Leading Western Sydney based organisations SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis, WentWest CEO Ray Messom and Australian Catholic University (ACU) Blacktown Dean Dr Valentine Mukuria made presentations of their findings from special community forums that were held at WEXPO Blacktown in September.
NSW Parliament House presentation was titled Western Sydney Comes to Parliament with speakers providing direct feedback to parliamentarians.
Mr Bali said events such as WEXPO played a key role in highlighting issues within the wider Western Sydney community that often go unnoticed such as: the cost-of-living pressures particularly on newly arrived refugees and community attitudes towards local healthcare management.
"WEXPO has demonstrated that organisations that have community welfare as their prime mission can have a voice in terms of highlighting key issues that leads to a better understanding of the real conditions faced by our community," Mr Bali said.
Premier Chris Minns was expected to deliver the key address at the event but he was called away to be part of the vigil commemorating the tragedy unfolding in the Middle East. David Harris MP Minster for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty; Gaming and Racing; Medical Research; and Central Coast told the audience that there were many valuable lessons learned from WEXPO that not only impact western Sydney but across NSW.
Mr Harris said, “WEXPO was a great initiative bringing businesses, community organisations and residents together through forums, keynote presentations and business stalls. We need to have one on the Central Coast! Parliamentarians are hearing firsthand from people impacted by Government policy and being presented with potential solutions going forward.”
Mr Bali thanked all the organisers involved as they invested many hours to make this a uniquely Western Sydney showcase of business presentations, exchange of ideas and development of solutions.
The November edition of Blacktown News will include a spread on the presentations with images.
