Information and Cultural Exchange 22nd Annual Report

Information and Cultural Exchange
22nd Annual Report
January to December 2005
“None of the many extraordinary endeavours undertaken by
ICE could have occurred without the participation of the
diverse communities and individuals of Western Sydney —
their creativity, passion, unique outlook and talent.”
HEIDI FREEMAN, TREASURER, ICE
Contents
ICE encourages the development of
new partnerships. If you would like to
be involved with one of our projects,
or would like to make a financial
contribution to our work, please
contact us.
Street Address
Ground Level, AMWU Building
133 Parramatta Road
Granville NSW 2142
Australia
1
Overview of ICE
2 ICEMAP: the Visual Guide to ICE
4 Chairperson’s Report
5 Director’s Report
7 Artfiles
8 Community Cultural Development Program
9 CCD: Sydney Writers’ Festival
10 CCD: Emerging Communities Project
11 CCD: Emerge Projects
13 CCD: Remembering Minto
Postal Address
PO Box 4033
Parramatta NSW 2124
Australia
T +612 9897 5744 F +612 9897 5766
E [email protected] www.ice.org.au
14 Switch: Multimedia and Digital Arts Centre
15 Switch: International Exchange
16 Switch: Originate
17 Switch: Suburban Grooves
18 Switch: Western Sydney Screen Culture
19 Switch: Sydney Arab Film Festival
20 Community Information Technology Program
ICE is a registered charity.
21 CITP: Engage
All donations are tax-deductible.
22 Engage Projects
23 People and Partners
25 Treasurer’s Report
22nd Information and Cultural Exchange Annual Report
ISSN: 1833-5306
© Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) 2006
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR / EDITOR Danni Adams
DESIGNER Meiying Saw (ragingyoghurt.org)
26 Financial Statements
Overview of ICE
Information and Cultural Exchange (ICE) is a
dynamic community, cultural, information,
technology and arts organisation working
across the Greater Western Sydney region.
ICE manages Switch, Western Sydney’s
state of the art multimedia and digital arts
access centre. ICE produces the publication
and online resource, Artfiles: Arts Directory
for Western Sydney. ICE has expertise and
success in developing multimedia,
community development and arts programs
engaging thousands of individuals, artists
and communities annually. ICE works with
community groups, governments and local
infrastructures on innovative programs to
broaden community access and capacity in
information and communications technology
(ICT) to bridge the digital divide.
ICE is known and respected and our
successful track record is identified through
work with newly arrived migrant and refugee
communities, young people, and
relationships with organisations and artists.
The work of ICE is supported by migrant,
Indigenous, youth and community agencies,
artists, State, Federal and local government,
businesses, private sponsors, charities and
foundations.
ICE has grown rapidly in recent years,
responding to increasing demands of
Western Sydney communities for creative
opportunities and cultural expression,
information, ICT access and support.
With limited resources, ICE has built
momentum from successful programs that
sought to deliver new, creative ways to meet
these needs.
The recent growth of ICE has been
achieved by delicately juggling a multitude
of diverse projects. We have met many
challenges, including the increased pressures
of growth and consolidation on our fragile
infrastructure. ICE would not have achieved
its many successes without our valuable and
talented team, the support and participation
of our partners, and the diverse
communities, artists, and individuals we
work with.
The success of ICE comes down to the
hard work, brilliant ideas and seemingly
endless energy of all of those involved with
the organisation.
RECOGNITION Finalist, Stockholm Challenge, 2006 • Winner, Western Sydney Industry Awards,
2004 and 2003 • Finalist, National Multicultural Marketing Awards, 2003 • Finalist, Australia
Post Small Business Awards, 2003 • Staff member Fadia Abboud recipient of Western Sydney Arts
Fellowship, 2005 • ICE Director Lena Nahlous awarded an Asialink Fellowship, 2005 • Staff
members Mouna Zaylah and Liliana Ruti awarded Rotary Pride of Workmanship Awards for
contributions to community and cultural development in Western Sydney, 2005 & 2004
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GOALS
ICEMAP: the Visual Guide to ICE
1 Continuity
2 Strategic Alliances
3 Innovation
4 Capacity
5 Incubation
6 Communication
In its commitment to
community sustainability,
ICE offers pathways to
education, employment
and training.
As a catalyst for social
ventures, ICE brokers
effective partnerships
across public and private
sectors, and communities.
ICE uses new models of
community engagement,
which support cutting
edge cultural practices.
ICE builds communities’
capacities to effect
change and fully
participate in society.
ICE offers fertile ground
for practices, projects
and networks to unleash
community creativity.
As an accessible
information hub, ICE
empowers communities
to disseminate their
own stories.
KEY PROGRAMS
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Artfiles
CCD Program
Switch
Community IT Program
A key Western Sydney arts resource that
increases recognition, participation,
employment and training opportunities
for the region, artists and communities.
Encourages innovative collaborations
between culturally diverse communities and
the arts sectors, and develops new models
for CCD practice.
A program and space to provide access to
new media technologies to communities
who typically lack access
Strengthens communities by developing
their capacities to use ICT and improving
information exchange to target their needs
1 Artists’ professional development /
resourcing
1 Support and resource CCD in
Western Sydney
1 Deliver quality community-based
programs in digital arts
1 Develop ICT skills and infrastructure
in Western Sydney
Eg. Dis/Place program; marketing and
promotion training with artists and councils
2 Resource artist business
and employment
Eg. artist-to-business brokerage for
employment
3 Cultural brokerage with
Western Sydney Councils
Eg. assist Blacktown and Bankstown Councils
develop artist networks; jointly organise
strategic cultural forum with Parramatta
Council
4 Maintain accessible arts info portal
(book and website)
Eg. update website monthly;
produce book yearly
5 Promote / profile artists and
resource artist marketing
Eg. annual Artfiles showcase; monthly
artist profile in media and website
6 Regional cultural mapping
Eg. Artfiles portal; Cultural Atlas project
in partnership with UWS & WSROC
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Eg. assist communities and young people to
self-sustainability; provide advice and referral
in response to regular requests
2 Generate dialogue around CCD /
digital arts intersection
Eg. CCD sector issues seminars;
international artsworker exchanges
3 Progress CCD profession in
Western Sydney
Eg. Articulate conference
4 Professional development /
mentoring for CCD in Western Sydney
Eg. Originate 1 program for emerging CCD
and digital artsworkers; Originate 2 program
for Indigenous and Islander emerging CCD
and digital artsworkers
5 Deliver quality strategic CCD programs
across Western Sydney
Eg. Remembering Minto Storytelling project
6 Develop Strategic
Cultural Interventions
Eg. Darkness Over Paradise documentary;
blogging / digital storytelling with refugees;
urban music program with young people
2 Professional development and training
for artists and artsworkers in utilising
digital arts
Eg. refugee radio initiative — development of
four ongoing language programs
3 Outreach / increased community
access to digital arts
Eg. video training at Wenty Youth Centre
using Mobile IT kits; drop-in Switch Centre;
Suburban Grooves urban music projects
4 Switch Academy — cost recovery
training (in development)
Eg. run fee-paying courses with TAFE in
Music Production and Filmmaking
5 Production house
Eg. Somali and Arabic video resource
development for Area Health Service
6 Maintaining facilities and
programming capacity
Eg. Arabic Youth Leadership program
7 Hire of centre and equipment
Eg. NGO IT Network; establish four community
IT access centres in libraries/NGOs
2 Support community service providers
to better use ICTs in direct service and
their own ICT enhancement programs
Eg. training for workers;
Websites that Click program
3 Develop innovative ICT initiatives
and programs
Eg. Engaging Communities IT access project;
Granville Regeneration project
4 Spearhead programs that explore
potential research and development
opportunities
Eg. support Computerbank to become
sustainable and to develop access centres
based on open-source software
Synergy
Work across and between ICE programs
to mutually reinforce and support
outcomes, fill gaps, break new ground
and make connections.
