Dr Joseph Masika OAM has given 27 years of voluntary service to the community in Australia and overseas. Dr Masika’s passion has been particularly in migrants, older people, refugees, Disability, Mental Health and multiculturalism. His outstanding contribution to the community has resulted in a considerable community development and his volunteering and advocacy roles have been instrumental in the strengthening of communities, and individuals to ensure that all enjoy a good quality of life in Australia.

Dr Masika was a manager of Multicultural Health, Advocacy, Counselling and Education at the Migrant Resource Centre of SA. His impressive credentials include a Medical Degree, Masters in Public Health, Certificate in Management and Leadership, Certificate in Environmental Health from South Australian Centre for Public Health and Post Graduate Certificate in Migration Law.

Currently, Dr Masika is Team Leader  Intercountry Services |Statewide Services Directorate the Government of South Australia. He is also Commissioner-South Australia Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission: the Government of South Australia.

The South Australian Premier presenting Awards to Dr Masika

Major Contribution in the State and National Policy Review

(1) Joint Standing Committee on Migration (2006): Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia: Negotiating the Maze: Review of arrangements for overseas skills recognition upgrading and licensing

(2) Australian Citizenship Test Review Committee (2008):  Moving Forward Improving Pathways to Citizenship

(3) Government of South Australia: Culturally Linguistic Diverse Action Plan 2007-2010- Acute Services RAH

(4) Government of South Australia (2011) SA Health Strategic Framework for CALD Communities

 

Dr Joseph Masika with Lt Governor Hieu Van Le AO

& His Lordship Mayor of Adelaide City Hon Michael Harbison

PUBLICATION:

       1.            Masika J, Nyamizi Bundara and Lillian Mwanri (2012) - Addressing Undernutrition In Tanzania. Challenges and Opportunities - African Journal of Food, Agriculture Nutrition and Development.

       2.            Masika J, Lillian Mwanri and Kiros Hiruy. Empowerment as a tool for a healthy resettlement: A case of new African Settlers in South Australia.- International Journal of Migration Health and Social Care-submitted for publication  Dec 2011    

       3.            Masika, J (2010)   Refugee Health Assessments and General Practice. MedicSA Population Health Volume 23 Number 2 March 2010

       4.            Masika, J (2010) Helping Traumatised Refugees to Settle. MedicSA Population Health Volume 23 Number 10  November/December 2010

       5.            Masika, J (2009) Challenges in New and Emerging Communities and Health. The Health Consumer Alliance Voice Summer Edition 2009.

       6.            Masika, J (2008) African Speak Out Forum Blue Print. African Communities Council of SA Forum in Adelaide, SA.

       7.            Masika, J ,Mwanri, L, Worsely ,A, Ryan, P (2000): Vitamin A Improves   Haemoglobin and Growth among anaemic school children in Tanzania: Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 130: 2691-2696

       8.            Masika, J, Mwanri l, Worsely, A, Ryan, P  (2000): Effects of Vitamin A alone; iron alone and combination on indices of cognitive functioning and academic achievements in anemic Tanzania school children. International Journal of Epidemiology

       9.            Masika, J, Mwanri l, Worsely ,A., Ryan, P and (2000): School Children and anaemia Prevention opportunities and challenges: A Tanzania case study: Health Promotion International

   10.            Masika, J (1997) :The Influence of the Education of Women and Fertility Transition, the Case of Tanzania, Thesis for the Master of  Public Health; University of Adelaide

 

PRESENTATIONS:

Masika, J 2011: with Dr. Alexandre Kalache Adelaide Thinker in Residence: Ageing Migrants: The Challenges of Ageing in Australia in African Community in South Australia: Community Forum Unley Council Adelaide

Masika, J. 2011:  Ageing New Migrant Diaspora populations and chronic disease: a future challenge for the service delivery in South Australia.  The African Communities’ Case study at Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia Conference in Adelaide

Masika, J. (2010) Positive Mental Health Outcomes for New and Emerging Communities through Self Determination and Collaboration in SA: South Australia Mental Health Sharing Excellence The Journey Continues

Masika, J. (2009)   : Experience of Private and Public GPs in South Australia: 1st Australasian Refugee Health Conference Perth Western Australia

Masika, J. (2009) Global Trends: Refugee And Asylum Seekers: Refugee Week, Adelaide South Australia

Masika, J. (2009) Moving Multicultural Mental Health into the Mainstream: Building Capacity: the Australian College of Mental health Nurses Conference, Adelaide South Australia

Masika, J. (2009):  Working   Together in New and Emerging Communities to Maximise Resources at 1st Settlement Council of Australia Conference: Canberra

Masika, J. (2009) Health Consumer Alliance (SA) conference: Challenges in New and Emerging Communities and Health:

Masika, J. (2009) Maximising the Health and Wellbeing of new settlers in South Australia: Limestone Coast, South Australia

Masika, J.  (2009) Settlement Services and Referral Processes: Counsellors in New Arrival Program schools: Department of Education and Children Services in SA.

