New home for Organisation of African Communities

The Organisation of African Communities Western Australia (OACWA) plans to grow its services to the community, after signing a lease with the City for bigger premises in Nollamara.
 
For the past six years, the OACWA has been providing support, services and representation to African people living in Western Australia.
 
OACWA Executive President Joe Tuazama said the group had far outgrown its old premises in Yokine and needed a place of its own.
 
“The new Nollamara space will allow us to expand our services, such as mentoring programs for our young people at risk, providing a place for families to bring their seniors while they are at work and African cuisine nights,” Mr Tuazama said.
 
“There’s also an office space that African leaders and groups can use.”
 
The group is seeking to establish a dedicated media hub to provide valuable information about health, challenges and opportunities.
 
“The hub will be crucial for those who don’t have English as a first language,” Mr Tuazama said. “For example, if there’s a new COVID-19 restriction, we invite the local people in so they see interpreters online, translating police messages in real time.”
 
OACWA has been in discussion with the State Government to secure funding to undertake upgrades and improvements to the Lemana Court site, including building a commercial kitchen, converting an external room into a media hub, renovating toilets and upgrades to flooring, ceiling and pavements.
 
Mayor Mark Irwin said he was pleased to see the lease allow the group to use the facility, where they can make full use of the space.
 
“OACWA is doing really important work in our City,” he said. “Nearly five percent of our population was born on the African continent and those families really value having a central hub with all the support and information services the OACWA provides.”
 
OACWA Vice President Casty Nyaga said she was looking forward to hosting big events at the venue.
 
“When we have events and meetings, we tell people to bring a plate. Now we’ll be able to cook for them.”
 
The hall within the vacant community building on Lemana Court has been leased to the OACWA for an initial term of five years, with the option of a further five-year term.

Find out more about the Organisation of African Communities Western Australia (OACWA).