© Information and Cultural Exchange (2006)
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“The NSW Government through its Western Sydney Arts
Strategy has made a strong commitment to a vibrant
and sustainable arts community in Western Sydney…
The existence of Artfiles as a resource for communication
and contact between artists, communities and businesses
has contributed significantly to this success, and will
underpin the continuing development of the arts in
Western Sydney.” BOB DEBUS, NSW MINISTER FOR THE ARTS
“ICE has consistently fought to combat disadvantages
caused by economic hardship, racism and other forms
of discrimination. But we do it in ways that inspire and
motivate, giving people the skills and confidence they
need to reach their potential.” TILDA SIKES, CHAIRPERSON
Chairperson’s Report
When asked what ICE does I often hesitate
to list ICE’s numerous and varied activities,
it can be difficult to explain how it all fits
together. There are countless examples of
groundbreaking new media work with
communities. Whether it be multimedia skills
development, promoting and supporting
Western Sydney’s artists and cultural
industries, supporting young music artists,
or developing innovative programs for
disadvantaged and diverse communities to
access and engage in the arts, culture and
information technology.
ICE is indeed a dynamic organisation,
embracing and initiating change. ICE is a
pivotal arts and community IT hub for
Western Sydney. The Community Information
Technology Program and the Engaging
Communities Project play a critical role in
the region, innovating training initiatives for
community organisations, and building
partnerships across the non-government
sector. Our partnerships with libraries,
training providers and community groups are
enhancing the role of local libraries and
building community capacity in information
technology.
The achievements of ICE are due to the
ongoing support of our principal funding
bodies, the NSW Ministry for the Arts, the
NSW Department of Community Services
and the Australia Council. The support of
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Director’s Report
our organisational sponsor the Australian
Manufacturing Worker’s Union (AMWU) has
been invaluable — the AMWU provides a
home for ICE and SWITCH in Granville.
Our partnerships with 12 of the 14 Greater
Western Sydney Councils, and in particular
with Parramatta City Council via Switch, are
also vital.
I would like to acknowledge the
incredible work by all of ICE’s growing family
of workers, volunteers and participants. The
leadership of Lena Nahlous has been integral
to building the environment that has allowed
such an amazing team to thrive. What they
have achieved is remarkable.
However while I have written this report,
I cannot take credit for all the hard work of
our previous Chair, Caitlin Vaughan. On
behalf of the board and staff I’d like to thank
Caitlin for leading ICE through its
tremendous growth period.
I would also like to acknowledge
the work of my colleagues on the ICE
Management Committee for their
resourcefulness, dedication and energy.
It’s been a pleasure working with you.
2005 was both exciting and challenging for
ICE — after five years of significant growth it
was definitely a critical year of consolidation.
The level of activity has been vigorous to say
the least, with over 6,000 people
participating directly in our programs, and
with these programs reaching tens of
thousands more indirectly.
As a result of this work, knowledge of
ICE and our programs has grown. ICE is
increasingly being sought out for our
expertise and as an access point to the
diverse communities we work with. The
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity
Commission, for instance, approached us
and we subsequently supported their ‘Voices
of Australia’ project – an online archive and
publication of real-life stories about diversity
to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of
the Racial Discrimination Act.
At the end of 2005, ICE was recognised
for its achievements with a triennial grant
from the NSW Ministry for the Arts through
the Western Sydney Arts Strategy. This has
been a significant milestone for ICE,
providing a critical opportunity to plan with
some certainty.
ICE remains committed to our
partnerships with local government, which
are key to a range of projects, particularly
Artfiles – which in some ways has been the
backbone of the organisation. Artfiles
continues to underpin opportunities for
artists in the region, linking them to
employment and other opportunities,
developing skills, and providing critical
services.
The importance of these relationships,
and their innovative achievements evolved
this year into a formal research partnership
with the University of Western Sydney’s
Centre for Cultural Research and Western
Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils.
The Digital Cultural Atlas project will explore
and innovate ways in which cultural
information can be incorporated and
represented in systems used at the local
level for planning.
The success of programs such as
Originate has been a gratifying indication
that the various programs of ICE have
consolidated their identity, and developed a
firmer focus and a stronger way of working
together. There’s now a strong foundation to
how ICE works, and why.
2005 was also a big year for our sector
more broadly, with the Australia Council
embarking on a restructure that saw the
dismantling of its Community Cultural
Development and New Media Arts Boards.
Tilda Sikes
ICE CHAIR
continued...
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With significant implications for ICE and
others in relation to how our work is
supported at the national level, we actively
participated in these consultations.
ICE continues to make important and
collaborative incursions into mainstream
cultural institutions – working as a two-way
bridge between these institutions and the
communities of Western Sydney. In its fourth
year, our partnership with the Sydney
Writers’ Festival has embraced our
contributions to programming. A new
partnership with the Museum of
Contemporary Art began, with a successful
seminar exploring the work of Mona Hatoum,
kickstarting our three-year partnership
project: Dis/Place: Making Work in Exile.
In 2005 I presented at the Creative
Clusters conference in Belfast on ICE’s work
in developing digital arts creative
enterprises with emerging and refugee
communities. This exposure profiled ICE
internationally and has led to new
relationships and opportunities to reach
wider audiences, and contribute to and learn
from international best practice.
The year hasn’t been without its
challenges. With a growing profile, demand
has increased significantly. Space in the
office and to accommodate the Switch
Centre’s full potential remains an issue.
Demand for accessible spaces (particularly
those with digital capacity) in Western
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Sydney still considerably outweighs
availability.
Despite the challenges, ICE really is
blessed by the generous and committed
people who have given so much this year,
and without whom the achievements and the
creative output of 2005 would not have
been possible.
I rely heavily on the support, advice and
guidance of the Management Committee. ICE
is lucky to have a board that has such
incredible expertise and which contributes
so actively and generously of their own time.
The Committee provided critical input into
the strategic review and planning process,
and undertook substantial behind-the-scenes
work. Thank you in particular to the
Executive members: Caitlin Vaughan, Tilda
Sikes, Heidi Freeman and Tiffany Lee-Shoy.
ICE’s staff and key consultants are truly
amazing — intelligent, creative, inspiring and
connected people who are all passionate
about the work we do. I’m proud that at ICE
we are doing our part to support the growth
and development of talented artsworkers
and community workers in the region.
Lena Nahlous
ICE DIRECTOR
“Artfiles is an essential document of cultural activities
in Western Sydney that would otherwise be invisible to
the art industry especially in the city.
Thank you for this service.” BETTE MISFUD, VISUAL ARTIST
Artfiles: the Arts Directory for Western Sydney
In its seventh year, the Artfiles program
supports Western Sydney’s diverse and
dynamic world of arts and cultural creators,
facilities, programs and activities.
The estimated readership of the book and
website exceeds 150,000 a year.
Artfiles is supported by the NSW Ministry
for the Arts, 12 Western Sydney Councils,
and a broad range of arts and community
organisations and businesses.
15,000 copies of the printed directory are
distributed across New South Wales,
Greater Western Sydney and Australia.
Listings in Artfiles increase by over
15 percent every year.
Hundreds of artists are employed annually
as a result of exposure in Artfiles
Artfiles and its listings are truly
representative of the diversity of Australia’s
most culturally diverse and creatively
dynamic region. Over half the artists and
groups in the directory are from diverse
backgrounds — Indigenous, migrant, refugee
and non-English speaking.
Through the development of training
programs with artists and local government
Artfiles has cemented a strategic focus on
arts business, employment development and
artist and cultural industries promotion.
