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Vahedeh Mansoury’s appointment heralded a new chapter in the life of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission. She is not only the Commission’s first Kurdish community representative but also one of the first Muslims to be appointed to the role. Interestingly, Vahedeh's name is derived from the Arabic root word meaning one.
Vahedeh migrated to Australia from Iran with her family in June 1999. Initially, Vahedeh and her family settled in Adelaide and then Melbourne, however, they have since returned to Adelaide.
Vahedeh is a Graduate of the University of Tehran where she studied Psychology. She has an extensive background in teaching primary and secondary school children in Iran. In Melbourne, Vahedeh studied English while working at a child care centre and teaching at a local (Farsi) ethnic school.
Upon relocating to Adelaide, Vahedeh worked as a volunteer with the Kurdish community. In this capacity, Vahedeh committed herself to providing case management and community development assistance to Kurdish women living in South Australia.
Vahedeh’s experience includes being a mentor with the Department for Families and Communities Refugee Program supporting new arrival families. Ms Mansoury is currently a welfare worker for the Migrant Women’s Support and Accommodation Service and a Bilingual Bicultural Support Worker with the Department for Education and Children’s Services.
Vahedeh has completed a Diploma of Children’s Services at Regency Institute of TAFE and a Certificate IV in Justice Studies at Adelaide TAFE. She has just completed a Leadership Course for Women, Certificate III in Business Frontline Management, at Adelaide TAFE.
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