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Carla Tongun was born in Sudan. For many years she worked as a women's leader and advocate for peace, until the civil war forced her to flee the country in 1988. After spending almost 12 years as a refugee in Kenya she was granted permission to come to Australia. She is now the women's leader of the South Australian Sudanese Society and the Catholic Sudanese Community.
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When Carla arrived in Adelaide in 2000, she was assisted by staff at the South Australia Migrant Resource Centre to find work related to her experience as a peace and humanitarian worker. Carla now works as an African Cultural Consultant, for the South Australian Children, Youth and Women's Health Service. She helps refugee and migrant mothers settle into their new communities, by organising home visits with nurses to identify their needs and to explain their responsibilities as parents in Australia.
Working with cultural difference
Carla has developed training courses and resource materials on cultural awareness and runs several social/community groups, including playgroups for young migrant mothers. This is important work, necessary to boost new mothers' confidence and assist them in developing social networks. She has given talks to various communities, and advocates on a policy level for all African women.
Central to Carla's work is helping African mothers deal with the cultural and legal differences of parenting in Australia. African communities tend to have much greater emphasis on community care than Australian ones:
‘Motherhood is very special and every woman looks forward to it in my society … Women and children are cared for and supported by their community like an extended family.
'In Australia children are usually the responsibility of nuclear families and are protected by the state through various organisations.'
The high social value many African societies place on children can, conversely, lead to problems not usually encountered in Australian communities. This emphasis can make life very difficult for married women without children. Carla believes that we need to reach a balance between both cultures: 'There is good and bad in all cultures, and we should learn from each other in order to deal with our current challenges.'
Work challenges
While Carla is very passionate about her job, the requirements are great due to the challenge of satisfying the competing demands placed on her. New arrivals are spread far and wide across the city/metro area and are very much in 'mobile communities' so Carla spends much of her time locating families and travelling long distances to assist them.
'Some families are left out of services such as playgroups because they live in areas where this service is not offered, even though the need is great. The lack of long-term services for mums with literacy and language problems is very challenging.'
The problems caused by a lack of local services are compounded by the time it takes for newly settled parents to get a driving licence and access to vehicles. It can be very difficult for these parents to join support groups and receive the community assistance vital to help them settle into their new home.
International peace work
In 2005, Carla returned to Africa to attend peace conferences in Uganda and Kenya. She was one of seven women from Australia invited to share their diverse experiences and ideas about the role of women in establishing and maintaining peace.
The Ugandan conference was especially touching for Carla because it was community-driven and focused on one-to-one relationships:
‘The conference was about peace, justice and equality for all—which resonates even in first-world countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US and Canada, whose indigenous people are still searching for justice and equality.
'The most striking aspect was the energy of women who often work behind the scenes and don't get recognition for their achievements, yet never give up.'
Carla feels that the humanitarian work of women across the globe is something that needs to be recognised and celebrated by all societies.
Looking to the future
Carla continues to work tirelessly for children, women, families and communities at local, national and international levels. She has clear ideas about what aspects of child development require the greatest focus and support:
'Parents maintaining the same care and love as they received when they were born. Building good relationships with children, even when they are teenagers or young adults.
'For African families, open communication is the key to understanding children. They should be allowed to explore and develop in a free world, fully protected by families and communities.'
Early Childhood Australia is very proud to celebrate Carla Tongun's work and wishes her much luck in the future.
Carla Tongun spoke to Julian Fleetwood
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