etc. but do we Indians have the courtesy to remember our martyrs on the most important day of our lives?

His way of teaching me even after completing my doctorate degree sets me wondering about what we teach our children here. His words made me so embarrassed internally. As a sign of forgiveness, I got up & thanked him deeply. My eyes were filled with tears at the thought and I decided to visit the War Memorial immediately.

Such stories help us explain everything in our experiences about relationships, from feelings to memories, and from questions to objections. Each story we hear, read or listen to, our mind makes cognitive and emotional connections that shape our perception of the world.

I realized that there is a lot to learn as yet even after completing my doctorate degree. It boosted my feelings of things like gratitude, trust, compassion and empathy. Also motivated us to work with others and positively influenced our social behaviour. Instead of being a knowledge junkie, I decided to become an action junkie and actually taking actions upon all the valuable lessons that I gained.

Dr. Singh persuaded me that we must remember the sacrifices made by the soldiers of the country and I did it for all the young professionals studying in Sainik Institutes of Management and Technology, Punjab.

Jai Hind!