One of the most significant
achievements of Artfiles has been its
capacity to form long-term partnerships with
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and between local Councils. As an essential
hub for cultural industries’ development in
this region, Artfiles will continue to sustain
existing partnerships and to develop new
collaborations, consequently allowing
businesses to grow sustainable arts and
cultural infrastructure and economies in this
region.
As Artfiles continues to grow, develop
and expand — its importance as an arts and
cultural infrastructure is continually
demonstrated.
We look forward to the future of Artfiles
and its continual growth and the value it
provides for so many people.
Artfiles is funded through the NSW
Government - Ministry for the Arts
Western Sydney program, and by the
following Councils: Auburn, Bankstown,
Baulkham Hills, Blacktown, Blue Mountains,
Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury,
Holroyd, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith.
Major Sponsor: Webstar Print
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“Originate was terrific, great because it provided us with
more skills, more development and allowed us to access
valuable information and use wonderful and much-needed
resources, all of which is needed for the Western Sydney
community to be empowered.”
“Words are weapons in fighting against corruption but
those words are usually not good things to the ears of
African politicians. In Africa, they try to find a way to
keep you silent.” EDISON YONGAI, EXILED JOURNALIST FROM SIERRA LEONE
BERNARD MAKENY, ORIGINATE PARTICIPANT
Community Cultural Development Program
CCD: Sydney Writers’ Festival
Supported through the Switch, Emerge and CCD programs of ICE
Overview
The Community Cultural Development
Program works strategically across diverse
artforms and sectors to encourage
collaborations between the community and
arts sectors. It has supported and developed
cultural programs and initiatives as an
integral part of working with culturally
diverse communities and assisted in the
development of CCD practice and arts
programs, projects and activities within
diverse communities (particularly refugee,
migrant and NESB) in Western Sydney. It has
addressed the gaps in cultural work in the
region, initiating and seeding projects such
as Artfiles, Originate and Switch. It has also
played a key role in supporting groups and
collectives towards independence.
In 2005, the CCD Program has worked to
enhance and increase opportunities for
cultural and artistic expression and to
develop sustainable infrastructures for the
arts in Western Sydney. The project operates
from the philosophical base of the arts as a
tool for community explorations, dialogue
and progressive change. The CCD Program
has continued to generate employment for
CCD practitioners and contribute towards
development of sustainable arts
infrastructures in Western Sydney.
The CCD Program worked in partnership
with all three tiers of government, private
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enterprise, educational institutions, arts and
cultural industries and artists to deliver its
core business in 2005. We also developed
strategies to increase relationships with
major State cultural institutions and events
to benefit Western Sydney and to increase
the influence of Western Sydney arts and
culture in these institutions.
The CCD Program plays a key role in
representing the need and issues of artists
in Western Sydney through participation in
reference groups, communities, boards and
active participation in forums and
conferences.
Core support for the CCD program is through
the NSW Ministry for the Arts and Australia
Council for the Arts.
ICE has worked with the Sydney Writers’
Festival for over four years in developing
programs that bring Sydney Writers’ Festival
audiences to Western Sydney, and Western
Sydney audiences to the Festival. In 2005
ICE was proud to be a partner in three very
exciting events, The Ramallah Diaries, Hip
Hop Projections and the First Act of
Violence. These events brought together
new and diverse audiences of many ages.
The Ramallah Diaries, Suad Amiry
@ Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
International guest of the Festival, Suad
Amiry, whose memoir ‘Sharon and My
Mother-in-Law’ is a diary of living in the
Occupied Territories, spoke with power and
total engagement to young PalestinianAustralian Rawan Abdul-Nabi about daily life
in Ramallah, Palestine.
These projects are a partnership between
Sydney Writers’ Festival, ICE, Riverside
Theatres, Parramatta, FBI Radio, Parramatta
City Council.
Hip Hop Projections
@ Bangarra Theatre, The Rocks
Over 25 lyricists from Western Sydney
brought a young and urban flavour to the
festival, through a night of rapping, DJing
and VJing infused with multimedia
projections, images and words. Hosted by
two of Australia’s most prominent hip-hop
virtuosos, Mc Trey and DJ Nick Toth, they
were joined by young artists they had
mentored through ICE’s Hip Hop 101, Music
with Mystro, Yallah and Suburban Sista
Soundz programs.
The First Act of Violence
@ Sydney Theatre Company, The Rocks
This extremely successful event sold out.
Writers from Western Sydney with recent
refugee experiences discussed the politics
behind the question “where do you come
from?” The speakers included: Edison
Yongai, journalist and editor from Sierra
Leone; Rukhshana Sarwar, writer and poet
from Afghanistan; Hussein Al-Hashimy, poet
from Iraq who taught himself English while
detained at Woomera; Zahra, a high school
student and blogger; and, Denis Asif Sado, a
young blogger from Sudan who spent much
of his life in refugee camps in Uganda. The
event was chaired by Australian writer and
community activist Paula Abood.
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“I was completely blown away by Darkness Over Paradise.
Several courageous Sierra Leonean cameramen and
journalists have smuggled their extraordinary news
footage out of Africa. How different the horrors of war
seem when filmed by an insider who speaks the language
and has some humanity. The film is made with great
sensitivity, a masterpiece of understatement. For me,
it’s the ultimate film about asylum seekers.”
“When I first came here, I was stressed and depressed
because I was in a new country and had a lot of
difficulties. But now I’m more active in the community
and meeting lots of people,” (FAIRFIELD CITY CHAMPION, 2005)
NAIMO ABDULLAH, WRITER AND DIRECTOR,
‘WAALIDNIMO’ SOMALI EDUCATIONAL VIDEO
DEBORAH KINGSLAND, INDEPENDENT FILMMAKER
CCD: Emerging Communities Project (Emerge)
A Switch co-program
A Switch co-program
Overview
Emerge develops digital arts initiatives with
small and emerging communities in Western
Sydney. The Somali, Sudanese, Afghan,
Kurdish, Amazigh, Iraqi, Iranian, Tamil,
Palestinian, Sierra Leone, Burundian and
Congolese communities are some of the
groups Emerge has supported.
Since 2003 Emerge has run innovative
programs in radio, filmmaking, music
production and writing. In its first two years
Emerge was supported through program
grants from the Australia Council’s CCD
Board. It is now financially dependent on a
range of funding bodies including the NSW
Film and Television Office and the Australian
Centre for Languages.
http://darknessoverparadise.squarespace.com
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CCD: Emerge Projects
CCD: Emerge Projects
Darkness Over Paradise
Darkness in Paradise is a feature-length
documentary about the experiences of
journalists during the civil war in Sierra
Leone. Two and a half years ago, members
of the Association of Sierra Leonean
Journalists in Exile approached ICE to
develop this documentary by drawing on
their first-hand experience, and the wealth of
documentation they had in their possession.
Participants were concerned that the
resources be utilised to develop a film that
would let the world know what was going on.
Over this time ICE supported
participants who had previously only trained
in analogue, to train in digital filmmaking
and website development (see picture, left).
Not only have the journalists been equipped
with technical skills, they have now become
participants in the local media and film
industry. Employment opportunities, social
engagement with a wider community, and a
fresh skill base are some of the primary and
tangible outcomes the project has birthed.
The support of the Australia Council, NSW
Film and Television Office and Mercy
Foundation and has been crucial to the
development of this groundbreaking
approach to documentary making which has
increased community capacity.
The next stage of the project is
marketing and distribution of the film to
audiences locally and internationally. There
has been interest from television networks
and film festivals in Europe.
Filmmaking Workshops with
the Sudanese Community
A highly successful ‘Introduction to Video
Production’ workshop for the Sudanese
community was held in April 2005.
