The Day After ... Building shared trust between Palestinian and Jewish clinicians

Drinks with Mikaela Stafrace

Hosted by Dr Marianne Broadbent

Why are Jewish and Palestinian clinicians able to share trust? How is trust being built between those living in Israel and Palestine? After years of mistrust, how is social cohesion being built and strengthened amongst young Jewish and young Palestinian leaders. 

Project Rozana is a global movement and international initiative, specifically focused on using health as a bridge for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Over the past 13 years, Rozana Australia has been a key player in trust building by bringing together doctors, nurses and aligned health professionals in the Middle East. Rozana has built a portable model that has impacted thousands of patients and their families in both Israel and Palestine.  Not only is the medical profession amongst the most trusted members of civil society, when they come together to train, treat and “know” the Other, word spreads, people listen and trust is formed. Rozana Australia is hosting several delegations this year from Israel and Palestine, and also building cohorts of emerging young Jewish Australian leaders and young Palestinian Australian leaders.  The purpose is to engage the young people in dialogue and shared projects that slowly and respectfully build toward a shared trust and understanding. Why and how has Rozana been effective in improving social cohesion, and in building trusted and collaborative relationships.

We invite you to join Mikaela Stafrace to hear more about building trust and pathways to peace building.

Mikaela is Chair of Rozana Australia and is a Director of Rozana International Board. Mikaela holds qualifications in Law, Commerce, Risk Management, an MBA and is a GAICD. She spent many years in corporate settings providing insurance, risk, governance and regulatory compliance advice. In addition to being admitted to practice in the High Court of Australia, Mikaela is a Myer Innovation Fellow and an AMP Tomorrow Maker. She has served as a company director on government boards & industry associations. She was Chief Examiner for insurance law at Monash & Melbourne Universities. Additionally, she is:

• Founder of WomenCAN
• Board member of Interplast
• Board member of the Kenneth Myer Innovation Fellowship (a subsidiary of the Sidney Myer Fund)
• Board member and immediate Past President of the Rotary Club of Elsternwick.

Mikaela founded WomenCAN Australia in 2019, a charity that has assisted over 1000 women to transition from Centrelink into vocational training and job placements. Together with generous support from government and philanthropy, Mikaela believes that just as every woman needs her own money, so too does WomenCAN Australia.  She developed two social enterprises within the charity, both of which are registered Social Traders. Mikaela believes passionately in equality of opportunity for the participation of women in all spheres of endeavour.

Please join Mikaela to hear more about pathways to peace building.