Language Matters Episode 2: Belonging

Welcome to episode 2 of the MYAN Language Matters Podcast. In this episode, MYAN’s Community Development Officer Kate Yeung chats with Kwame Selormey and Kamal Chohan from Melaleuca Australia, unpacking the term ‘belonging’ and what it means in for multicultural young people in Australia. They explore the perspectives of belonging, shared values and the role of respect in forming a sense of belonging.The MYAN Language Matters podcast features intergenerational conversations that focus on the role of language in shaping how we see the world and our sense of belonging in it. The conversations aim to unpack buzzwords or terms that have become part of our vernacular, but which meanings have been lost, usurped, misunderstood or overused, and highlight the insights that tie directly to the diverse experiences of living in multicultural Australia. Find out more about Language Matters here.  Do you have an opinion or story about how language and words have shaped your sense of inclusion and belonging?  Let us know! About our guests:  Kwame Selormey Kwame Selormey is a West African–born humanitarian and systems leader living on Larrakia Country in Australia’s Northern Territory. With more than 25 years’ experience across Australia and Africa, he has led transformational work advancing refugee and migrant inclusion, multicultural participation, and systemic reform across settlement, health, justice, family services, mental health, disability, employment, and community sectors.  As CEO of Melaleuca Australia, Kwame has helped shape national and Territory responses to humanitarian settlement and multicultural inclusion, championing approaches grounded in dignity, belonging, participation, and social cohesion. He serves across national boards, ministerial councils, and strategic bodies, and contributes internationally through the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) based in Denmark. He is also the Convener and Chair of the NT Human Rights Awards.  Kwame was recognised as an NT Australian of the Year nominee for his contribution to humanitarian leadership and community impact. Kamal Chohan Kamal is a Business Support Officer at Melaleuca, helping ensure the smooth day-to-day operations of Multicultural Youth Northern Territory (MyNT). He supports administration, events and coordination tasks, helping across teams to keep processes organised and efficient. Previously, he worked with Charles Darwin University as an Events Officer.  Passionate about creating positive and meaningful impact, Kamal is driven by a desire to make Darwin a better place for people, support those in need and contribute to a stronger, more connected community. He is also passionate about sports, with badminton, table tennis, cricket, and football being both therapeutic and a source of happiness for him. Kamal believes every person is unique and values the opportunity to learn from everyone he meets. He currently serves as Chairman of the Multicultural Youth Council NT and has been actively volunteering with Kindness Shake for the past two years. Kamal aspires to one day become a CEO or Chair of a major community-focused organisation and to build a successful business that improves people’s lives.  Committed to community service and youth empowerment, Kamal was a Finalist for Study NT International Student of the Year 2025 and Chief Minister Volunteer of the Year 2025 and is a Study NT Student Ambassador 2025 and CDU Student Ambassador 2025.