Chifley resident, Sylvana Mahmic, has been nominated for the NSW Woman of the Year Award in recognition of her dedication to helping people with a disability and their families in Sydney’s Inner West.
The Minister for Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, put Ms Mahmic forward as her portfolio nominee because of her outstanding work as Director of Pathways, a non-government organisation which provides early-childhood intervention services.
"Sylvana is the mother of a teenage son with a physical and intellectual disability and a shining light to those in the disability sector - dedicating her life to bettering the lives of those most in need," said Ms Keneally.
"Pathways Early Childhood Intervention Centre provides a range of early childhood intervention and family-centred programs for families in Leichhardt, Marrickville and Ashfield.
"Through Pathways, Ms Mahmin helps provide services such as early intervention strategies for families of pre-school-aged children with a disability at risk of developing behavioural and emotional disorders.
"The organisation also provides group services, such as a pre-school program to prepare young children with a disability for entry to mainstream childhood settings."
Pathways is funded by the Iemma Government as part of its commitment to provide services and facilities to people with a disability, their carers and families.
Ms Keneally said that Sylvana volunteers much of her time to the Early Childhood Intervention Association (NSW Chapter), and most recently helped to organise a two day conference in November 2007 for early childhood intervention workers across NSW with the theme Navigating Diversity in Early Childhood Intervention.
"In a sector where the majority of employees are women, Sylvana plays an important role as a positive role model and as a source of inspiration to women working in disability services across NSW," Ms Keneally said.
"Just last year I appointed Sylvana as a representative on the NSW Disability Council to provide advice to the Iemma Government on how we can provide better services and facilities to people with disabilities.
"The great thing about the NSW Woman of the Year Awards is that they enable us to recognise and thank women like Sylvana who dedicate their lives to improving our community."
As a nominee for the NSW Woman of the Year award, Sylvana has been invited to attend a Premier’s Reception for International Women’s Day on Thursday 6 March where the NSW Woman of the Year will be announced.
For more information about International Women’s Day please visit www.women.nsw.gov.au