ASEAN Advocacy
Our Purpose
We bridge the gap between community experience and legislative change. By promoting social cohesion and accountability, we ensure Australian democracy works for everyone.
Our Mission
To build compassion through collaboration. We empower CALD leaders to participate in high-level decision-making, ensuring diverse voices lead the national conversation.
Our Action
In addition to building advocacy platforms we serve the community by maintaining a consistent voice in Parliament through rigorous submissions and inquiries. Read our latest submission on Myanma.
Photo: Sawathey Ek convening a bipartisan roundtable to elevate ASEAN Ltd’s strategic priorities with federal leaders.
This initiative bridges the gap between grassroots reality and national policy. These meetings turn community concerns into legislative action, ensuring systemic accountability through direct, high-level dialogue.
Photo: Representing ASEAN Ltd, Sawathey Ek provided expert testimony before a Senate Committee, January 2023.
We bridge the gap between community and government. By using formal submissions and roundtables to drive systemic accountability, we ensure that the public is served and our community’s voice is included.
Latest Submission: Inquiry into the state of democracy and human rights in Myanmar.
In Action: ASEAN Youth Ambassador Dylan Ek on a panel with the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Senator Dean Smith, and Julia Finn MP. Hosted by Lao Community Advancement (NSW) Co-Op Ltd in South West Sydney.
Photo: Bountham Vongsaya, President of Lao Community Advancement (NSW) Co-Op Ltd, spoke at the 3rd ASEAN Ltd Community Leaders Summit and 2nd GAAT - Gathering of ASEAN Ambassador Teams, 15 March 2025, Hosted by Cabravale Club Resort.
Photo: Community Leaders Panel Session with the Hon. Tom Bathurst AC KC, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and the Network's Honorary co-Patron, at the banquet of Community Leaders Summit, hosted by Cabravale Club Resort, 15 March 2026.
Moderators: Ambassador Angela Johnston and Sawathey Ek
ASEAN Ltd representatives at Parliament House, Canberra, for the unveiling of the Lao Community Advancement (NSW) Co-op Constitution. The updated document includes key amendments regarding human rights and Australian values. The event was hosted by Dr Andrew Charlton MP on 28 November 2024, marking a significant step in community-led advocacy.
Bipartisan Engagement: The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP and Senator Dave Sharma at Parliament House, Canberra, on 28 November 2024.
Milestone for Collaboration: Hosted by ASEAN Senior Ambassador Maung Maung Myint at Garden View, the inaugural GAAT in March 2025 established a foundation for trust and collective action that continues to drive our network’s unity today.
Unity in action. ASEAN Ltd at the Cabra-Vale Diggers ANZAC parade. We’re here to honour the past and show that we’re an active, proud part of Australia’s future.
Beyond creating platforms for visibility, we build Documented Advocacy—a strategic framework that secures tangible, written commitments from decision-makers. By collaborating with elected officials to sign a formal "Pledge of Support," we move from symbolic gestures to measurable political accountability.
Photo: Dr. Hugh McDermott MP signed a formal pledge to advocate for the Khmer Krom community.
Through advocacy we promote;
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Unified Advocacy: Consolidate diverse stakeholder perspectives into a singular, powerful voice via a central advocacy body.
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Multi-Tiered Influence: Synchronize national policy strategy with state-level implementation to ensure consistency and local relevance.
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Public Interest Focus: Prioritize the broader socio-economic wellbeing of the community over narrow institutional interests.
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Inclusive Leadership: Expand opportunities for CALD leaders to influence decision-making and champion democratic values.
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Actionable Frameworks: Convert dialogue into "deliverables," producing white papers and policy recommendations that drive tangible systemic change.