profile of Silma Ihram

A born-again Christian at 15, Silma was active in the Children’s Special Service Mission, various Protestant churches and was involved with the House of the New World in West Ryde in the early 70’s. She studied Science at Sydney University, then transferred to James Cook University to study Marine Biology. Following a debilitating bout of glandular fever, and a visit to Borneo and Indonesia, she transferred to the study of Humanities and South East Asian History.

In 1976, while living in Indonesia Silma converted to Islam, followed shortly afterwards by her Catholic husband Siddiq Buckley. Returning to Australia she was involved in the Australian Federation of Muslim Students Associations for which she was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2002, and then established the Muslim Women’s Shop and Centre in 1979. With her husband Siddiq she established the Muslim Service Association, and then the Al Noori Muslim Primary School.

In 1995 with her second partner Baheej Adada she established the Noor Al Houda Islamic College, which was the subject of an ABC documentary “Silma’s School”. The school merged with the Australian International Academy in 2006. She is currently studying a Masters (Hons) at UWS on Muslim Youth and the Mufti: study of the Influences on Lebanese Muslim Young Men and the discursive construction of the mufti as a social and religious leader.

Education:
1984 – Bachelor or Arts, Graduating in Indonesian and History from Sydney University.
1985 – Completed Hajj & Umra
1988 – Diploma of Education, Armidale College of Advanced Education.
1991 – Certificate of School Management University of N.S.W.
1994 – Masters of Educational Administration, University of N.S.W.
2006 – Masters of Humanities (Hons), UWS (current)

Teaching/Administration:
1978 – Secretariat Officer of the Australian Federation of Muslim Students Associations
1979 – Proprietor of Muslim Women’s Shop & Centre
1980 – Proprietor of Middle East Bazaar
1981 – Secretary of Muslim Service Association
1982 – Proprietor of Muslim Book Service
1983 – Founder of Nur Muslim Primary School
1986 – Principal of Al Noori Muslim Primary School
1991 –Secretary of the Council of Islamic Education in Schools, Advisor to Aust. Fed of Islamic Councils on Women and Education,
1992 – Proprietor Flash-Type , Secretary the Muslim Women’s National Network
1992 – Founding Member of Muslim Women’s National Network
1995 – Founder and Principal of Noor Al Houda Islamic College (till 2006).
1997 – Proprietor of Adam’s World Child Care Centre (till 2002)
2007 – Education consultant and teacher of Studies of Religion HSC course

2008 – Presenter on Islam and Islamic education

2009 – Principal of Australian International Islamic College, Brisbane

Research

2006-2008 – (Masters Honours applicant) – ‘Muslim Youth and the Mufti: a study of the influences on young Lebanese Muslim men and the discursive construction of the mufti as a social and religious leader’

Papers presented:

NewMac Symposium – Truth and Artifice – “Muslim Youth Interpretations of a Misunderstood Leadership”

UWS – Access and Inclusion Conference – “Mentoring Influences on Muslim students from High School to Uni”

Accomplishments:
Mother of 6 children and grandmother of 2
Recipient of the 2002 Centenary Award
2005 Muslim Woman of the Year Award
2006 Woman of Faith Award (Affinity Intercultural Foundation)

Positions Held:
1977 – Secretary of the Sydney University Muslim Students Association
1978 – Secretary of the Australian Federation of Muslim Students Associations
1979 – Secretary of the Muslim Service Association
1991 – Executive member of the Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
1992 – Founding member of the Muslim Women’s National Network
2004 – Vice-President of the Australian Council for Islamic Education in Schools
2006/7 – Secretary General of the ACIES
2007/8 – Vice-President of the Forum for Australian Islamic Relations
2007/8 – Vice-President of the Muslim Women’s National Network

Memberships:
Member of the Australian Council of Educational Administration (M.A.C.E.A.)
Member of Australian Council of Educational Leaders

Member – Rotary Club Strathfield

Member of the consultative committee of the National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies

Other Activities:
1992 – Author of “Building Bridges of Light” and “Islamic Parenting”
1999 – Convenor of Bankstown Youth Forum
2000 – Producer of ‘Their First Years’ parenting video
2001 – Appointed to Bankstown Council LEAPS committee
2002 – Public Relations Officer of the Unity Party
2002 – 2006 Presenter on Islam to Teaching Inservices held by the Association of Studies of Religion.
2006 – Subject of the documentary by Jane Jeffes of “Silma’s School”
2007 – Democrats candidate for State seat of Auburn

2008 – Presenter in Malaysia, London, Cairns, Canberra, Sydney

Hobbies:
Writing
Gardening
Craft
Public speaking

Contributions to Publications:
“Bridges of Light” – authored and published in 1992
“Islamic Parenting the Natural Alternative” – published by the Muslim Converts Ass. Singapore 1992
“Women of Spirit” – by Deborah Selway, Longman, Melbourne, 1995
“My Journey Behind the Veil” – (from the ABC documentary) Kay Rasool, Lothian Books, 2002

“Mosaic” – edited by Ros Bradley – published by the ABC – 2008

Video Resources:
“Their First Years” – produced by Whirling Dervish Productions and the Muslim Service Association – an educational video in Arabic and English for pre-school years, 2000.
“Silma’s School” – ABC documentary, produced by Firefly Productions – 2005

Current Positions:
Proprietor – Islamic Education Consultancy
Vice-President – Muslim Women’s National Network
Vice-President – Forum on Australian Islamic Relations
SW Regional organiser – Australian Democrats

Member – International Board of Educational Research and Resources