Developed as a strategic partnership
between ICE, Granville Multicultural
Community Centre and Granville TAFE. This
workshop attracted over 19 participants,
representing the full diversity of Sudanese
communities. Those participating expressed
keen interest in further filmmaking
workshops and subsequently a ‘Directing
Drama’ project was proposed.
Somali TV and ‘Waalidnimo’
In 2003 Somali community workers
approached ICE for assistance in developing
a community television initiative. The
relatively small size of the community, its
broad spread across Western Sydney and the
lack of other communication sources in the
Somali language, coupled with the Somali
community’s interest in community
television were all significant factors in the
development of this project.
The project developed a showreel to
support them to lobby for a regular slot on
Sydney Community TV (formerly Channel
31).
The quality of the DVD showreel led to
employment for the group. Sydney South
Western Area Health Service commissioned
the Somali TV and ICE partnership to
develop an educational film resource as part
of their ‘Positive Parenting’ strategy – the
result was the film ‘Waalidnimo: Parenting
Issues for the Somali Community in
Australia’.
Both films are utilised as educational
tools by health services, migration services
and schools.
Somali TV was funded by Australia Council,
NSW Film and Television Office and Australian
Centre for Languages (ACL).
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“Radio is one of the most important forms of
communication for people from small and emerging
communities.”
“You don’t know what you’ve got till you’ve gone.”
MINTO RESIDENT
ZYRAP IBRAHIM, PARTICIPANT, EMERGING COMMUNITIES RADIO INITIATIVE
AND ‘VOICE OF THE NILE’ HOST
CCD: Emerge Projects
CCD: Remembering Minto
A Switch co-program
Emerging Communities
Radio Training Initiative
Recently arrived communities in Australia,
such as Liberian, lack communications
infrastructure in their own languages (eg. TV
or radio programs, newspapers or websites).
To address this, ICE partnered with the
Australian Centre for Languages (ACL) to
establish a radio production and marketing
program to train, support and mentor
individuals from these small and emerging
communities to develop community
language radio programs.
The initiative included mentorships and
placements, professional development and
training, as well as networking opportunities
with the Australian broadcasting industry.
Training was undertaken in the Switch
Multimedia Centre and in professional radio
stations in Burwood, Marrickville and
Bankstown. Research among local radio
stations resulted in airtime for individual
groups. Following the great success of its
initial year, ICE secured funding for several
programs for 2006.
Commencing broadcast on Sydney’s
Radio BFM 100.9 MHz in November, Voice of
the Nile Sudanese radio show was the first
program born from this initiative.
Emerging Communities Radio Training
Initiative was funded by ACL and supported
by Burwood RSL Club, Radio BFM and Radio
2000 FM 98.5
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Minto is a community living through
enormous change, with whole areas being
redeveloped, including the public housing
estate that has stood since the 1970s. Parts
of the estate have already been torn down.
Over the next ten years the entire estate will
be demolished, streets and open spaces
entirely recreated, and the residents
relocated.
The Remembering Minto project, a
partnership between the Remembering
Minto Group, ICE and the NSW Department
of Housing, was initiated by public housing
residents of Minto in response to these
changes.
Remembering Minto will produce a book
and online archive of stories for ex-residents
and residents of Minto. Remembering Minto
Project Coordinator Troy Ruttley came on
board in 2005 and the project officially
commenced in June with Lift Off, a planning
consultation involving many residents who
laughed and cried as they shared their
stories.
A range of initiatives are planned
including a Storytelling Festival at
Campbelltown Arts Centre, which will be run
as part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
Recognising the significant distance
between Minto and the ICE home in
Granville, ICE established a satellite office in
Minto at KoKo’s Place / Uniting Care
Burnside last year. Macquarie Fields TAFE
also came on board as an active contributor,
sponsoring two training programs — in digital
recording and radio; and another in graphic
design and digital arts.
This project will work with past and
present residents to ‘Remember Minto’
through storytelling, including recording
reflections from residents and local groups;
photographs of residents,
families and landscape.
This process will enable
them to collect, collate and
reinterpret the stories of their
lives and the life of their place.
Remembering
Minto
The backbone of this project stems from
the community support provided to it by a
volunteer resident committee and a range
of organisations, including South Western
Sydney Institute of TAFE – Macquarie Fields
Outreach Unit, Burnside Uniting Care – Minto
Family Centre, St Vincent de Paul’s Animation
Project, Franciscan Friars, Sydney South West
Area Health Service, Campbelltown City
Council, Campbelltown Arts Centre, Minto
Library and the range of Minto primary
and highs schools. Core support is provided
through NSW Department of Housing.
13
“This will open up new employment, education and training
pathways for Western Sydney communities and artists.
Switch is a ground-breaking initiative for Western Sydney
and testament to the State Government’s ongoing support
and commitment to digital arts and new technology in the
region.” MINISTER FOR WESTERN SYDNEY DIANE BEAMER, MP
Switch: Multimedia and Digital Arts Centre
“I love soul and rap and I‘m always singing at home.
I’ve always wanted to make music myself but I don’t
know anyone with this equipment. After this course
I think I could write my own songs.”
ISHA, PARTICIPANT, MUSIC WITH MYSTRO HIP-HOP PROGRAM
Switch: International Exchange
Overview
Based within ICE, Switch Multimedia and
Digital Arts Access Centre came to fruition
in 2003-4, aided by a significant grant from
NSW Ministry for the Arts and an important
partnership with Parramatta City Council.
The state-of-the-art centre and outreach
program attempts to engender local artists
and communities’ participation, provide
access for those who typically lack access to
digital arts and new media technologies, act
as both a hub and also outreach to Western
Sydney and be a centre for innovation and
excellence in new media arts practices.
Following its pilot phase, the Switch
Centre was officially launched by the
Minister for Western Sydney Diane Beamer
in February. Switch has developed expertise
in three digital arts areas: music and sound,
film and screen-based art and web and
graphic design. Within these areas subprograms have begun to form, such as the
Suburban Grooves Music Program.
The Switch program also worked with a
broad range of organisations within and
beyond the region to ensure maximum use
of the centre and to reduce duplication of
work. In 2005 Switch produced some highly
successful programs such as Suburban Sista
Soundz, Island Beatz, the short film ‘Judging
Amir’ and the parramappa project.
14
UK Hip Hop comes to Switch
A partnership with music promotion
company Hype in Ackshun enabled high
profile UK artists Mystro and Sarah Love
to collaborate with established Australian
music artists and emerging young artists on
music programs at the Switch Centre. The
international connection and link between
cultures, opened up dialogue, inspiring music
collaborations and exchange. Importantly it
provided young Western Sydney audiences
with exposure to contemporaneous UK
music and culture.
Well-known artist MC Mystro took time
out of his Australian tour to team up with
locals Trey and Maya to develop a music
program with newly arrived young people
from Africa.
“When I started making music there
were no workshops; you just taught
yourself,” said Mystro, “This is better
because the students are getting hands-on
teaching — you’re giving them the tools to do
what they want to do. As well, these kids are
from other countries, so it improves their
confidence in English and it helps the
cultures in those countries to grow.”
Sarah Love, a DJ who is making waves in
the British music scene and internationally,
teamed with local hip hop artist trainers to
run a school holiday program at Parramatta
PCYC and the Switch Centre. She was also a
guest trainer for the Suburban Sista Soundz
program. Both programs were supported
through Granville TAFE.
15
“Against the background that small and emerging
communities are struggling to assert themselves, the
empowerment of leaders by this project will go a long way
to facilitate integration and a sense of belonging into the
mainstream while at the same time help ethnic artists
gain access to more opportunities to expose themselves
and develop.” THEODORE JALLOH, ORIGINATE PARTICIPANT AND
“Through Island Beatz, I was able to learn more about
hip-hop music and improve my song-writing and
performance skills. It also helped boost my self-confidence
and has provided me with paid performance opportunities”
ISLAND BEATZ COURSE PARTICIPANT BEN NITIVA
EMERGING RADIO/SOUND PRODUCER/CCD WORKER
Switch: Originate: Multicultural + Multimedia + Mentorship Program
Switch: Suburban Grooves
A CCD co-program
Originate was an innovative project that
brought all of ICE’s program components
together and crystallised our approach and
strategic direction. Originate was a hands-on
development program involving 25 emerging
digital artists and artsworkers from small
and emerging communities.
