Empowering Women from Refugee backgrounds

Workshop overview:

This engaging and interactive workshop is designed to develop practical strategies that empower women from refugee backgrounds in economic and social participation, women's safety, and leadership opportunities while supporting their role in promoting social cohesion. It is open to both women from refugee backgrounds and the professionals who support them. The workshop will be facilitated by women who have fled conflict, persecution, and violence in search of safety. They will share their lived and industry experience, providing valuable insights into best practice principles and key service gaps in service delivery to enhance support systems and opportunities.

Learning Objectives

After completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

· Gain understanding about empowerment strategies

· Promote women’s safety within various environments

· Explore leadership development and mentorships

· Identify service gaps to improve support and inclusion

· Discover best practices for service delivery

Target audience:

This workshop is open to both women from refugee backgrounds and the professionals who support them. It is designed for workplaces committed to embracing diversity and inclusion, including those in the corporate, government, and non-government sectors.

Facilitators:

Zeljka Jovanovic is the founder of Apeiron Skills, a company dedicated to empowering individuals and organisations to embrace diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing. Born in the former Yugoslavia, Zeljka arrived in Australia as a young refugee and has drawn on her lived experience to create meaningful change in her community.

With over 20 years of experience in the community service and education sectors, Zeljka has become a trusted leader, mentor, and advocate for diversity and inclusion. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Diploma of Leadership and Management, a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, and Mental Health First Aid accreditation. Zeljka’s expertise spans leadership development, staff mentoring—particularly those from multicultural backgrounds—and delivering tailored programs to help individuals and organisations thrive.

Throughout her career, Zeljka has been committed to empowering women from refugee backgrounds in their education and careers. Having arrived in Australia as a young refugee woman, she has firsthand experience of the challenges women can face, but also powerful examples of resilience and success. Her dedication to uplifting and mentoring women has played a key role in fostering opportunities for growth and achievement.

As the founder and primary service delivery lead at Apeiron Skills, Zeljka combines her strategic vision with hands-on program delivery, ensuring each initiative is customised to meet the specific needs of her clients. She firmly believes that lived experiences and practical examples are fundamental to effective learning and growth.

Zeljka considers her greatest achievement to be her role in supporting others on their journey to a better life, positively impacting individuals and communities along the way. Through her work, she continues to inspire and empower others to reach their full potential.

Najla Sbie is a Syrian-Australian educator, well-being specialist, and leadership coach with over 20 years of experience in teaching, community service management, and public speaking. She holds a Master’s degree in History, along with certification in Management, Counselling, Training & Assessment, and Mind-Body Well-being. Having worked in Syria, Malaysia, and Australia, she brings a rich cultural perspective to personal development and education.

In 2015, Najla moved to Australia under a humanitarian visa, an experience that deepened her passion for supporting women in finding their strength and fostering personal growth. Through her work in community services, she developed a strong commitment to empowerment, which led her to launch Arts of Life by Naj in 2023—a platform dedicated to self-growth, empowerment, and well-being.

In addition to her work in personal development, Najla is also an artist who uses art as a medium for self-expression and storytelling, addressing various themes and ideas. She has participated in several exhibitions in Australia, showcasing her artistic vision.

With a deep passion for helping women transform their lives, Najla designs and leads workshops focused on personal development, mindset shifts, and emotional resilience. She takes a holistic approach, integrating education, psychology, and cultural insights to create engaging and results-driven training programs. Currently, Najla is fully dedicated to Arts of Life by Naj, supporting women worldwide in transforming their lives and becoming the change they aspire to see.