Mohammed Isah has over 12 years of experience working with the community and delivering programs that support diverse groups, including young people, refugees and asylum seekers. He currently works in the Brimbank Council as the coordinator of the unit’s neighborhood house community center.
What is your connection to Brimbank?
I have been working at Brimbank since 2017. I arrived in Australia with my family at the age of 12 with the motivation and desire to escape. From my point of view as a migrant, I have seen that multiculturalism has enriched all aspects of Australian life. Since 2017, I have been involved and worked with numerous community groups and programs that promote an environment that enables individuals and groups to maximize our greatest asset “our diversity”. Currently, I am the coordinator of neighboring houses / community centers in Brimbank City Council, a position where we work with and with the community to create social change and long-term impact.
What has inspired you to serve the community?
My inspiration to serve the community started at the age of 16 when I volunteered at a youth care center. A young person came up to me and told me a story about their life, and because of the experience I have had in the past, I felt helpless as I was unable to help this person. At the time, I did not know anything, I was not qualified. This meeting spurred me to action. My first-hand experience was an important motivator for me pursuing a career in the community service sector. I remain committed to serving the needs of our diverse communities through an approach to collective influence.
You have a vast wealth of experience delivering successful programs that have supported the community for over a decade now, what are you most proud of?
I have to say that what I am most proud of is launching my first project in the organization I completed my student placement. When I was an aspiring social worker, gathering a group of people to understand their needs and problems, working with them to develop solutions, had been top of my definition of success. It led to the development of a holistic encompassing support for the community with long-term impact. Although I have delivered much more comprehensive and life-changing programs since then, this memory is what I am most proud of. A chance to finally prove myself as a social worker.
What do you hope to see in the future for Brimbank?
I would like to highlight how lucky we are in Brimbank, which is a vibrant and diverse community with a high percentage of our population born abroad and a wide range of languages spoken by residents. Our collective strengths place us in a unique position to work with and next to each other to remain relevant and responsive to the needs of society.
Can you tell us more about the Kvarterhusene and Forsamlingshusene?
Neighborhood houses and community centers are friendly places for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The centers aim to give individuals the opportunity to enrich their lives through social connection, culture and learning. Our neighborhood homes and community centers offer education and activities that are generally inexpensive or free, and cover topics such as health and wellness, art, sports, digital understanding, and more.