The Community Innovators, Volunteers and Leaders (CIVAL) program first began in 2015. It was designed with the aim to provide community leaders with the skills and knowledge so they could support their communities.
The Hon. Tony Buti MLA was our inaugural facilitator and presented on the topic of leadership. Ten years later, we were honoured to welcome Minister Buti back on Saturday 20 September 2025 this time as keynote speaker to help us celebrate a decade of leadership and community connection.
The event was a vibrant celebration of graduates from every cohort, facilitators, Board members, staff, supporters, and special guests who’ve shaped the program’s journey.
For the past few months, we have been working to put this event together and we could not have done it without the support of the following people:
There are many people we need to thank who made our 10-year celebration so special:
- Hon. Tony Buti MLA for your powerful reflections.
- To our funders, Australian Department of Home Affairs, PASTT program and Office Of Multicultural Interests.
- CIVAL workshop facilitators who contributed over the years.
- To Frances Kosseh for your continued support.
- Aaliyah Nestoridis for delivering a heartfelt and powerful Welcome to Country.
- Kuda Ndlovu, our vibrant MC you brought the room to life!
- Our incredible organising committee: Mabel Abatania, Olga Hurina, Jawaria M., Karen D., Rasha, Sabah and Fatima Faqiri. Special thanks for Jawaria and Mabel to delivering sharing their reflections as graduates and to Mabel who developing and delivering the Time Capsule activity through MABATAN Consulting. Without your passion and dedication this event would not have been possible.
- Glenis and Mikyala, our student placements thank you for all your support.
- Paola Borquez-Arce, who was behind the camera interviewing our video contributors.
- All our video contributors who shared their words about what CIVAL meant to them.
- Echoes of Ukraine Choir your performance was amazing as always.
- Food Almadi and Malena’s Kitchen thank you for providing delicious food for the event.
And to our CIVAL Alumni, you are the heartbeat of this program. Your energy, stories, and continued impact remind us why CIVAL exists. Thank you for showing up, celebrating, and inspiring the next generation of community leaders. We can’t wait to see where the next decade takes us.
