
SYDNEY: A total of $130,000 in funding has been secured by the Armenian National Committee of Australia from both the Commonwealth Government and New South Wales (NSW) Government to support the Armenian-Australian community of Western Sydney.
The funding includes $100,000 from the Federal Government, through the Multicultural Grassroots Grant Program and $30,000 from Tri Vo MP, State Member for Cabramatta through the Community Building Partnership Grant.
Both grant submissions were led by the Armenian National Committee of Australia - Western Sydney Branch with the assistance of the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre Executive Committee, made up of volunteers living in the local community.
These funds have been directed toward vital renovations and upgrades to the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre (682 Cabramatta Road, Bonnyrigg), including infrastructure improvements such as new kitchen facilities, carpets, signage, sound systems and audio visual equipment.
Tri Vo MP, who was elected in 2023, visited the Centre to present a cheque to Mr Ara Boyadjian, President of the Armenian Cultural Panoyan Centre, Ms Evette Khoushabeh, ANC-AU Western Sydney Branch Representative and Mr Michael Kolokossian, ANC-AU Executive Director.
The centre, which is a Financial Sponsor of the ANC-AU, is a vital community hub for the growing Armenian-Australians across Western Sydney, providing a space for community gatherings, youth engagement, and the preservation of Armenian culture. The centre serves community members across 8 local government areas, including Parramatta, The Hills, Cumberland, Fairfield and Liverpool.
ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian, expressed his gratitude for the grants: “We’d like to thank the Federal and NSW Governments, as well as Mr Tri Vo and the Hon. Tony Burke for taking the time to understand the needs of our community and recognising the importance of providing essential support to ensure those needs are met.”
ANC-AU Western Sydney Branch Representative Evette Khoushabeh said: “Grant programs like this ensure that the multicultural fabric of Australia stays strong and we are grateful that our governments recognise the importance of ethnic communities in this great country.”
The ANC-AU penned letters to both the Mr Tri Vo MP - Member for Cabramatta, and the Hon. Tony Burke MP - Minister for Home Affairs in Australia, thanking them for their assistance in supporting the centre.