Prima Nota

17/08/2026

On 13 August, we held our first information session with Services Australia for South Australia’s Russian-speaking community. It was an incredibly informative and practical session. We learned about different payments and support available to families, JobSeeker, pensions, what can happen to certain payments when travelling overseas, and importantly, how to access Services Australia information and assistance in Russian language.

The size of the group turned out to be just right. Everyone could listen to the general presentation and ask questions, while there was also time afterwards for people to speak with Roxanne individually- either independently or with the assistance of an interpreter - about their own circumstances.

A huge thank you to Roxanne Brinkies, Multicultural Services Officer at Services Australia, for sharing so much useful information, patiently answering our many questions, and making time for individual conversations.

We are also incredibly grateful to Jelena Lavrinovic, NAATI Certified Interpreter, for providing Russian-language interpreting throughout the session. Jelena’s professionalism, warmth and gentle approach helped make everyone feel comfortable and welcome.

Jelena can also be contacted directly for interpreting and translation services, including assistance with official documents:

📞 0467 490 616
✉️ [email protected]

Thank you to Multicultural Communities Council of SA for generously providing the space and making us feel so welcome.

And a special thank you to Terra Fiera Studio | Crafts & Workshops- fresh, delicious and prepared with so much care. ❤️

We would love to continue these conversations with Services Australia. If there is a topic you would like covered at a future session, something you would like explained in more detail, or information about Australian government services that you find difficult to access in Russian, please let us know in the comments, by private message, or at [email protected].

Your questions will help us plan what comes next. 😊

16/08/2026

Last Sunday, 9 August, Prima Nota was grateful to take part in a Listening Circle facilitated by Behishta Anwar as part of the Australian Civil Society Coalition on Women Peace and Security.

Sitting with women leaders from different communities was a valuable reminder that we do not have to agree on everything to work towards the same goal: peace and security for women and children, safety for our families, and communities where people can live without fear.

At a time of growing division and polarisation, tensions can also emerge between communities themselves. Jewish, Muslim, migrant, refugee and other communities may experience fear, grief, discrimination and insecurity in very different ways. Those experiences are not identical- but they all deserve to be heard.

That is why spaces like this matter. When we sit at the same table, listen to one another and recognise both our differences and our shared concerns, it becomes harder to reduce each other to labels.

Thank you to Behishta Anwar for bringing us together, to the Australian Refugee Association for their warm hospitality, and to all the women who shared their experiences.

The work of the WPS Coalition is especially important because these conversations do not end in the room- they help bring women’s community voices into the broader conversation about peace, security and social cohesion.

14/08/2026

Prima Nota joins the wider South Australian community in unequivocally condemning the attack on the Semaphore Workers Club and the use of N**i symbols to deface its premises.

N**ism is inseparable from racism, antisemitism, persecution and the dehumanisation of people because of who they are. The appearance of these symbols in our community should concern all of us.

Prima Nota is home to people from many different ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. Some of us come from communities whose families have experienced the devastating consequences of N**ism firsthand. We know how important it is to stand together when hatred is directed at any part of our community.

No one should face hostility, intimidation or exclusion because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion, language or cultural background.

We stand in solidarity with the Semaphore Workers Club and with all those who reject hatred and division.
There is no place for N**ism in South Australia. There is no place for ethnic hatred in our community.

My statement on the attack on the Semaphore Workers Club and the South Australian trade union movement.

You can stand in solidarity with them this afternoon from 3.30pm at 93 Esplanade, Semaphore.

11/08/2026

📊 A quick reminder from Prima Nota- please, complete the 2026 Census TONIGHT!

The Census helps show who lives in Australia, what languages we speak, and what our communities need.

The information collected helps governments understand where more healthcare, schools, aged care, community programs and language support are needed.

For our Russian-speaking community, taking part means being seen and counted. The more accurate the picture of our community, the better its needs can be understood and supported.

👉 Complete the Census here⁠:
https://start.census.abs.gov.au

If you need help completing the Census, please get in touch with Prima Nota- we’ll be happy to help. ❤️

05/08/2026

🎉 Prima Nota is coming back to the Multicultural Festival 2026 on Victoria Square! 🎉

We are absolutely delighted to confirm that Prima Nota Inc. will once again be participating with a community stall at the Multicultural Festival SA on November 1st.

After such a wonderful experience last year, we are thrilled to be returning- sharing our culture, traditions, creativity and community spirit, while connecting with people from across South Australia. 🌏❤️

And now- we need your help!

Prima Nota is a volunteer-led community organisation, and we would love to hear from people who would like to be part of our festival team. You might help us prepare in the lead-up to the festival, contribute ideas or creative skills, or join us at the stall on the day itself.

