Guided tours, cultural awareness training sessions and free venue hire are being offered to organisations who make a function or board room booking with the Islamic Museum of Australia as part of the Museum’s new initiative, Meetings to Make a Difference.

The initiative, developed following the tragic attacks on the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, enables corporate, government and not for profit organisations to contribute to solidarity in the community.

Islamic Museum of Australia General Manager, Maryum Chaudhry said the Museum has been inundated by businesses wanting to support the Muslim community.

“We have been overwhelmed by businesses offering condolences and also looking to the future in terms of making a lasting contribution towards strengthening unity and solidarity in the wider community,” said Ms Chaudhry.

“Meetings to Make a Difference extends Jacinda Ardern’s sentiment of ‘We are One. They are us.’  It combines the very practical need of a venue space for meetings with education, which is a powerful tool for life-long learning and brings us together,” she said.

La Trobe University, Commonwealth Bank, Football Federation Victoria, Australian Football League and Maurice Blackburn Lawyers have been among the first to book meeting spaces as part of this initiative.

La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar, said that the University was proud to be the Islamic Museum of Australia’s Higher Education Partner.

“La Trobe is already engaged with the Islamic Museum of Australia on a range of education, community engagement and research initiatives,” said Professor Dewar.

“We encourage others to take up the Museum’s generous offer, in a joint effort to build bridges of understanding between Australia’s Islamic and business communities,” Professor Dewar said.

Businesses can bring their board, executive or council meeting to the Islamic Museum anytime in 2019, free of venue hire charges. As part of the booking, the museum is also offering the added inclusion of either a 60-minute guided tour, cultural awareness session or both.

Businesses can offer a voluntary donation to the IMA which will assist in continuing the delivery of educational and cross cultural experiences.

Those interested in Meetings to Make a Difference can contact the Islamic Museum on 1300 915 171 to discuss their booking.

The Islamic Museum of Australia is located in Thornbury, in Melbourne’s north. It is the only Islamic museum in the country and provides educational and cross-cultural experiences for all ages. The Museum is open 10am – 4pm, Monday to Saturday.