Masika, J.  (2009)  A profile of new arrivals, including their refugee and settlement experiences: Sexual Health Information networking & education Adelaide SA. 

Masika, J.  (2009)  Culturally Sensitive Responses in Therapeutic Treatment for New and emerging communities in Regional South Australia

Masika, J. (2009)  A Profile Of New Arrivals, Including Their Physical and Mental Health Status WELLNESS DAY EXPO BORDERTOWN,

 

Dr Joseph Masika and Hon Mack Buttler MP Parliamentary Secretary for Health

A. VOLUNTARY SERVICE TO THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY

Dr Masika is the Chairperson of the African Communities Council of SA since 2007. During his leadership he has transformed the association to a better position of being the State peak body grouping 42 ethnic African organisations in South Australia from 20 African Countries. ACCSA represents the interest of these cultural groups and functions as a link between them and the government. The Council provides advocacy, advice and services to the African communities.  In addition, Dr Masika is one of the founder members of The African Communities Council of SA in 2000.


First Volunteer African Festival Director, African Communities in South Australia from 2002 to 2007

Dr Masika has made outstanding contributions to promote Cultural Diversity, and multiculturalism in South Australia. He was the first African to suggest the establishment of the African Festival in South Australia. He became the first African Festival Director from 2002 to 2007. Dr Masika accepted to be the African Festival Director in 2002. However, the African community in South
Australia kept asking Dr Masika to continue with the position of Directorship because of his excellent work of bringing the African Communities in South Australia together in a spirit of unity and support for each other.

Dr Masika donated his resources and time to achieve excellent outcome for past seven years as a Festival Director and African community leader. Under the leadership as Volunteer Festival Director, it has allowed the African community to build an extremely cohesive African community in South Australia that now contains more than 55 African ethnic groups. In addition, the African festival has instilled the community peace and harmony among African ethnic groups.

Dr Masika fulfilled the goal of bringing together all African Communities in South Australia to celebrate the cultural diversity that exists in Australia and promote the African cultural heritage in the community. The African Festival has allowed the African community to build an extremely cohesive society. Dr Masika is a respected leader and advocate for multiculturalism in Australia.

Dr Masika has spent most of his weekend time to organise 45 Cultural Competence workshops to mainstream in response to the felt needs for cultural knowledge amongst the mainstream service providers in South Australia and Northern Territory since 2007. To date More than 130
organisations has benefited from his workshops free of charge. The cultural competence has Promoted awareness of the positive values of cultural diversity and increased awareness of Working with the people from new and emerging communities in Australia such as African, Middle Eastern, Bhutanese, and Burmese

Dr Masika has always been there to help others since 1996. If you live with him, you will see how accessible he is in providing a helping hand to others. Dr Masika is very influential and well known in the communities in Australia. He can influence and promote knowledge and best practices on cultural pluralism, mutual respect, cultural expression and social participation.


Dr Masika with African Beauty and Cultural Winners Dec 2011

The Chairperson: SA African Network to End Silence on Domestic Violence 2008: Dr Masika established the network from his role as White Ribbon Ambassador since 2008 to date: The Network involves African men and boys in the prevention of violence against women and girls. The number of domestic violence in African community was on rise from 2006 and the community witnessed many women taken away into women shelters and many families were breaking apart.


Dr Masika encouraged and launched the formation of Liberian Men Association of SA (LIMSA) in 2010 and Sierra Leonean Men Club of SA (KABUDU) in 2009 which helped 150 men around the Liberian and Sierra Leonean Communities to practice and promote a healthy, compassionate, and responsible model of masculinity. Both Men’s association were formed to promote peace, harmony and unity among Liberian and Sierra Leoneans men in South Australia, serve as role models and ambassadors in their communities to end violence against women. Dr Masika has involved African men and other men from Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq, and Bhutan to actively take part in effort to reduce and prevent domestic violence against women in our communities. Majority of New and emerging communities’ members are from Male dominated society and women have no voice and are being treated as second citizen. Dr Joseph Masika is a White Ribbon Ambassador in our New and Emerging communities and he has campaigned against domestic violence and substantially his efforts has yielded positive results of significant number of young people and men’s involved in preventing violence in our communities now days. Dr Masika has delivered more that 35 education workshops on weekends between 2007 and 2011 To End Silence on Domestic violence in African communities. The workshops attracted more than 750 Men, women and youth aged 15 to 25 years old from Congolese, Sudanese, Burundian, Rwandan, Tanzanians, Kenyan, Cameroon, Ugandan, Togolese, South African, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somalia, Nigeria, Ghanaians and Zambian.


