Victorian African Communities Committee

An advisory body that informs the Victorian Government on how to improve social and economic outcomes for the state’s diverse African communities. Victoria’s African-born population represents over 50 different nations, sharing unique experiences, skills and ideas that strengthen our state’s social, political, economic and cultural life.

The Victorian African Communities Committee (VACC) plays a critical role in ensuring that the advice and insights of Victoria’s diverse African communities are heard at all levels of government.

Members will also support the implementation of the Victorian African Communities Action Plan 2018-2028 and work together to shape the development of policies, projects and strategies that better respond to community needs.

Pauline Richards MP has been appointed to the role of Chair, continuing the work of Josh Bull MP who was fiercely committed to engaging and empowering Victoria’s African communities during his two-year term.

Supporting the Chair and providing leadership and guidance to the committee is the Community Deputy Co-Chair, Tigist Kebede.

Are you interested in becoming a member of the Victorian African Communities Committee?

Applications are now open until Sunday 16 November 2025.

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Meet the Committee

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Pauline Richards MP (Chair)

Pauline is the Member for Cranbourne, having been elected in November 2018. Before being elected, Pauline was an adviser to the Hon. Jill Hennessy, then Minister for Health and then Attorney General. Pauline provided advice encompassing the policy areas of prevention and population health, refugee and migrant health, cancer, blood borne viruses, Community health, family violence, dental care and the government’s response to the Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry.

Tigist Kebede (Deputy Co-Chair)

Tigist Kebede is a Senior Counsellor who employs culturally responsive frameworks in her practice. She has held positions providing clinical therapy in hospital, community and forensic based settings.

She is the founder of “The Tena Therapist” a social media mental health profile whereby she provides accessible mental health advocacy, health promotion and psycho-education. Tigist was a board member for African Think Tank, and was part of the African Communities Working Group and Intercultural Advisory Committee in Melton City Council.

Tigist’s notable grassroots connections with community organisers as well as experience in advocating and advising state and federal government, resulted in statewide change in culturally responsive health initiatives.

Adongwot Manyoul

Adongwot is dedicated to capacity building of CALD communities as demonstrated by her extensive community development work within the African Diaspora within the South Sudanese community. She is a Cultural Consultant at VICSEG New Futures, which supports skill building and social equity for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

Adongwot was awarded the 2019 Churchill Fellowship and the opportunity to conduct research globally to explore ways in which African Diaspora have successfully integrated in other Western societies, with a special focus on creating meaningful change within the education system and tackling systemic and individual bias.

Anaab Rooble

Anaab Rooble is an experienced human resources, finance, and diversity and inclusion practitioner. She has 20 years of public services experience and currently leads the Human Resources and Finance team of the Victorian Disability Worker Commission. Anaab migrated to Australia from Somalia 24 years ago, spoke no English when she arrived, and a civil war prevented her from accessing an education beyond Grade 5. She was recently awarded the Victorian Refugee Leadership Award 2022.

Anaab is passionate about revamping workplace cultures and driving diversity and inclusion initiatives. She has learnt that organisational change often relies on the individual to have the courage to speak up and highlight where inequality exists and to challenge the status quo. Anaabhopes to see a world where “us and them” no longer exists. She is a proud member of the Victorian Public Sector Women of Colour Network, and is a Treasurer and Board Director of Women with Disabilities Victoria.

Andrew Gai

Andrew Gai is part of Anglicare Victoria and a Team Leader at The Orange Door providing support to families impacted by Family Violence and other issues. He has also co-founded the South Sudanese-Australian Academic Society (SSAS) with a vision to see a generation of South Sudanese Australians that are empowered, educated and contributing to the society. SSAS creates networking opportunities for the community and fosters discussion on issues affecting students and professionals in their education and career pathway.

Andrew is on the Board of several community organisations including the Refugee Communities Association of Australia and Community Response Australia. He was also a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Regional Advisory Council .

Andrew has received multiple awards for his community service including the 2022Refugee Achievement Award; the 2020 Holt Australia Day Award and the Future Leaders Award in 2016.

Catherine Jonathan

Catherine founded her public relations and brand communication agency, Emerge Media Group which operates Emerging Brand Africa (EmBA) and publishes Emerge Magazine. Its aim is to amplify the visibility of African Australians in both corporate and business environments, through strategic integration of cultures that represent the diversity of Australian society.

Catherine aims to spotlight Australian allied partners who collaborate and support African Australians. Catherine was named a 2022Finalist for Agenda Setting by Women’s Agenda Leadership Awards. She is also a member of the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Regional Advisory Council, a Vice-President of the African Professionals Australia – VIC Chapter. Catherine is a member of various African community groups, including Africa Day Australia, which advocates for cohesion of multicultural communities in Melbourne and delivers the Africa Music and Cultural Festival.

Fred Alale AM

Fred is the Co-founder and Chair of the African Music and Cultural Festival and founding member of the African Australian Communities Leadership Forum. Fred has over 20 years’ experience working in policy, project management and system-wide improvements across the public and private sectors. He is the Treasurer of Africa Day Australia Inc and previously sat on the Victorian African Communities Action Plan Implementation Committee.

Mahamed Ahmed

Mahamed has worked in the youth and community sector for more than half a decade as a youth practitioner across both local government and not-for-profit sectors. Mahamed is also a co-founder and director of the BETTER MEN Project, a mental health service which delivers evidence-based programs, workshops, professional development and seminars to better the mental health and skills of young men and those that support them.

Mohamed Semra

Mohamed is the CEO and Co-Founder of Endeavour Youth Australia , an organisation that aims to re-engage young people in their learning and within their own communities. He is also a Co-Chair of the Maribyrnong Youth Advisory Committee. Mohamed is the recipient of the Liberty Victoria’s Young Voltaire Human Rights Award and named Muslim Youth of the Year at the 2020 Australian Muslim Achievement awards.

Selba-Gondoza Luka

Selba-Gondoza is the Founder and CEO of Afri-Aus Care Inc, which provides culturally appropriate mental health assessment and support services to young people with African heritage, their families and to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In addition to being a trained Mental Health Clinician, Selba-Gondoza’s work at Afri-Aus Care has also seen her become a grassroots community leader and impassioned advocate for ending family violence, empowering maginalised women and implementing the NDIS within the African Australian community.

Selba-Gondoza is a Charter Member of the Rotary Passport Club of Melbourne and has served as the Deputy Convenor for Victoria Police’s African Australian Community Taskforce. She holds positions on the University of Melbourne AREiA Advisory Board, the Department of Health’s CALD Health Advisory Committee and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s Volunteer Strategy Committee 2022. Selba-Gondoza was awarded 2021 Citizen of the Year by the City of Greater Dandenong and was inducted to the 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women.

Tawana Basutu

Tawana is a Community Project Officer for Crime Stoppers Victoria. She is also the Co-founder of Umami, a Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour event night. Tawana is a passionate advocate for improving access and social inclusion opportunities for LGBTIQ+ people with African heritage. Tawana recently completed her Masters in Public Policy at Monash University.

Dr Tebeje Molla

Dr Tebeje Molla is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. His research focuses on the educational experiences and outcomes of African heritage youth with refugee experiences. By leveraging the findings of his research, Tebeje actively advocates for enhanced educational opportunities for this specific group.

Communities

Updated 6 November 2025

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