Incorporating a skills development
program in arts and ccd processes and
project management, the project included
accredited training through a supplementary
partnership with TAFE. This will be combined
in early 2006 with specialist skills and
professional development in participating
artists’ specialist digital arts interest areas
through Switch. The final component of the
program will assist participants to put these
skills into action, with mentorships to work
on their own projects and opportunities for
formal placements. The program aims to
build genuine creative, digital capacity in
diverse communities.
Originate developed very much from the
ground up, in response to gaps identified
through ICE – particularly CCD and Switch
programs – with communities indicating a
strong desire for more practical and
supported capacity-building in relation to
digital arts and CCD and arts management.
The project has seen the emergence of new
projects and entities, such as Squeaky
Wheel, a production house formed by
16
participants, who are working towards
producing a regular TV Sydney slot
showcasing arts activity in our region.
The program included a seminar series
that was sponsored by Riverside Theatres /
Parramatta Council and was opened to the
broader public. Over 300 people attended
the Originate Seminars – gaining practical
insights and engaging in critical reflection
around issues such as copyright and
intellectual property.
A second program of Originate with
Australian Indigenous and Pacific Islander
artists and artsworkers is planned for 2006.
Originate received core funding through the
Australia Council for the Arts and the NSW
Ministry for the Arts, and was also supported
by the James N Kirkby Foundation and TAFE.
The Suburban Grooves Music program has
continued to thrive and develop, seeding
new performers, and developing skills in
song-writing, music production, performance
skills, business management and music
technology. Over 140 young people were
direct participants in the 2005 programs
and events, including the highly successful
Hip Hop Projections event at the Sydney
Writers’ Festival and the Suburban Sistaz
finale performance at The Metro. The
success of the program has been that the
trainers and guest speakers are credible and
established musicians. With the exception of
the school holiday programs, the music
programs provided participants with a CD of
their original music and a TAFE Statement of
Attainment. The first two Suburban Grooves
CDs were released featuring music from the
programs.
Suburban Sista Soundz
Switch broke new ground in 2005 with the
high-energy buzz and success of Suburban
Sista Soundz. Targeting unemployed young
women, Suburban
Sista Soundz was
one of the most
triumphant training
programs for
unemployed young
women wanting to
enter the music industry.
Participants finished the project with a
Sydney and regional NSW tour, high profile
promotion and a TAFE certificate. They even
appeared on the Kerri-Ann Kennerley Show!
Their tour promoted their CD and saw them
supporting Australia’s premiere hip hop crew
The Herd. Suburban Sista Soundz was an
exciting chance for these young women to
work with high profile DJs, rappers and
producers such as Figgkid, OziBatla, Urthboy,
Maya Jupiter, Trey and DJ Nick Toth. The
program was supported by the South
Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, the Myer
Foundation and the JB Seed Arts Grants
program.
Island Beatz
The Island Beatz program targeted young
unemployed Pacific Islanders interested in a
career in music, and explored a blend of
traditional and contemporary Pacific Island
music. Island Beatz was a partnership
between Granville Youth and Community
Recreation Centre, ICE’s Switch program and
TAFE. The huge success of this program has
resulted in plans to run a second program in
2006.
17
“What’s his problem cuz?”
“It’s ‘cause we’re Lebos bro…”
TROUBLE COMES TO ME, 2004
Switch: Western Sydney Screen Culture
The ICE film program, coordinated through
Switch, has been driven by strong interest
and possibilities for film among communities
in Western Sydney. The approach has
focused on building Western Sydney screen
culture on the ground.
This has involved providing
infrastructure, targeted training and skills
and production development opportunities
for emerging local filmmakers. It has also
involved programs to promote screen culture
and engage wider audiences for these
diverse local films. It has also involved
building audiences for alternative and
significant international film culture that
would otherwise not have representation
here – notably the Sydney Arab Film Festival.
In recent years, support for the ICE /
Switch Film Program from the NSW Film and
Television Office (FTO) has steadily increased
with several one-off grants — the FTO is now
the key partner for the program. By
maintaining a strategic focus, Switch is now
developing a strong screen culture program
for Western Sydney – supplemented by
collaborations on FTO programs as Shooting
West in 2005 at Campbelltown Arts Centre.
The FTO’s support has also been
significant in enabling the leverage of
additional contributions from other sources.
Small but significant consultancies – such as
digitising the AMWU Video Library – is also
18
important for Switch in terms of costrecovery.
The Switch program has both developed
and supported the development of a range
of innovative film productions in 2005. It has
provided supported access for film-makers
to equipment and facilities, professional
advice, training and support, and through
hands-on involvement in driving a number of
productions. Switch plays a key role in
promoting and showcasing innovative new
work – including Auburn on Screen and the
Sydney Arab Film Festival.
Agents of Change:
Transforming the World through Film
ICE continues to support this screen-based
leadership program for Arabic speaking
young men. Supported by Granville TAFE,
this program included workshops in acting,
scriptwriting and filmmaking for 15 Arabic
speaking young men. One of our most
powerful projects, the short film ‘Judging
Amir’, was launched in December at
Campbelltown Arts Centre as part of
Sydney Arab Film Festival. The success of
the program resulted in one participant
receiving funding through the Australian
Youth Foundation to develop a film and artsbased leadership camp. Based on its success,
we are hoping to expand to include young
women and other groups.
“The mountains of Lebanon, the shores of Algiers, the
timeless gaze of unrequited love, the melancholic rip of
having two homelands, dancers in Palestine, the lyrical
sound of the Oud, the secret joy of forbidden love, the
bridges of Alexandria, a mother’s anguish, a father’s pride,
a village lost to borders.” SYDNEY ARAB FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
Switch: Sydney Arab Film Festival
Over 1200 people attended the second
Sydney Arab Film Festival (SAFF) December
2005, an event that showcased the diversity
of international Arab cinema as well as
locally created short films.
The Festival provided great
entertainment over two packed weekends
and provided space for the artistic
development of Arab Australian filmmakers.
ICE is dedicated to supporting and
promoting dialogue in the arena of cultural
production, and SAFF is a grass-roots
example of this. The films were screened at
Campbelltown Arts Centre, Bankstown Hoyts
Cinema and Riverside Theatres, Parramatta.
In New South Wales, Arabic is the second
most spoken language after English, yet
Arabic self-expression needs a much higher
profile within Australian film and television
culture. The rich and diverse films reflected
the diversity of Arab culture/s within the
Arab world and in the diaspora, opening up
alternative representations of Arab culture,
commentary and self-representation. This
cultural event provided a space for diverse
audiences to constructively engage with
films focusing on Arab culture.
ICE is now deeply committed to
supporting SAFF in becoming a sustainable,
independent entity. This exciting festival has
the potential to become one of Sydney’s
most prominent film festivals.
A volunteer committee supported this
event and developed its impressive website:
www.sydneyarabfilmfestival.com.
In 2005 our partners and supporters
were NSW Film and Television Office,
Bankstown and Campbelltown City Councils,
Campbelltown Arts Centre, World Media
International, Auburn Community
Development Network, Hoyts Cinemas,
RM Gregory Printing, Riverside Theatres
and Parramatta City Council.
19
“I was amazed at how quickly I was given a solid grasp
of the skill required to develop a basic website for my
organisation.” JOANNE DENNIS, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR,
“I’ve learnt to trust myself, talk about my hobby,
and talk with other women about how we feel.”
