Strengthening Malay/Muslim Families: Reframing Narratives, Anchoring Resilience
Date : Monday, 5 October 2015
Time : 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Venue : Furama City Centre Singapore (Grand Ballroom), 60 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059804
About the Seminar
In its 4th edition, the Engaging Hearts & Minds Seminar 2015 aims to share strengths-based practices and tips to effectively support Malay/Muslim families.
Why this Seminar?
Families in Singapore face increasingly complex social and economic challenges that can impact on their marriage and family lives. An informed and culturally nuanced approach to help families in need would help social service practitioners and professionals be more effective in their intervention.
This seminar aims to raise awareness of the current trends and profile of Malay/Muslim families. Participants will have a better understanding of their perspectives, strengths and cultural sensitivities. Through the seminar, we hope participants would be able to apply strengths-based practices, approaches and knowledge of what works when working with and strengthening Malay/Muslim families.
Who is this seminar for?
The seminar will benefit marriage and family life educators, family counsellors, social workers, and professionals from voluntary welfare organisations, community agencies, professional bodies, government agencies and academics.
The event is by invitation only.
Seminar Materials
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EHMS 2015 E-Booklet.pdf
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Photos
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Presentations
Strengthening MalayMuslim Marriages From Risk to Resilience.pdf
By Dr Mathew Mathews, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies, NUS |
This presentation will examine possible protective and risk factors that affect marital satisfaction and dissolution among Malay/Muslim families. It will provide an overview of Malay/Muslim marriage satisfaction and divorce patterns and examine possible correlates including socioeconomic status, gender ideologies and social support systems. |
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By Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir, Deputy Director, Office of the Mufti, MUIS |
This presentation will discuss the evolution of Muslim laws and practices on marriage and divorce, with specific reference to Singapore in the context of the legal framework provided by the Administration of Muslim Law Act (AMLA), including talaq, khul, ruju' and 'iddah. It will discuss the distinguishing features of an Islamic philosophy and ethos on marriage and divorce. In addition, this presentation will reflect on the unique context of Muslim family life in Singapore, such as the evolving roles of partners in marriage, gender equity and the issues of maintenance and distribution of matrimonial property. |
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By Ms Azita Abdul Aziz, Director of Specialised Services, PPIS |
This presentation will be a sharing of PPIS' experience in developing customised programmes for Malay Muslim families and reflecting on how best professionals and representatives from various organisations working with Malay/Muslim families can play a role to work with families to meet emerging trends. |
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Media Coverage
Meet the Presenters and Panelists
DR MATHEW MATHEWS
Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore
Dr Mathew Mathews is a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore (NUS) where he leads the Society and Identity cluster. Mathew's research relates to societal cohesion and family issues. On the family, he has researched attitudes and behaviour related to marriage and parenthood, three generational structures and older persons in families. Recent and forthcoming publications include a book on marital resilience and articles that examine various phenomenon ranging from poverty, gambling, and single parenthood and how these affect aspects of family well-being. Mathew is President of Alive Community Network, a VWO and sits on the advisory boards of OnePeople.sg and Hua Mei Centre for Successful Ageing. He also serves as a Research Advisor to the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the VWOs-Charities Capability Fund Panel.
DR NAZIRUDIN MOHD NASIR
Deputy Director, Office of the Mufti, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore
Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir is Deputy Director of the Office of the Mufti at the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). He has recently completed his D.Phil at St Cross College, University of Oxford, in the comparative study of the Abrahamic religions. He did postgraduate work in law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (MA), and the study of religion at Oxford (MSt). Prior to that, he graduated with a Bachelors in Islamic Law from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, in 2002. Nazirudin has worked with the Fatwa Committee, and was a member of the Singapore Bioethics Advisory Committee.
MS AZITA ABDUL AZIZ
Director, Specialised Services, PPIS (Singapore Muslim Women's Association)
A graduate from National University of Singapore in 1988 in Social Work and Sociology, Ms Azita Abdul Aziz has continued to serve in Malay/Muslim organisations. Her experience revolves around work with single parent families (PPIS As-Salaam), stepfamilies (PPIS Vista Sakinah) and young couples (INSPIRASI PPIS). She is also the Director for Professional Development that looks into the formalisation and implementation of professional development of caseworkers across PPIS social service centres. Over the years, Azita has served as member in several committees including Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents, ComCare Supervisory Committee and Family Justice Subcommittee for Social Support and as Chairman for Syariah Court's Workgroup on Marriage Counselling Programme (MCP) structures, processes and capability building. Currently, she continues to contribute as a member of Tan Tock Seng Hospital Medifund Committee.
MS MAIMUNAH MOSLI
Principal Family Therapist, PPIS
Maimunah Mosli is President of Association of Marital and Family Therapy Singapore since 2013. Maimunah is currently the Principal Family Therapist at the Family Therapy Institute. She has more than 17 years' experience working at PPIS having obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with Honours from Curtin University, Perth Western Australia in 2003. While pursuing her degree, she worked with the Muslim Women Support Centre of Western Australia where the bulk of her work includes helping Muslim Immigrants who sought refuge by coming to Australia. Maimunah obtained her masters in Family Systemic Psychotherapy awarded by Middlesex University and Institute of Family Therapy (UK) in 2008. She attained Diploma in Clinical Supervision awarded by Counselling and Care Centre Singapore. Believing in nurturing others through clinical supervision, she developed the clinical supervision model for PPIS and has since conducted numerous individual and group supervisions for social workers in PPIS using systemic ideas. Being the first Muslim family psychotherapist in Singapore, Maimunah continues to be passionate about culturally sensitive practices.
MS ANITA FAM (MODERATOR)
Member, Families for Life Council
Ms Anita Fam was a former lawyer. She stopped work more than 15 years ago to devote herself to her family and has been involved in community work for more than 20 years, both at charity and national level, in the areas of family, disability, palliative care, health and mental health. Anita is Chairman of the Central Regional Health System Advisory Council and the Tan Tock Seng Institutional Committee and Co-Chairman of the Community Silver Trust Evaluation Panel. She also serves on the boards/committees of Assisi Hospice, Caregivers Alliance Limited, the Enabling Masterplan 2 Implementation Committee, Families for Life Council, National Healthcare Group, Sembawang Family Service Centre, Singapore International Foundation and St Andrew's Autism Centre among others. She chaired the Marriage Central Advisory Board from its inception in July 2008 till July 2013. Anita was conferred the Public Service Star in 2014 and the Public Service Medal (PBM) in 2008 for her work in the community.
Click here for materials from Engaging Hearts and Minds Seminar 2016 >>
