Year Established: 2019
Type: Geographical
Gathering: In-person
Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish
Contact: anza@figt.org
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Mission

FIGT Australia New Zealand Affiliate aims to support families, professionals and organisations and:

• Facilitate the communication about global migration and associated issues
• Encourage exchange and cooperation amongst professionals and organisations
• Bring values and expertise of FIGT to Australia and New Zealand
  
• Provide support and services for those needing direction such as welcoming events, family gatherings, professional development and training
• Disseminate information about understanding cross-cultural living coping strategies and supporting the implementation of these strategies
• Continue the work of FIGT beyond the annual conference by organising Friday monthly gathering for stakeholders such as lectures and presentations, workshops, professional development, newcomer welcoming and networking events

Leadership

Sara Coggiola is a Cross Cultural Trainer and CoActive coach. Through her private practice, Between Cultures, she aims to support globally mobile families as they settle into and adapt to their new destinations. Having reinvented herself several times while supporting her husband's career abroad and bringing up two Cross-Cultural Kids, she draws from real-life experiences in juggling a globally mobile family lifestyle. Living between different cultures has always fascinated Sara and she feels on purpose when, through her work, she can foster cultural integration.

Helen Ellis is a New Zealand researcher, author, anthropologist, veteran of Distance Parenting/Grandparenting, and the Founder of DistanceFamilies.com. Five of her seven children and four of her six grandchildren live 16 to 30 flight hours away in America and England.

In her research she asked the question: “How is distance familying for you?” Her book series combines her personal experiences with her extensive global research.

Her goal is to support each generation of Distance Families to understand ‘how it is’ for the other and pass on some ‘how  to do it’ tips.

Visit the Events Page for upcoming activities.

Contact the Melbourne Affiliate leadership team at anza@figt.org

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