Please email us at [email protected], send us a direct message, or drop us a text if you would like to be involved. Whether you can contribute a little or a lot, we would be delighted to have you with us.

Prima Nota has also received a $300 Multicultural Festival Grant from the Government of South Australia, which will help cover some of the costs associated with our participation.

A heartfelt thank you to the Government of South Australia, the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Honourable Nadia Clancy MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, for supporting multicultural community participation.

We are back- and we cannot wait! 🎶☕🎨

More details about the festival and our stall will be shared soon.

03/08/2026

🌿 Our next Garden Club meeting is almost here!

Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting out, we’d love to see you.

This month’s topic:
🌱 How to Transform a Small Space into a Beautiful Garden

We’ll explore practical ideas for creating an attractive garden in a small yard, courtyard or garden bed, including:
• vertical gardening;
• making the most of limited space;
• simple landscape design ideas;
• plants that combine beauty with practicality.

As always, our meetings are relaxed and interactive. Bring your questions, your ideas, your photos, or simply come along to listen and meet fellow gardening enthusiasts.

☕ We’ll also enjoy herbal tea from a traditional samovar, cookies and friendly conversation.

📅 Thursday, 6 August
🕡 6:15–7:45 pm
📍 MCCSA
113 Gilbert Street, Adelaide SA 5000

🎟️ Free to attend

Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend! 🌿

31/07/2026

Services Australia Information Session for Adelaide’s Russian-speaking Community
Do you have questions about Centrelink, government payments or support available to you and your family?
Prima Nota, together with Services Australia, invites Adelaide’s Russian-speaking community to a free information session where you can hear directly from Services Australia and learn more about available payments, services and support.
📅 12 August 2026
🕧 12:30 pm – 3:00 pm
📍 MCCSA — Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia
113 Gilbert St, Adelaide SA 5000
Topics will include:
• JobSeeker Payment and Disability Support Pension
• Family payments
• Child Care Subsidy
• Support and services for older parents and seniors
• General information about Services Australia services and support
🎤 Speaker: Multicultural Service Officer, Services Australia.
🗣 An interpreter will be available throughout the session to ensure everyone can fully understand the information and participate in the discussion.
💚 Attendance is free.
🫶 Delicious lunchtime catering is also free.
Come along, ask questions and get practical information directly from Services Australia.

24/07/2026

Put your volunteering hat on! Hang out with nice people, get some interesting experience and a great perspective on everything multicultural ❤️

💜🧡🩷 Volunteers Wanted! 💜🧡🩷

🌟 Want to connect with community?
🌟 Make new friends?
🌟 Develop skills and gain experience?

Get involved! Join us as a MOSAIC Volunteer: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/e/1FAIpQLSfy5pBOJagwIscDOFZWGuW7olnx0_w0Txewt-S-y1xW7tebDQ/viewform

21/07/2026

📊 Thank you to the Australian Bureau of Statistics for an important Census 2026 information session.

A very special thank you to Afzal Rahim and Go Suan Pau for sharing their time and expertise and answering our community’s questions, and to Multicultural Communities Council of SA for providing the venue.

🥐 Thank you also to Tierra Fiera Studio Terra Fiera Studio | Crafts & Workshops for the beautiful catering, provided free to our guests. We are proud to use Tierra Fiera catering at every Prima Nota event- always generous, beautifully presented and prepared with care. The photos show what was waiting for everyone who attended!

One message from the session is especially important:

If you are in Australia on Census Night, you need to be counted- including international students, temporary workers, visa holders and visitors.

For multicultural communities, Census participation is essential. It shows how many of us live here, which languages we speak and what support our communities may need.

For the Russian-speaking community, accurate Census data can help strengthen the case for resources such as:

• ethnic and community-language schools
• translated information and interpreting
• health, cultural and community programs

When our community is counted, our community becomes visible.

19/07/2026

🎶 PRIMA NOTA COLLECTIVE — MORE THAN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD FOLK CHOIR

Prima Nota Collective brings people together through music, language and community.

We sing in Russian, but our choir is open to people of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds. You may be a confident Russian speaker, or you may be learning Russian and looking for a warm, immersive way to practise — you are equally welcome.

Our repertoire reflects the diversity of the Russian-speaking world: traditional folk songs, romances, much-loved songs from different eras, contemporary pieces, and music shaped by different regions, cultures and ethnic traditions.

👩 Women’s group
Mondays at 10:30 am

👨 Men’s group
Wednesday evenings

📍 The University of Adelaide, Magill Campus

A heartfelt thank you to the University of Adelaide for providing us with a welcoming, cosy setting and access, when needed, to a professional rehearsal space with a full-sized stage.

✨ Completely free of charge
✨ No previous choir experience required
✨ Singing with soul
✨ Music, friendship and genuine community

📧 [email protected]
Or send us a private message.