I am grateful to the members of FINACT to place trust in me to provide leadership for the organisation and the Indian diaspora in the ACT. On July 21^st 2019, at its Annual General Meeting, FINACT’s new board for the next year was elected. More details of the team are outlined below and will be provided on the website.

Firstly, I would like to pay my respects to the previous FINACT leaders who positioned the organisation strategically for collective representation. The new FINACT team feels honoured and will continue to make positive contributions to the Indian diaspora and the broader Australian society.

FINACT had busy 12 months. Highlights of the year were the biggest community cricket tournament, raised funds as part of ‘Walk For Farmers’, contributed to ‘mother language’ movement, organised 2nd AusIndia Fair and Harmony Day. We also celebrated achievements of members of Indian diaspora and partnered with member organisations for several functions and events.

I would like to congratulate Dr Krishna Nadimpalli, the past president on receiving the honour of “Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)” for promoting multiculturalism; Professor Dharmendra Sharma on receiving the honour of “Member of the Order (OM)” for significant service to higher education and to computer science; and Mr Deepak Raj Gupta on being elected as MLA for ACT assembly. I also welcome FINACT’S new member organisation ‘Canberra Telugu League’.

In addition to supporting the events for cultural identity and enabling the first generation to participate in Australian culture, the new team will focus on establishing the facilities for broader and long-term goals:

1. Progress India Centre
2. Lobby for large capacity community hall with commercial kitchen and adequate parking
3. Large crematorium respectful for ethnic cultures
4. Ethnic aged-care facility policy and its establishment. 

Winter has almost finished and flowers will soon be out in full bloom. Keep yourself warm and get ready to get into your gardens. FINACT will be welcoming the spring with a T-20 Cricket Tournament starting on 24^th August and enable the youth to build their networks.

FINACT team is your team and feel free to contact any one of us. 

When something goes wrong, be thankful for many things that are going right.  

Sunita S Dhindsa

President FINACT

Keep Your Dreams Alive  

GEOCON is FINACT’s Proud Sponsor

In conjunction with Women’s Health Week 2019, to bring awareness of women's health within our local communities around the country, the Sathya Sai International Organisation Ladies Program and Sai Medical Unit are hosting women's health information events in all Regions.

The ACT’s event is a fun, informative and interactive session on various women’s health issues, and included practical tips and techniques to make positive changes that can last a lifetime - see attached flyer for more details.

This event is suitable for all ladies aged 16 years and above!!!

Registration is essential for us to plan the activities. 

Please RSVP by Tuesday, 27 August 2019 at Registration Form (preferred method).

Or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.';document.getElementById('cloak9faff4bcc321aa4eaf919b65bc6c93cc').innerHTML += ''+addy_text9faff4bcc321aa4eaf919b65bc6c93cc+'<\/a>';

The Magical Strings of Josh - Sat 24 August 2019 

In keeping with the ethos and thinking of promoting an awareness of Indian culture locally and globally, Joshua Feinberg (www.joshfeinbergmusic.com), a classically trained Sitar player, who resides in Portland, Oregon, US will be touring Australia in August. Josh has trained with such stalwarts as Ustad Ali Akbar Khan of the Maihar Senia Gharana, amongst others. Josh has also learned to play the Tabla from Pandit Anindo Chatterjee. In addition, Josh is an accomplished bass player.

Josh will be accompanied by Jay Dabgar from Melbourne on the Tabla.

Josh is committed to the ideal of music as a universal language, as music holds universal appeal and is not necessarily bound by materialistic divisions! 

Your input/event for FINACT newsletter is appreciated and welcome

Newsletter for communities

You will appreciate that newsletters are critical instrument and platform to meet our functional, operational and strategic communication needs. We have been using this infrastructure for long to effectively interact with you.

Funding under the digital grants from the ACT Government has further boosted our capabilities and confidence in meeting our objectives. We thank the ACT Government for their generosity that enables us to extend our tools to our member associations. Please see below for more information on how you can use this feature.

As you know FINACT newsletter is generally published once a month. If our member associations like to publish their organisation's event in the FINACT newsletter, please provide the following information:

• Event name, date, time and venue followed by text
• Text in word format (not PDF)
• Text within 150 words
• One image/picture if needed.

If you have a flyer ready for the event then FINACT can also publish the flyer in the newsletter.

You can submit this information at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by the last week of month - marked as For FINACT Newsletter.

What else FINACT can do for you?

We acknowlege that not all associations can afford to have mailing lists or tools to regularly interact/communicate with their members. FINACT has tools and capacity to be of your assistance. You may subscribe your members on our subscription page.

Do you have a story…an event…an opinion...an achievement

that Canberrans would be interested in? ABC Radio Canberra would love to hear from you.

Please contact producers Laura Dawes or Kim Lester on 6275 4625 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Sponsorship Appreciated for FINACT Events

We understand that one of the main reasons to sponsor a tournament and any event could be to promote one’s business and generate goodwill in the community.  Sponsoring the FINACT events will give you brand recognition among the fastest-growing community group of Indians in the ACT and increase sales or traffic to sponsor’s website through their banner on our website (www.finact.net.au ).

Indians are the fastest growing population in Australia. This has resulted in increased air traffic between India and Australia; increased telecommunication; and enhanced trade and cultural ties. For sporting events - players and their supporters make playing cricket a fiercely competitive and memorable event. They will promote the game and use your services to show their appreciation.

In addition to providing an excellent opportunity to connect with the Indian sub-continent communities, the FINACT events' sponsorship will:

• enable sponsors to reach out to wider community groups in ACT and surrounds
• fulfil sponsors business objectives and attract sizeable potential customers
• provide a lasting impression of their business
• promote sports and physical activities in the community
• motivate and assist young players participating in the tournament and community activities
• attract favourable feedback from organisers and media partners
• generate great feel-good stories in Indian community and back to India and neighbouring countries and
• fulfil sponsor’s corporate and social responsibilities

If you are willing to or interested in sponsoring our events, please contact us soon.