Auburn baker keeps his doors open with help from Western Sydney Local Health District

18 Apr, 2021, 9:59 am21 Apr, 2021, 9:50 am Sarah Mason

Abdullah Khadim Hussain is the owner of Afghan Traditional Bakery in Auburn.

Auburn baker Abdullah Khadim Hussain has remained open for business throughout the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to assistance from Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) to operate in a COVID Safe way.

Abdullah is the owner of Afghan Traditional Bakery at 91 Auburn Road – a much loved bakery known for its huge, tandoor-cooked Afghan breads that are longer than skateboards.

While business has slowed due to fewer visitors from other suburbs, Abdullah’s been able to retain his three casual employees and maintain his generous practice of supplying free bread to those in need.

Along the way he’s needed to make COVID Safe adjustments including providing hand sanitiser for customers, limiting the number of people in the store at any given time, and keeping a record of customers who dine in for contact tracing purposes.

Afghan communities program officer Fouzia Hamdard helped Abdullah keep his business COVID Safe.

WSLHD Multicultural Health program officer Fouzia Hamdard, Arif Nabizadah from the NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors, and the WSLHD Environmental Health Team visited Afghan retail businesses in Western Sydney last year to address owners’ questions about COVID-19 as relates to their business.

Fouzia helped Abdullah by supplying signs and other COVID Safe business resources translated into Dari for the benefit of staff and customers alike.

“The government support is so kind. Fouzia comes all the time and helps a lot,” Abdullah said.

“It is helpful to be able to ask in my own language and she explains everything very nicely. I am so, so happy; we are so grateful for these people who help us in our own language.”

Health reporter Mary Ward interviews Fouzia and Adbullah for a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Fouzia has helped other businesses in Auburn, Merrylands and Guildford, and regularly provides the Afghan community with updated information through her network of contacts.

She has also helped places of worship plan for religious festivals in a COVID Safe manner.

“I understand my community and their concerns, and I’m glad I can help them access accurate information. People feel more confident speaking with me directly to share their concerns,” Fouzia said.

“There are many misconceptions about COVID-19 spread through the internet and word of mouth. It’s important we pass along reliable information in people’s own language.”