MARCEL SAMAAN, PARTICIPANT, WOMEN WORK TOGETHER
DUNDAS AREA NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE
Community Information Technology Program (CITP)
Overview
The Community Information Resource
Program (CITP) develops and supports
information and communications technology
infrastructures in Central Western Sydney
through partnerships with diverse
communities, organisations, government and
business. It alleviates social inequalities
through enhancing the use of Information
Technology through training, support and
advocacy. The program works mainly across
Holroyd and Parramatta. This program also
oversees the Engaging Communities
Program, working with libraries, community
organisations and training providers to
increase access to IT for
socially excluded communities.
Making Links Conference 2005
The CIT Program was a key partner in this
annual conference, themed ‘Putting
Technology to Work in the Community
Sector’ with over 200 representatives.
IT on the Move
The support of Clubs NSW and the
Community Development Expenditure
Scheme enabled the establishment of two
community outreach IT learning kits. These
kits were used in Holroyd and Parramatta to
provide training for isolated communities,
individuals and workers.
20
Skilling up the Community Sector
In collaboration with Switch and supported
by Parramatta City Council, programs such
as the Websites that Click project were
developed to assst small to medium sized
organisations to increase their IT skills and
capacities.
Granville Regeneration Committee:
Granville Directory; Granville Stories
In partnership with Parramatta Council, the
CIT program is producing the ‘Granville
Directory’, incorporating residents’ stories
and images of Granville, histories of
significant places, and listings of services
and organisations. These were designed into
a book by young people mentored by graphic
designer Marian Abboud.
ComputerBank Sydney Inc
ComputerBank Sydney provide secondhand
computer equipment to communities and are
constantly looking for secure storage,
operational space ad transport.
CITP: Engage, the Engaging Communities Project
In its second year, Engage built on its vital
partnerships within Parramatta area and
undertook a strategic program in Auburn.
The program built on its relationships with
private and public training providers, high
schools, health, and migrant and youth
services.
Engage primarily works with socially
isolated communities to increase access to
information and communications
technologies. Acting as a broker between
libraries, the community sector and training
providers, Engage delivered a range of
innovative initiatives with participation from
migrant, refugee, non-English speaking and
emerging communities, as well as public
housing tenants and young people, including
homeless youth.
In addition, Engage continued its
development of new approaches to
increasing the IT literacy of women and
young people from diverse and socially
excluded backgrounds.
Engage receives core funding through the
Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme of
the Department of Community Services. Key
Engaging Communities Projects
Dundas Area Neighbourhood Centre
Community Technology Centre (DANC)
Engage partnered with ComputerBank
Sydney to upgrade this centre, which ICE
had established. As the only free community
technology access centre in the Dundas /
Telopea public housing estate, this centre is
vital in the local area for delivering
homework help and a range of programs.
This project was supported by an IT
placement student from the University of
Western Sydney. Subsequently the centre
was used to deliver youth week programs
such as Get into IT an open afternoon for
young people at the DANC community
technology centre.
Non-English Speaking Background (NESB)
Women’s Program
All eight women who participated in this
introductory computer and Internet program
went on to enrol at TAFE. Held at
Parramatta City Library, the program ran in
partnership with South Western Sydney
Institute of TAFE – Granville Outreach.
project partners in 2005 were TAFE,
Parramatta Library, Parramatta City Council,
Parramatta College, High Street Youth Health
CITP is core-funded by the NSW Department
Service, Parramatta high schools, Auburn
of Community Services.
Council and Auburn Central Library.
Women Work Together
Partnering with Parramatta College, we
delivered this highly successful program for
18 women from culturally diverse
21
People and Partners
“It’s the Afghan shop. It is a big shop and they have lots of
Indian DVDs. I go there sometimes to borrow Indian DVDs.
The shop owners were very happy about showing their
business on Parramappa.”
SEHER, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND PARTICIPANT, PARRAMAPPA PROJECT
Engage Projects
backgrounds at Granville and Auburn
libraries. The program included ICT skills,
English-language skills, and training in
personal development and building social
networks. To mark the end of the program,
Parramatta College, service providers and
Auburn Council participated in an
information session on training and other
activities in the area, which was attended by
over 40 women from Central Western
Sydney.
Parramappa (www.ice.org.au/parramappa)
Held over two school holidays periods, the
Parramappa project introduced young
people from refugee backgrounds to online
digital photography skills, and also to
services and places of interest in Parramatta
CBD, Granville and Harris Park. The project
incorporated ICT skills development and
resulted in the young people creating an
online digital image map of Parramatta using
open source software. Participants explored
public spaces, visiting businesses, councils,
community and youth centres and schools.
Youth in Transition
This innovative program targeted homeless
and ‘at risk’ young women – developing skills
in computer and Internet usage, yoga,
personal health and budgeting skills. Held at
Parramatta Library, the program was
delivered in partnership with High Street
Youth Health Service, Centrelink and South
Western Sydney Institute of TAFE - Granville
Outreach.
Parramatta Homework Help
Learning Centre
2005 marked year two for the Parramatta
Library Homework Help Centre, where
attendance continues to be high 18 months
after its launch. Expanding to two
afternoons a week, participants report vastly
improved English, ICT literacy skills and a
new sense of validation in the community.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS In 2005, the project directly engaged over 100 community members • 76
people were participants in the projects and training programs • 20 volunteers were engaged as
project officers, tutors and peer educators • 17 people were employed as tutors, facilitators,
childcare workers, caterers and media officers • The Engage project coordinator presented at the
national Making Links conference • Engage presented a paper at the University Technology
Sydney’s Centre for Popular Education forum, about libraries, community building and social action
22
ICE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Chairperson Tilda Sikes,
Marketing Coordinator,
Belvoir Street Theatre
[former Chairperson, Caitlin
Vaughan, stepped down]
Secretary Nadya Haddad, Solicitor
Treasurer Heidi Freeman,
NGO Development Project
Officer, Mental Health
Coordinating Council
Vice Chairperson Tiffany LeeShoy, Regional Cultural Planning
Coordinator, Western Sydney
Regional Organisation of
Councils
Committee Members
Susan Green, Associate Professor
of Indigenous Education and
Director of Nura Gili Indigenous
Centre, University of NSW
Ilaria Vanni, Lecturer of
Italian Studies, University of
Technology Sydney
Paul Stuart, Sponsorship Manager,
Bangarra Dance Theatre
Jenny Bisset, Manager,
Arts and Cultural Development,
Blacktown Council
Antoinette Abboud [resigned]
STAFF
Lena Nahlous, Director,
ICE and Switch
Caroline Vu, Assistant to Director
Thao Nguyen, Business
and Operations Manager
