My name is Bassir Qadiri, and I’m excited to announce that I’m standing for the upcoming election in the City of Casey to represent the Casuarina Ward. My academic journey has been focused on learning and excellence, starting from the University of Rouen-France and continuing on to prestigious institutions in Australia. With master’s degrees in leadership and Linguistics, a postgraduate degree in Project Management, and experience in finance and public relations, I bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the table.

For many years, I’ve been actively engaged in community leadership, both as a volunteer and in various professional capacities. I’ve held a variety of roles, including teaching languages at Dandenong High School, hosting radio programs at SBS, working as an interpreter at Monash Health, and serving as a work rights ambassador, as well as managing finances and handling public affairs. Each role has been a step towards building a more inclusive and harmonious society, addressing critical issues like domestic violence, youth mental health, disability, homelessness, employment and refugee integration challenges. My unwavering belief in our community’s potential has been the driving force behind my efforts.

My contributions to the community have been acknowledged with numerous awards, including the Order of Australia Medal on the King’s Birthday Honour List 2024, the Victorian Inclusive Volunteering Award in 2022, Local Hero 2022, South Asian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2022, Casey Citizen of the Year in 2020 and the Victorian Multicultural Commission Award for Excellence 2018.

With a diverse range of experiences as a community leader and advocate, I’ve dedicated myself to promoting harmony, multiculturalism, and acceptance within our community. As the founder and CEO of the Bakhtar Community Organisation, and through my work on committees like the Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee of the City of Casey and the Victorian Multicultural Commission Regional Advisory Council, I have firsthand experience of the challenges our community faces.

I founded and still run the well-known Bakhtar Community Organisation. Supported by hundreds of volunteers over the years, helping people doing it tough. I have the professional experience and care for our community to represent everyone on Casey Council. The former Casey Council was sacked due to one of the state’s worst corruption scandals. It’s time for a new perspective for our community! Our area can be an even better place to live and raise a family with a fresh Council.

If elected as your councillor, I promise to listen with empathy, lead with integrity, and work tirelessly to create a future where every voice is heard, and every dream is achievable.

I will be working for:
✓ Community safety action, advocating to Victoria Police and more CCTV in crime
hotspot
✓ Stronger financial management to get better value from our rates
✓ More responsive maintenance of our parks, roads and pathways
✓ Increased business and local employment opportunities
✓ Support for volunteers, youth, sporting and community groups