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10 CatholicOutlook October 2011Building a just and fair societyEvan EllisOn 15 September, the SydneyAlliance held its FoundingAssembly. More than 2,000 peoplefrom over 45 organisations packedthe Sydney Town Hall and filledthe neighbouring annex rooms.For the past three years, theAlliance has been growing inbreadth and depth as it createda diverse coalition of religiousorganisations, community groupsand unions from across Sydney.Now, the Alliance has steppedinto the public arena as a newvoice for Sydney’s civil societyand launched its Agenda for theCommon Good.At the assembly, the CatholicDiocese of Parramatta contingentwas led by Right Rev MonsignorRobert McGuckin VG EV andincluded parishioners from parishesin Penrith, St Clair, Glenwood-Stanhope Gardens, Blacktown andBlacktown South, Guildford andthe Hills.The group also included migrantchaplaincies and representativesfrom Josephite Community Aidand Young Christian Workers.Msgr McGuckin told theassembly, “The Catholic Churchin Western Sydney is proud topartner and work with the SydneyAlliance to create a society that isjust and fair for all.”To help build trust and goodwillamong a coalition the Alliance hastrained thousands of citizens frompartner organisations and conductedmany thousands of one-toonemeetings.Partner organisations also ran‘listening campaigns’ over sixmonths across the geographicspread of Sydney, connecting withmore than 6,000 people from variousmigrant, religious and socioeconomicbackgrounds.The issues, hopes, dreams andaspirations of these people contributedto the Alliance’s multiissueAgenda for the CommonGood, which was launched at theassembly. The agenda focusedon three issues; community careand health, social inclusion, andpublic transport.State politicians such asVictor Dominello, Minister forCitizenship and Communities andMinister for Aboriginal Affairs,and Charles Casuscelli, Chair of theLegislative Assembly’s Committeeon Transport and Infrastructure,were invited to begin working withthe Alliance on these issues.If you are interested in findingout more about the Sydney Alliancevisit: www.sydneyalliance.org.auIf you would like to get involved,contact Evan Ellis – Social JusticeCoordinator for the Diocese ofParramatta tel 0409 399 505.Msgr McGuckin addressesthe assemblyPhotos: Alphonsus Fok & Grace LuParishioners from St Patrick’s, Blacktown, at the assemblyBuilding Community HarmonySt Patrick’s Parish, Blacktown,ran the largest listening campaignof any group within the SydneyAlliance. Styled as a ‘call to conversation’,the Parish Priest, FrPeter Confeggi, invited all parishionersattending one of the Massesover a particular weekend to sharetheir hopes for their parish andthe struggles they were facing intheir community.Sitting quietly in the pews wasVincent Obwoya, aged 12. Theyoung school captain was hesitantto speak in front of the packedchurch. “I waited for a few peopleto go first and just when it wasabout to finish I got up,” he said.Given the microphone, Vincentanswered with one word, “Racism.”The cavernous church becamesilent with his response.Arriving in Australia fromSudan in 2004, Vincent has bothexperienced and witnessed racismin Australian society. “Thereare some kids at school whoalways get teased for their colour,”he said.While racist remarks can beflung by strangers, he has seen thecasual racism between friends. “Ithink they think it’s a joke.”Vincent, who felt proud ashe returned to his seat, spokeup because he believes all racismis hurtful.In listening campaigns acrossSydney people shared their experiencesof racial vilification, religiousdiscrimination and socialisolation, inclusion and exclusion.The Sydney Alliance hasput together a diverse team to doresearch and plan action to alleviatethese pressures.
CatholicOutlook October 2011 11Carolyn D’Mello: “People with disabilities have gifts and talentsand are able to contribute.” Photos: Alphonsus Fok & Grace LuMore than 2,000 people from over 45 organisations packed the Sydney Town HallCommunity Care, Health and SupportParticipating in the Sydney AllianceFounding Assembly was CarolynD’Mello, case worker with Aging,Disability and Homecare, part ofthe NSW Department of Familyand Community Services.A parishioner of St Nicholas ofMyra, Penrith, Carolyn is there tosupport people with disabilitiesand their families; both by makingknown available services andhelping families access additionalresources. In doing so she hopesto build the capacity of families torespond, giving them greater controlin their lives.For Carolyn her entire approachechoes the ‘Don’t DIS my ABILITY’campaign. “People with disabilitieshave gifts and talents and are ableto contribute,” she said.For Carolyn a major problem isthat society struggles to recognisethis. Stigma and the dislocationcaused by parallel services (separateservices for people with disabilities)works against this recognition.The flow-on effect is thatmany “… people with disabilitiesaren’t citizens participating in thecommunity as yet.”Her concern is that this canlead to the professionalising ofrelationships for people with disabilities.“Some people with disabilitieshave professional carers,but not friends.”Carolyn’s approach, of focusingon people’s gifts and talents,finds expression in asset-basedcommunity development.This approach to communitydevelopment is popular withinthe partner organisations of theSydney Alliance.“Too often people ask what’swrong with a community andthen try to fix it,” she said. “Inasset-based community development,we say, ‘Hey, what’s workingwell in a community? Let’s domore of that.’ It’s about workingwith the community.”Carolyn is not alone. In listeningcampaigns across Sydney peoplespoke up about their vision fora Sydney where everyone can participatefully in their communityand at work because everybodyhas care and coordinated servicesat significant times of their lives,and those providing care are supportedand valued.
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