CIFA arrives with a bang!

Council of Indian Federations of Australia (CIFA) is a national peak body of umbrella community organisations of Indian Australian associations representing the eight states and territories of Australia.

Primary role of CIFA is to advocate and influence national policies on matters affecting Indian Australians through government and diplomatic channels while fostering integration, social cohesiveness and inclusion. This includes promoting bilateral trade, tourism and strategic relationship between Australia and India.

During the current COVID-19 restrictions, CIFA successfully influenced relevant stakeholders in Australia to release support measures for international students and consider related visa issues, and liaised with High Commission of India for Indian international students and the stranded Indian nationals.

For helping students in distress, CIFA conducted an Australia-wide voluntary online survey to understand their problems and then lobbied with Governments and Universities to help them. CIFA consulted with peak student bodies in Australia such as Council of International Students Australia, Council of Australian Postgraduate Students Association, and National Union of Students to identify issues and potential solutions and mobilised support for distressed students.

CIFA wrote to the PM of Australia Hon Scott Morrison MP, Premiers, Chief Ministers, Immigration and Multicultural Minister and education Minister with issues and solutions. CIFA also wrote to Vice Chancellors of Universities and other educational associations.

Because of the dire situation due to COVID-19, CIFA set up fortnightly meetings with High Commission of India Canberra so that regular updates and advice could be provided to those affected and served as a conduit in forming appropriate solutions for Indian international students and stranded Indian nationals. CIFA also worked with government authorities to stop the attempts by some to scam desperate people in Australia and India in the name of repatriations flights.

CIFA members assisted students, stranded Indian nationals and others in desperate situations with groceries, food, medical help, employment, moral support and advice on repatriation to India.

CIFA is pleased that there is an India-Australia virtual summit between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 June 2020. We are thrilled that its focus is Democracy, Defence, Diaspora and Dosti. In addition to promoting community well-being, we are a strong advocate of stronger strategic relationship and trade between two countries. CIFA and Indian Australians look forward to the outcome of this summit.

CIFA comprises of two members from each of the following organisations which are presently represented by:

• Mr Atul Garg JP, Chairperson, Federation of Indian Associations of Western Australia, chairperson@fiawa.org.au

• Mr Amit Singh Jadaun, Secretary, Federation of Indian Communities of Victoria, contact.ficv@gmail.com

• Mr Shyam Das, President, Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, president@ficq.org.au

• Mr Umesh Nagasandra, President, Federation of Indian communities of South Australia, Umesh61@gmail.com

• Mr Ajit Ramadas, President, Indian Cultural Society of Tasmania, ajitasr@gmail.com

• Ms Jenny Santos, President Indian Cultural Society of NT, icsdarwin.nt@gmail.com

• Dr. Yadu Singh, President, Federation of Indian Associations of New South Wales, fianinc1@gmail.com

• Dr. Sunita S Dhindsa, President, Federation of Indian Associations of ACT, president.finact@gmail.com

(Chair, Secretary and treasurer are ex-officio members of the committee)

Inaugural chair of CIFA is Dr Sunita S Dhindsa (from Federation of Indian Associations of ACT)- president.finact@gmail.com, Secretary of CIFA is Mr Prashant Singh (From Federation of Indian Associations of Western Australia) – secretary@fiawa.org.au and the Treasurer of CIFA is Mr Ram Mohan (From Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland) – adviser@ficq.org.au.