Dr Masika has also been advocating for the African women’s rights and equal participation in decision making. As not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but as a necessary action to ensure women’s interest are taken into account in our African communities. He has been tirelessly educating the ethnic groups and their leaders to remove all structural and attitudinal barriers hindering women participation in decision making. The aim is to make African females board members and leaders in the community.


Dr Masika’s efforts in African women’s right has been to bring in line the African Culture (especially in the perception that women have no role in decision making in our African communities) to the Australian way of life of equal opportunities and participation in our communities. His contribution in this area has promoted African community participation in different levels for both men and women. As results of his advocacy seven women are the president and Vice President of African ethnic associations in South Australia.


Treasurer, African Communities Council of SA from 2001-2003

As a volunteer Treasurer in 2001 to 2003 and chairperson of the ACCSA, Dr Masika (personally) wrote many community grants on weekends and night time after work which attracted funding to the African community in South Australia totalling $1,234,000 (including SGP settlement grants). One among the grants is the Physical activity and nutrition grant from the Department of
Health and Aging of the Australian Government to help the Africans to take up physical activity and nutrition issues, strategies to prevent chronic health diseases.

The new migrants are susceptible to developing chronic health conditions quickly in Australia because of a range of risk factors including lack of health information knowledge, isolation, poverty and the underlying mental and trauma issues resulting from their backgrounds which made them refugees.

Executive Committee Member of African Heritage Association of SA (AHASA) from 1998 to Date

AHASA is a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit organisation registered in South Australia.

AHASA aims to achieve goals through the shaping of multicultural policy through the collection and promote a richer awareness of African cultural heritage in South Australia.

AHASA supports the African heritage: respect for family values, dignity of women, love for and proper upbringing of children,

Dr Joseph Masika has supported and sort funding for different ethnic schools, Ethnic language radio programs in South Australia. In addition, Dr Masika has been on Swahili program on many occasions at night to encourage the African community members to contribute in discussion and give feedback on major issues happening in South Australia. Dr Masika has always encouraged and supported the parents to teach the children their languages. His contribution is much acknowledged in the community.



B.VOLUNTARY LEADERSHIP ROLES AND CONTRIBUTION IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA COMMUNITY:

Associate Board Member of Migrant Resource Centre of SA since 2001 to date, Dr Joseph Masika has always worked with MRCSA management to advocate for the community development to supports new arrivals from Africa, Middle East, Burma and Bhutan to develop as community and to contribute effectively to South Australia’s society, culture, economy and environment. As Associate Board Member of MRCSA Dr Masika has worked with many migrants and refugees groups, helping them to adjust to their new homeland, to become self reliant, and to develop linkages with the broader community and their local ethnic communities.


Board member of Multicultural Aged Care Inc (MAC) since 2007 to date.

Dr Joseph Masika as Board member has Supported and assisted service providers to give older people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds the services of their choice. Dr Masika was instrumental to the Future Aged Care needs Scoping Study for the African people in South Australia.

African people have different understanding of Aged care services and practices in Australia. In Africa, family members have responsibility towards ageing parents and young people with disability. Dr Masika has conducted aged care forums to in African community to raise awareness of the Home and Community Care services in South Australia.


Board Member of Health Consumers Alliance since 2010,

In 2011 HCA conference in South Australia Dr Joseph Masika chaired the vital workshop of the concept of Patient-Centred Care in Mental Health. He shared his experience with other participants that Patient-centred care is an innovative approach to the planning, delivery, and evaluation of health care that is grounded in mutually beneficial partnerships among health care providers, patients, and families. He advocated strongly on patients and other health services consumers that Health services decisions should respect patients’ wants, needs and preferences.


Vice Chairperson and the Founder of Australian-Tanzanian Services Foundation (2010 to date)

Dr Joseph Masika established Australian-Tanzanian Services Foundation in 2010 to assist the underprivileged communities in Tanzania East Africa. The aim and objectives of the foundation is to undertake a direct charitable role. All funds donated to the Foundation are directly channelled to its social development programs in Tanzania and not in any way personally benefited Foundation members. Dr Masika has initiated several projects in Tanzania and he would not mind to assist any community in world.