Mouna Zaylah, Artfiles
Program Manager
Liliana Ruti, Community
Information Technology
Program Manager
Natasja Worsley, Special Events
Directory Program Manager
Fadia Abboud, Switch
Program Manager (acting)
ICE is represented on, and facilitates, a broad range of committees,
forums and boards. From January to December 2005 these included:
Arts Advisory Committee – NSW Government
Artfiles Advisory Committee
Auburn Community Development Management Committee
Community Cultural Development NSW
Engaging Communities Advisory Committee
Granville Regeneration Committee
Holroyd City Council Arts Advisory Committee
Making Links Conference Organising Committee
Non-Government Organisations IT Network
Parramatta and Holroyd Artist Get Together Network
Parramatta City Council Arts Advisory Committee
Regional Cultural Planning Reference Group,
Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils
Switch Advisory Committee
Training Directions Network, Western Sydney Community Forum
WESTIR (Western Sydney Information and Research) Board
Soraya Asmar, CCD
Program Manager (acting)
Therese Fingleton,
Engaging Communities
Project Coordinator
Troy Ruttley, Remembering Minto
Project Coordinator
Finn O’Keefe, Advertising
and Sales Officer
Anna Cominos, Arts Officer
(Sydney Arab Film Festival)
Caroline Shepherd,
Communications Officer
Key Consultants and Contractors
Barry Gamba, Chief Consultant
for the Emerging Communities
Project
Paula Abood, Originate and
Emerge Project Trainer
Thelma (Trey) Thomas,
Coordinator and Trainer,
Suburban Grooves Music
Program
Nick Toth, Trainer and Producer,
Suburban Grooves Music
Program
Ben Hoh, Switch IT
Project and Contract Workers
Alissar Chidiac
Bella (Isabel Gil)
Ben Hoh
Denis Cala
Emma Collison
Fadle El Harris
Holger Held
Hon Boey
John Taranto
Johnny Tran
Katina Cominos Katiuska Varela
Linda Mirabilio
Patrick Abboud
Marian Abboud
Maya Jupiter
Meiying Saw
Nadya Stani
Pat Johnson
Saleh Saqqaf
Tom Zubrycki
Tony MacGregor
Peter Panoa
Fabio Cavadini
Hashim Elhassan Finn O’Keefe
Jen De Bernardo Walter McIntosh
Maissa Alameddine
International Guest Trainers
DJ Sarah Love
Mystro
FUNDING, SUPPORT
AND COLLABORATIONS
NSW Government
Department of Community
Services
Department of Housing
Department of Tourism, Sport
and Recreation
23
NSW Ministry for the Arts
NSW Film and Television Office
South Western Sydney Institute of
TAFE – Granville, Meadowbank
and Macquarie Fields
Sydney South West Area Health
Service – Western Zone
Western Sydney Area Assistance
Scheme through Department
of Community Services
Federal Government
Australia Council for the Arts
Local Government
Major Local Government
Supporter: Parramatta City Council
Auburn Council and
Auburn Library
Bankstown City Council
Baulkham Hills Shire Council
Blacktown City Council
Blue Mountains City council
Campbelltown City Council
Fairfield City Council
Hawkesbury City Council
Holroyd City Council
Liverpool City Council
Parramatta City Council and
Parramatta Libraries
Philanthropic and
Corporate/Private
Australian Centre for Languages
Burwood RSL Club
Community Development Support
Expenditure Scheme
Ian Potter Foundation
John Butler Seed Arts Program
Mercy Foundation
Myer Foundation
The Epping Club
Wentworthville Leagues Club
Sponsorship
Australian Manufacturing
Workers’ Union
(key organisational sponsor)
Webstar Printing
(key Artfiles sponsor)
Wise IT (Switch sponsor)
Coresoft Software
(Making Links Conference)
24
Sydney Arab Film Festival
sponsors: World Media, Hoyts
Cinemas, An-Nahar newspaper,
RM Gregory Printers
SYDNEY ARAB FILM FESTIVAL
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE
Abbas Makrab
Alice Ansara
Alissar Chidiac
Alissar Gazal
Daniela Faxl
Elie Assi
Fadia Abboud
Fatima Mawas
Joanne Saad
Mireille Astore
Omar Qadora
Razy Eid
Sohail Dahdal
Soraya Asmar
Maissa Alameddine
ARTS AND COMMUNITY
COLLABORATORS
Auburn Community Development
Network
Australian Federation of
Aids Organisations
Bankstown Youth Development
Services
Baulkham Hills, Holroyd,
Parramatta Migrant Resource
Centre
Blacktown Arts Centre
British Council Australia
Campbelltown Bicentennial
Art Gallery
Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre
CCD NSW
Community Information Strategies
Australia
Computer Bank Sydney
Ermington Burnside Family
Learning Centre
Ethnic Communities’ Council
of NSW
Filmotion
Granville Multicultural
Community Centre
Granville Youth and Community
Recreational Centre
Hawkesbury Regional Art Gallery
Hype in Ackshun
Infoxchange Australia
Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre
Liverpool Regional Museum
Macarthur Foundation
Minto Library
Museum of Contemporary Art
NSW Council of Social Services
Our Lady of Mercy College
Parramatta City Library
Parramatta College
Parramatta Heritage Centre
Parramatta Marist College
Powerhouse Youth Theatre
Radio 2000
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta
SBS Radio
South Sydney Youth Services
St Vincent de Paul
Sydney Christian Students and
Young Christian Workers
Sydney Writers’ Festival
TRI Community Exchange
University of Technology Sydney
University of Western Sydney,
Centre for Cultural Research
and Department of Computing
Wargon + Burra Aboriginal Service
Wentworthville Youth Services
Western Sydney Community Forum
Western Sydney Regional
Organisation of Councils
WESTIR
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Thank you to Allens Arthur
Robinson Lawyers, Adam Jiang
and Ray Travers from Pigott
Stinson Ratner Thom Law Firm
and Carmen Champion, Barristerat-Law for their generous pro bono
legal assistance throughout the
year.
INTERNS
Daniela Flaxl
Andrew Dai
Esther Diesthelman
VOLUNTEERS
Adil Khalifa
Angela Nahlous
Anthony Ashe
Diana Wang
Eva Sanz Orio
Freddy Larza
Geetha Satish
Gemma Quomi
Kathryn Garcia
Linda Leong
Louise Taylor
Natalie Doumat
Penny Sullivan
Peter Kramer
Razy Eid
Ranjita Dutta
Rica Manansala
Salam Rifahi
Sameher Choukchouk
“Over the past few years ICE has grown rapidly and
now sits as a pivotal arts and community organization
for Western Sydney.” HEIDI FREEMAN, TREASURER
Treasurer’s Report
In small organisations like ICE the biggest
challenge is our management of sustainable
growth. Furthermore, our success can be
measured in a multitude of ways. Various
projects are carefully run simultaneously
on differing budgets and schedules. The
projects have been continually expanding in
scope and numbers. Moreover, in the past
five years ICE has increased its income
ten-fold.
A financial restructure has been
undertaken over the past two-year period,
which has proven to be a sound financial
basis to consolidate the impact of ICE’s rapid
expansion. As a result, ICE is in a stronger
financial position, allowing us to move
forward with new strategic alliances and
subsequent projects.
ICE’s position in the arts, cultural and
community development sectors continues
to grow. We value our relationships with our
key partners and look forward to a continual
and productive working future with these
bodies. We are forever grateful for the
continued support of the NSW Ministry
for the Arts, the NSW Department of
Community Services, and Australia Council
for the Arts, Parramatta City Council and the
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union.
I’d like to thank the staff of ICE for all
their hard work in implementing the changes
to the financial management system. I feel
privileged and encouraged by success of
2005’s innovations and look forward to
building on these with the energy and
vigour that is ICE’s enthusiasm.
Heidi Freeman
Treasurer
25
Statement of Financial Position for the year ended 31 December 2005
Financial Statements
2005
$
2004
$
351,088.47
35,643.16
386,731.63
209,404.64
128,351.44
337,756.08
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash assets
Receivables
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
NON CURRENT ASSETS
Leasehold Improvements — at Cost
Less: Accumulated Depreciation
Information and Cultural Exchange Inc.
