Advocacy for Oromia has been providing assistance and information that will help Oromo community to make better choices to create the kind of future in which they wish to live since 2010. It runs by hard-working volunteers to deliver free, timely and accurate services to support and assist disadvantaged Oromo individuals and families. We used community centred, strengths based and community building approaches that focuses on building knowledge and skills of Oromo individuals and families to assist the integration of people with refugee background in the Australian society and to support positive employment outcomes for Victoria’s Oromo individuals, families and community through the provision of practical and culturally-sensitive services.

Our community education programs supported 600 Oromos in 2017-18 to improve their Mental Health. In the year, the Shanan and Ulmaa Bahuu sessions were helping women to overcome problems of depression and anxiety, low self-confidence and feelings of isolation. The sessions are addressing perinatal mental health issues, by offering mutual care and support. Furthermore, volunteer facilitators are helping individuals to link with other support services when needed. Participants have commented that the gatherings are very helpful and enjoyable.

We also supported more than 600 Oromos to promote respectful relationship, gender equality and community harmony in 2017-18. While the primary focus of the events was to promote community harmony, we also had community performances aimed to create public awareness about respectful relationship, gender equality, good mental health and living in harmony within a diverse. Thus, the events not only played a significant role in promoting a better understanding of Oromo issues, also increased our organisation’s ability to host similar events, activities and supports that will have positive outcomes for Oromo community.

In 2018-19, we also have held many interesting sessions at our regular meetings at Ross House: five information sessions on mental health, three information sessions on preventing violence against women, two community consultations, two sessions on healthy eating, and ten peace education sessions. Throughout the year, we held two Irreechaa-Oromo (thanksgiving) celebrations, where more than 500 community members attended and enjoyed the days. We also ran six home-based Oromo postnatal cares, called Shanan, at the homes of six Oromo families. The meaning of Shanan refers to the cultural ritual and celebration of Oromo postnatal care on the fifth day after giving birth.

Throughout the year 2019, we held Irreecha Birraa-Oromo (thanksgiving) celebrations on 29 September 2019, where more than 500 community members attended and enjoyed the day at Wilson Botanic Park, Berwick. We ran six mental health education sessions and five home-based Oromo postnatal cares, called Shanan, at the homes of five Oromo. We also ran a series of 10 Peace Education Project workshops from July-August 2019 at Ross House.

Our team already had considerable community development experience and expertise.  Our various projects helped to develop our confidence and the capacity of our agency. Our team used every gained knowledge, skills and experiences as an opportunity to design and develop new approaches, to documenting progress, supporting positive employment outcomes, liaising with community stakeholders, and conduct evaluation.

Advocacy for Oromia is devoted to establishing Advocacy for Oromia organisation to close the gaps where we can stand for people who are disadvantaged and speaking out on their behalf in a way that represents the best interests of them. We are committed to supporting positive settlement and employment outcomes for Victoria’s Oromo community. We have the ability and willingness to participate in the development of capacity building programs with the employment capacity building organisation in Victoria. Advocacy for Oromia is committed to assist the integration of people with refugee background in the Australian society through the provision of culturally-sensitive services.