ICRA - Reaching For The Youth

ICRA is a group of committed volunteers and professionals who dedicate their time and effort to empowering and educating Muslims in Australia.

ICRA literally translates from Arabic to mean ‘read’, which is the very first revelation received by the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) from God through the archangel Gabriel. It connotes significance on knowledge, making education and empowerment the sole focus of our work.

Established in 2003, as a Youth Centre, the principal aim of ICRA was to provide a community based service for young people who are at risk of being marginalised and/or disadvantaged. This aim was achieved by:

• bringing to the attention of the community their responsibilities towards the healthy development of young people;
• promoting and encouraging the development of young leaders within the community;
• providing an avenue of support for young people who are at risk of being marginalised and/or disadvantaged;
• providing facilities and early intervention programs for young people in disadvantaged circumstances;
• creating awareness of the social and economic issues affecting young people; and
• developing early intervention programs to curb anti-social behaviour in young people.

Today the focus of ICRA has expanded. ICRA recognises the deficiencies of the Muslim Community, the lack of resources and services available to it and now aims to offer a service that empowers and educates people of the Muslim faith to develop themselves into competent citizens of Australia.

The services we now offer include:

• professional legal and social support,
• advocacy,
• community legal education and other training,
• youth liaison, and
• networking.