On the International Day of the Girl declared by the United Nations (UN), over 200 women and men showcased their support at the National Launch of the ‘Harmony Alliance: Migrant and Refugee Women for Change.’ Minister for Employment and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, launched the special occasion at the Adelaide Town Hall, with other VIPs including the Honourable Zoe Bettison MP, Minister for the Status of Women and Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Not-for-profits, government service providers, and community and Ethnic leaders attended the launch.

Presented by Senator the Hon Cash, the inaugural recipient of the Harmony Alliance Award was Ms Eugenia Tsoulis OAM, Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre (AMRC), for life long achievement in empowering and supporting migrant and refugee women.

Ms Maria Dimopoulos, will guide the Harmony Alliance as Chairperson, with backing support from the Migration Council Australia (MCA), who will ensure the pivotal work plan of the alliance remains on track and achieves effective outcomes for women during and beyond their settlement process.

The women’s alliance, now one of six National Women’s Alliances, will consult nationally with women of migrant and refugee backgrounds from a diversity of cultures to inform on issues impacting them and facilitate positive change. The alliance strives to ensure that equal opportunity and access is available to these women in health and wellbeing, justice, safety, employment, social, cultural and economic participation in Australia. The inaugural Alliance Council will be represented by various community representatives and organisations, who either work and/or represent migrant and refugee women, including not-for-profit agencies.