Council Member of Forbes Primary School Council, South Plympton in South Australia from 2006 to 2008

Dr Joseph Masika being on Council was one way of being involved in the partnership held between parents and the school for their child's education. Dr Masika through the Governing Council gave advice to the Principal and specifically makes decisions to do with: school policies; finance; fundraising; grounds and buildings; hire of facilities; sports; uniforms and dress codes;
OSHC; and the general safety and educational welfare of the students. Dr Joseph Masika with other Council Members were instrumental on making sure the Forbes’s Children's Centre for Early Childhood Development and Parenting is built by 2010. This is the only one approved so far in the Marion City Council area. Our Children's Centre has included a brand new Pre-School (taking place of Harcourt Gardens), babies and toddlers Child Care facilities, a new Out of School Hours Care centre and Community Health facilities. It was big achievement in our community.


C. Volunteer Leadership Roles National

Member of Federation of Ethnic Communities Council’s Policy Advisory Committee for New and Emerging communities in Australia since 2008 to date.

Federation of Ethnic Communities Council’s New and Emerging Communities Policy Committee provide advisory role to FECCA executives and Supporting New and Emerging Communities to Participate in and Contribute to Australian Society. Dr Joseph Masika has constantly and persistently represented issues affecting New and Emerging Communities in Australia such as:

i. Issues Affecting Women
Women from refugee and migrant backgrounds may suffer isolation and withdrawal and be unable to access often inflexible training programs due to family commitments. Single Mothers may not
participate in employment or education pathway if no child care available for their children.

ii.Health Issues
Newly arrived migrants may lack knowledge of western science based medical services. Conversely, service providers may display a lack of understanding about how their beliefs differ from their clients. Dr Masika has written articles in Population Health in MedicSA, The magazine of
the Australian Medical Association (SA) Inc to share his experience and knowledge with different professionals dealing with refugee health Australia.

iii. Education and Overseas Qualification Recognition
Dr Joseph Masika has advocated for a greater investment in education and training to improve outcomes for members of new and emerging communities. Many members of New and Emerging
communities are well trained and qualified overseas but their qualifications are not recognised in Australia. Dr Joseph Masika has provided advocacy on how the people can be retained or given
opportunity to acquire Australia work experience.



Member of Multicultural Think Tank Advisory Committee of National

Prescribing Services to provide strategic advice for safe use of medicines to health professionals and Culturally and Linguistically Diversity communities in Australia 2009 to date.

Dr Joseph Masika joined the Think Tank of The Multicultural Community Quality Use of Medicines in 2009. Dr Masika contributed towards the best-practice health promotion and community participation processes to promote the quality use of medicines to Australia’s multicultural communities.

Dr Masika represents New and Emerging communities in Australia which research has revealed a range of factors that pose QUM challenges for some culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians. Language barriers, low levels of cultural competency of health systems and the experience of navigating an unfamiliar medicines system contribute to an overrepresentation of CALD Australians in figures for those presenting to hospitals with medicines-related problems. In 2004 and 2005 Dr Joseph Masika conducted 10 workshops to the African Humanitarian New Arrivals in South Australia on quality use of medication.


Formation of African Communities Council of Tasmania and Northern Territory

Dr Joseph Masika was instrumental to the establishment of African Communities Councils of Tasmania and in Northern Territory. He travelled to the Northern Territory and Tasmania sometime on his expenses and time to unite the African community. He successfully gave a community a common vision – one of unity, strength and cooperation to ensure that African communities have a strong voice on issues that impact on our successful settlement and wellbeing - and that our voice is heard. Currently, Dr Joseph Masika still is supporting their management as adviser.



D. Volunteer Leadership Roles Overseas (Tanzania) before settled in Australia

Dr Joseph Masika is a person considered himself morally bound to help those people less fortunate in the community. He has helped in various ways in t in Rural Tanzania. He is not motivated by money or recognition but driven by compassion and attitude to alleviate poverty, hunger and sickness on his fellow human being. He has demonstrates our need to exercise humanity and compassion for the good of, and for the continuation of, the human race.

Dr Joseph Masika is well known in Tanzania for his compassionate and dedication to help others in the community he would not mind to assist any community in the world. Some of the voluntary work he has done in Tanzania is listed below:

• Chairperson Tanzanet (Overseas Tanzanian Forum world wide -Tanzanet) 1997-1998

• Executive Secretary: Uru Development Association- Moshi Kilimanjaro region in Tanzania, East Africa - Feb 1993- Feb 1996.

• Secretary General: Tanzania Junior Doctors Association in Tanzania, East Africa 1992-1995

• Board Member: Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences in Tanzania, East Africa 1986-1988

• University Governing Council member: Dar-Es-salaam University Council- in Tanzania, East Africa -1986-89

• Member of Board: Faculty of Medicine University of Dar-es-salaam in Tanzania, East Africa 1986 to 1988

• Secretary: Dar-Es-salaam University Medical Student Association in Tanzania, East Africa -1984-86

• Chairperson, Faculty of Medicine, University of Dar-es-salaam Students Organisation in Tanzania, East Africa -1985 to 1988