On Visiting Türkiye

We met with Broadmeadows MP Ms Kathleen Matthews-Ward on Friday morning at Dallas MKS Restaurant. The meeting was also attended by Dünya Newspaper Editor Mustafa Yılmaz and our Young Politics columnist Dilan Bektaş. The agenda included both local issues and Ms Matthews-Ward’s recent visit to Türkiye. The interview was conducted by our young writer, Dilan Bektaş.

Her recent trip to Türkiye, multicultural communities, equal access to education, and elder rights... In this candid conversation with Broadmeadows MP Kathleen Matthews-Ward, she shares both personal reflections and political priorities. From the Gallipoli commemoration to the importance of preserving heritage languages, from the struggles of older Australians navigating digital systems to the strength of cultural values, this interview offers a rich, human-centered perspective.

Dilan Bektas: You visited Türkiye recently, in April. What were some highlights?

Kathleen MP: It was beautiful. I just loved it. We visited Gallipoli for the 110th anniversary of the landings. It was really moving. Gallipoli is such a huge part of our history. It’s where a lot of our national values such as mateship, sacrifice, duty, looking after each other, came from.

But what really stood out was how respectful the Turkish people were about it all. I loved the words from Atatürk “Your sons have become our sons.” That really stayed with me.

We also visited the Ataturk Museum. The alphabet revolution blew me away. They went from something like 8% literacy to over 90%. Just by changing the script and making it more accessible. It was a game changer for the country.

On Education and Language

Interviewer: You’re passionate about education and languages in multicultural communities. What kind of work are you doing in that space?

Kathleen: Funny you ask, we went to a Book Week parade this morning. And honestly, I know a lot of adults now who didn’t learn their mother tongue when they were younger. Maybe it wasn’t considered cool at the time to go to Greek or Turkish school on Saturdays. But so many of them regret it now.

So, for our kids, I think we need to make sure they’re proud of speaking another language. It’s a real gift. Language connects people through stories, food, traditions. And it lets them talk to their grandparents. That’s so powerful.

Whenever I talk to kids I ask, “Who here speaks more than one language?” And I tell them, “That’s amazing. Don’t lose it.” And for those who don’t, I always say learning another language is such a great thing to do.

INTERVIEW TURKISH - Kathleen MP ”Her Çocuk Ana Diliyle Gurur Duymalı”

We’re also focused on making sure all kids have access to good schools, good facilities, and the support they need. That includes making the education system easier to understand for newly arrived families and helping parents get involved. Because when parents are part of their kids’ learning, it makes a huge difference.

And making sure each child gets individual support. I’m proud of the reforms we’ve made in that space. There’s more to do, but it’s a big priority for me.

On Turkish Culture

Interviewer: What parts of the culture really stood out to you? Food, people?

Kathleen: The food! Honestly, it’s amazing. Fresh, healthy, full of flavour. But you know what? The Turkish food we have here in Australia is just as good.

What I’ve noticed is that when communities move here, they hold onto tradition so strongly. It’s beautiful. You see it with Italians, Greeks, Turkish families and it’s like those traditions get even stronger here. And we’re lucky to benefit from that.

The people in Türkiye were just lovely. So warm and respectful. There’s a real sense of community care. I didn’t see people sleeping rough, and it felt like everyone was looking out for one another.

It’s very different from Australia, where we can be a bit more reserved. Here, we sometimes don’t want to bother anyone, out of respect. But over there, people are  open, and friendly. It was refreshing.

On Growing Up in a Multicultural Area

Interviewer: How do you think growing up in this area helped shape your understanding of the community?

Kathleen: I’ve always been around different cultures, and I love that. My kids went to school with children from all over the world. Their day carer was Sri Lankan, and she used to read to them in Sinhalese. That kind of experience is such a gift.

Every culture brings something unique. Australians are warm too, but we can be a bit more reserved. When I was in Türkiye, that contrast was clear.

A lot of cultures have that strong sense of community. It reminded me of Aboriginal culture, where community is everything. I also really value how so many cultures respect their elders. I think we’ve lost that in the West, and it makes me sad.

When I was younger, we had that respect for older people. But it’s dropped off, and now I worry that many older people feel invisible. That’s not okay.

On Elder Rights and the System

Interviewer: You’ve touched on something important. The elderly are being left behind, especially those who aren’t online.

Kathleen: Absolutely. There’s real discrimination against older people, especially those who aren’t tech savvy. Everything’s online now, and we just expect everyone to figure it out. But what if you’ve never used a computer.

Having to rely on others to do basic things. That can lead to financial and abuse, or just a loss of independence.

My Aged Care does offer great support, and you can call and get help in your own language, which is good. But finding the right services is still hard.

And when people are forced to choose between private providers, it’s confusing. Some are great, but there are also less reliable ones. Vulnerable people, whether it’s kids, people with disabilities, or older Australians, shouldn’t be left to navigate that kind of system alone.

Interviewer: Even 15 years ago, it was easier to get help. Now, people just don’t know where to go.

Kathleen: Exactly. It used to be simple. You’d just go to council, and they’d help. Now, it's a maze. Compared to some places, we are lucky. But that doesn’t mean the system is easy to navigate. We’ve got work to do.

Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your insights.

Kathleen: No worries at all. Thanks for having me!