Faten El Dana OAM

Ambassador for migrant women
MWWA President, Faten El Dana OAM:
Winner of A.H. Beard’s Community Hero Award

On the Eve of the International Women’s day 2014, the President of the Muslim Women’s Welfare of Australia, Faten El Dana was awarded the A.H. Beard’s Community Hero Award. She was named the People’s Choice Community Hero. Mrs El Dana, an Order of Australia Medal recipient, was recognised for her commitment to improving the lives of migrant women. The Award was presented in Parliament House by the Minister for Women, Pru Goward and the Premier of New South Wales, Barry O’Farrell.

A.H. Beard’s Community Hero Award showcases women who are local heroes or volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to the NSW community.

This year 239 nominations were received from across NSW highlighting the outstanding achievements and contributions that women are making in our state. The judging panel had a very difficult job in selecting the finalists with so many excellent nominees.

Despite the strong competition presented by the three other finalists for this Award, Mrs El Dana’s remarkable community contribution was recognised as most deserving of this Award.

Mrs El Dana is also very active in the community as an ambassador for migrant women. She is the head of programming at 2MFM, the Muslim community radio (which was originally founded by the Islamic Charity projects association), and is involved with numerous community projects around women’s health, family issues, job searching, interpretation and many others. Mrs Dana draws on the strong affiliation between MWWA and Darulfatwa, Islamic High Council of Australia to inform the community on important social issues from a religious perspective.

Faten El-Dana is honoured to have received this award, and hopes that her win will inspire and empower women, youth, migrants, ethnic and emerging community members to dream, to achieve, and to follow suit.

After receiving the award, Mrs El Dana OAM said:
“I take great pleasure in accepting this prestigious award. It is such an honour to be awarded the community hero award”.
“I would like to thank all those who voted for me, all those who used their voice to express their confidence in me”, “I am humbled that you would place your trust in me “. Darulfatwa

Speaking to Channel 10, Mrs El Dana‘s message to all women on the Eve of the international Women’s Day was:

“Never cease to seek education. Women who are able to attain some level of education are not only empowered with knowledge, but also with confidence, high self-esteem and independence. , educated mothers build educated families by raising children who value education and can hence lead to the advancement of society as a whole”.
On her enriched achievements list of awards, Mrs El Dana has many other additional recognition awards. They include:

2010 1-Australian Day Medallion.
2- Commended Women of the West Award

2011 Community Service Award.
NSW Premier’s Lebanese Community Award.

2012 Order of Australia Medallion.