Bakhtar Community Organisation
Bakhtar Community Organisation is a volunteer-based non-profit entity founded in 2017, headquartered in Victoria, Australia. The organisation focuses on building stronger communities through preventative initiatives, addressing the root causes of social disharmony, and preventing violence, harmful behaviors, and abuse.
History Bakhtar Community Organisation was established to bridge the gap between the community and essential services. Since its inception in 2017, the organisation has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Initially focusing on bringing together Afghan ethnicities, Bakhtar has expanded its reach to benefit the wider Victorian community.
Mission and Vision Bakhtar aims to empower and integrate diverse communities by engaging them through art, information, and recognition programs. The organisation’s mission is to address social issues such as family and domestic violence, mental health, substance abuse, elder abuse, and support for vulnerable and isolated individuals.
Key Activities - Interpreting Services Bakhtar provides essential interpreting services to assist non-English speaking community members.
Disability Support As a registered NDIS provider, Bakhtar offers: - Financial management - Home-care services - Transportation services
Refugee Resettlement Bakhtar assists refugees with: - Material aid - Case management - Connection to services (language, social services, property, transport) - Integration services
Employment Services The organisation supports job seekers through: - Work experience opportunities - Resume building assistance - Interview and presentation skills - Workshops - Education on workers' rights and responsibilities - Work safety education
Cultural Inclusion and Assimilation Bakhtar promotes cultural inclusion through: - Media initiatives (Channel 31, social media) - Bakhtar Magazine - Online library
Awards and recognition events - Cultural and festive events - Empowering Women - Initiatives include: - Annual Woman of the Year award - Workshops on mental health and gender equality - Health education programs
Empowering Youth - Annual Youth of the Year award - Mental health workshops - Career counselling - Work placements
Assimilation and Integration - Education and support for domestic violence victims - Literacy programs in Languages Other Than English (LOTE) - Interpreting services
Emergency Response Bakhtar provides culturally relevant responses to medical emergencies through its Emergency Response Unit.
Legal Services The organisation offers legal assistance to community members in need. Community Consultation Bakhtar engages with the community to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are met.
Achievements Bakhtar has achieved significant milestones, such as: Supporting the Victorian Government during COVID-19 by spreading health messages and reaching over 15,000 people per social media post. Building partnerships with organisations like AMES Australia, Rotary Club, Beyond Disability, Street-Smart, Hatzolah, Mazon Australia and many more charitable and cooperate entities Assisting in the resettlement of over 2,200 refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine, providing them with material aid and resettlement services.
Strategic Framework Bakhtar's strategic framework is designed to navigate changes in the community services sector. It aims to balance competing priorities, adapt to demographic changes, and respond to fiscal pressures and policy reforms. The organisation focuses on empowerment, integration, and responding to the needs of consumers and stakeholders.
Future Goals Bakhtar's future goals include: - Delivering safe, consumer-directed services valued by the community - Implementing place-based, integrated solutions to tackle inequality - Fostering an organisational culture that is just, effective, efficient, and accountable
https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/c8cb5b82-a2cd-e811-a963-000d3ad24a0d/profile