31 December 2005
27 Statement of Financial Position
28 Statement of Financial Performance
30 Statement of Cash Flows
TOTAL NON CURRENT ASSETS
183,908.00
(81,350.00)
102,558.00
82,341.70
(53,683.70)
28,658.00
131,216.00
TOTAL ASSETS
517,947.63
501,083.32
67,856.56
336,973.82
98,448.00
503,278.38
66,827.32
362,675.07
39,745.51
469,247.90
4,638.00
507,916.38
21,848.86
491,096.76
10,031.25
9,986.56
9,986.56
(24,445.15)
44.69
10,031.25
34,431.71
9,986.56
Office Furniture and Equipment — at Cost
Less: Accumulated Depreciation
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables
Deferred Income
Provision for Staff Entitlements
32 Notes to and Forming Part
of the Financial Statements
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
33 Statement by Members
of the Committee
Provision for Staff Entitlements
34 Independent Audit Report
181,198.76
(33,213.21)
147,985.55
30,275.39
(14,933.70)
15,341.69
163,327.24
NON CURRENT LIABILITIES
TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES
NET ASSETS
EQUITY
Accumulated Surplus/(Deficit)
at the beginning of the year
Operating Surplus for the year
The accompanying notes (P31) form part of these financial statements.
26
27
Statement of Financial Performance for the year ended 31 December 2005
2005
$
2005
$
2004
$
INCOME
Grants
- Ministry for the Arts
- Australia Council
- Department of Housing
- Local Government Funding
- Department of Community Services
- Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation
- Department of Infrastructure and Planning
- Australian Centre for Languages
- NSW Film and Television Office
- Sydney South West Area Health Service
- Epping RSL Club
- Wentworthville Leagues Club
- The Myer Foundation Ltd
- Australian Business Arts Found - JB Seed
- Burwood RSL Club
- The Mercy Foundation Ltd
- Casino Community Benefit Fund
- Indent NSW
- Other
TOTAL GRANTS
Interest Received
Donations
Membership and subscriptions
Special Events Directory
Advertising and sponsorships sales
Training and workshop fees
Management and service fees
Fundraising and sales
Funds transferred
TOTAL INCOME
250,000.00
109,279.00
127,609.38
126,283.64
121,910.00
5,770.00
32,000.00
28,409.09
15,780.00
11,000.00
10,000.00
10,000.00
5,730.00
5,000.00
5,000.00
863,771.11
10,202.55
206.54
501.37
15,880.55
28,003.87
32,050.59
8,261.95
8,679.09
(113,799.14)
(10,012.63)
853,758.48
300,226.94
59,972.00
13,252.32
121,840.00
65,101.00
105,000.00
45,396.00
4,545.45
100.00
3,232.00
8,000.00
3,169.65
1,000.00
4,000.00
734,835.36
7,031.04
77.28
15,224.21
33,597.95
19,446.21
1,744.82
5,714.96
82,836.47
817,671.83
EXPENDITURE
Salaries and On-costs
- Wages and contract payments
- Workers compensation insurance
- Staff entitlements
- Superannuation contributions
Administration
- Audit fee 2
- Bookkeeping
- Bank charge and merchant fees
- Building repairs and maintenance
- Child care
- Cleaning
- Depreciation
- Doubtful debts
- Equipment purchases
- Equipment repairs and maintenance
- Insurance
- ISP Webhosting
- Legal costs
- Library and resources
- Memberships and subscriptions
- Office amenities
- Printing, postage and stationery
- Rent
- Security
- Staff training, recruitment and welfare
- Telephone
- Travel
- Sundries
28
467,481.58
(6,387.38)
41,900.77
32,322.41
535,317.38
466,328.99
9,164.84
13,875.41
32,605.48
521,974.72
3,000.00
5,755.88
2,530.17
501.70
1,420.00
75,375.61
10,000.00
3,495.15
3,212.09
14,680.06
5,211.82
120.00
927.98
3,808.29
1,877.73
31,744.51
6,668.18
850.75
5,762.86
17,069.80
11,702.03
754.64
206,469.25
3,500.00
27,947.50
2,328.74
688.00
2,020.00
27,305.97
3,116.52
1,986.36
7,200.56
1,766.46
334.62
4,495.81
26,974.65
13,957.43
3,748.61
10,183.92
9,899.22
2,325.73
131.07
149,911.17
34,487.58
77,439.58
111,927.16
853,713.79
21,815.57
25,000.00
64,538.66
111,354.23
783,240.12
44.69
34,431.71
PROGRAM EXPENSES
- Marketing and publicity
- Programmes
- Production
TOTAL EXPENDITURE
The accompanying notes (P31) form part of these financial statements.
2004
$
OPERATING SURPLUS FROM ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
29
Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended 31 December 2005
2005
$
2004
$
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Receipts from Government and others
Payments to suppliers and employees
Interest received
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
857,605.28
(682,859.63)
10,202.55
832,435.67
(716,472.83)
7,031.04
184,948.20
122,993.88
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payment for property, plant and equipment
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Net increase/(decrease) in cash held
Cash at beginning of year
Cash at end of year
(43,263.85)
(43,263.85)
141,683.83
209,404.64
351,088.47
(116,302.21)
(116,302.21)
6,691.67
202,712.97
209,404.64
CASH FLOW INFORMATION
(a) Reconciliation of Cash
Cash at bank
Cash investments
(b) Reconciliation of Cash Flow from Operations with
Deficit from ordinary activities
Non cash flows in deficit from ordinary activities:
Depreciation
35,298.70
315,789.77
351,088.47
44.69
53,457.20
155,947.44
209,404.64
34,431.71
75,375.61
27,305.97
92,708.28
1,029.24
(25,701.25)
41,491.63
184,948.20
(82,237.56)
192.00
25,393.91
104,032.44
13,875.41
122,993.88
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
1 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(a) These financial statements are a special
purpose financial report prepared in order to
satisfy the financial reporting requirements
of the Association Incorporation Act NSW.
The committee has determined that the
association is not a reporting entity.
The statements have been prepared in
accordance with the requirements of the
Associations Incorporation Act NSW and the
following Australian Accounting Standards
and other mandatory professional reporting
requirements:
AAS 1 Profit and Loss or
Other Operating Statements
AAS 3 Accounting for Income Tax
AAS 4 Depreciation of Non-Current Assets
AAS 5 Materiality
AAS 8 Events Occurring After Balance Date
No other Australian Accounting standards or
other mandatory professional reporting
requirements have been applied.
The statements are prepared on an
accruals basis. They are based on historic
costs and do not take into account changing
money values, or except where specifically
stated, current valuations of non-current
assets.
The following specific accounting
policies, which are consistent with the
previous period unless otherwise stated,
have been adopted in the preparation of
these financial statements.
(b) Incorporated Association
The services were incorporated on 1 May,
1986 as an incorporated Association, under
the Associations Incorporated Act, 1984. The
members liability is limited to the extent of
any unpaid membership fees.
(c) Employee Entitlements
Long Service Leave
The amount expected to be paid to
employees for their pro-rata entitlement for
long service.
Annual Leave
Annual Leave is taken in full at the end of
the year when the Centre is closed.
2 AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION
CHANGES IN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
(Increase)/Decrease in receivable
Increase/(Decrease) in prepayments
(Increase)/Decrease in payable
(Increase)/Decrease in advance
Increase/(Decrease) in provisions
Notes to and forming part of the financial statements
2005
$
Auditor Services
- C. M. Pitt & Co.
- Prior year (over) under provision
5,500.00
(2,000.00)
3,500.00
2004
$
3,000.00
500.00
3,500.00
The accompanying notes (P31) form part of these financial statements.
30
31
Statement by Members of the committee of ICE
Independent Audit Report to the Members
The Committee have determined that the association is not a reporting entity.
The Committee have determined that this special purpose financial report should
be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the
accounts.
In the opinion of the committee the financial statements:
1
Present fairly the financial position of Information and Cultural Exchange Inc.
as at 31 December 2005 and the results of the association for the year ended
on that date.
2
At the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that
Information and Cultural Exchange Inc will be able to pay its debts as and
when they fall due.
This statement is made in accordance with the resolution of the Committee and is
signed for and on behalf of the Committee by:
Chairperson
Heidi Freeman
Treasurer
Tilda Sikes
Signed this 30th day of March 2006
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