SydWest Multicultural Services

A recent SydWest community consultation found that many local families were apprehensive about the words 'child protection' and unaware of the role of child protection organisations, underscoring the need for more community engagement and education that is culturally appropriate.

So we were pleased to have the opportunity to take part in local Child Protection Week activities in Mt Druitt recently, an initiative of the Western Sydney Child Protection Interagency,

The event aimed to help raise awareness of child protection issues and connect families to local services.

Our Women and Families Team Leader Sonia Kalsi said it was important for people to have conversations in their family about how we can all help to keep our children and young people safe.

More than 300 people attended the event.

SydWest recently celebrated 10 of our Care Workers graduating with their Certificate III in Individual Support at a special event in Blacktown.

As part of the official ceremony, everyone was formally presented with their certificate.

The certificate is a nationally recognised qualification and provides an important recognition to our staff of the importance of trained and qualified staff in the aged care sector. This training was provided to our care workers who had experience and language, but no formal qualifications; their on-the-job experience was considered during the training and as part of their evaluation.

With a nation-wide shortage of aged care workers, and with our desire for bilingual care workers, we introduced this training to ensure we have qualified and experienced bilingual care workers for our aged care clients.

The training was delivered by Macquarie Community College – a great and fruitful collaboration with SydWest. The partnership allowed us to negotiate flexibility in study times and to minimise its impact on their work rosters, so they were able to go through the training while continuing to work.

Congratulations to our newly qualified Care Workers:
• Salwa Ghali
• Gita Hajary
• Khalida Hussaini
• Vivianne Jabour
• Rosa Mayorca
• Eslam Mohamed
• Gullu Onay (unfortunately has since left us to move with her family to rural NSW)
• Lucia Uriona
• Mary Yassa and
• Marzia Haidari

When you are a new mum in a new country, connection is everything!

Our Women and Families team recently hosted a weekend retreat in Wollongong for 17 mums and 27 children.

A series of fun activities were arranged so the families could get to know and interact with each other. Along the way, we also offered sessions about healthy lifestyles, relationsips and connection.

Plus, many were introduced to the joys of sand play at the beach - a very Aussie experience!

SydWest Multicultural Services welcomes Brent Pitts to its Board of Directors.

A chartered accountant, Brent has more than 25 years’ experience across a range of business and human services sectors. For the past 10 years, he has excelled in leading change and building sustainable delivery models while achieving robust financial results.

Read our media release to find out more

SydWest welcomes new board member - SydWest Multicultural Services SydWest Multicultural Services has welcomed Brent Pitts to its Board of Directors.

The Africultures Festival is just around the corner and we are thrilled to be supporting the biggest one-day African festival in Australia.

is a festival for all to come and enjoy the vibrant diverse cultures of the African Continent. There will be delicious eats, live music and entertainment, workshops such as African drumming, kids corner and so much more.

Be sure to purchase your $6 ticket donation at https://hubs.ly/Q02Mty8R0

We look forward to seeing you there.

Africultures 2024 — Africultures Festival This one-day festival draws thousands of people from across Australia to immerse in the culture, food, music and arts of Africa.

So pleased to see our Participate Australia participants having such a wonderful time away together!

Staff at SydWest have been doing a double-take as they walk through the Blacktown CBD - isnt that our Women and Families Team Leader Sonia Kalsi on those street banners?

Yes it is! Sonia has been taking part in the Safer Cities: Her Way Program, a partnership between Blacktown City Council and Transport for NSW to help make our local streets and transport hubs safer for everyone, especially women, girls and gender-diverse people.

Sonia was one of over 160 people who provided input to Council on how streets could feel safer, with initiatives including better lighting, cleaner spaces and more vibrancy and colour through artwork. She was then invited to take part in the art initiative and voila - now her photo is one of many featured throughout the area.

Council is keen to hear community feedback on its safety initiatives - you can find out how to have your say here - https://hubs.ly/Q02KVc8F0

The Federal Government is providing an opportunity to have a say on proposed changes to the NDIS Act 2013.

As part of these changes the government has developed draft definitions of NDIS Supports, which outline what NDIS funding can, and cannot, be spent on.

You can view the draft definitions and have your say here - https://hubs.ly/Q02KKcRp0 - before 18 August, 2024.

There is a discussion paper in easy read version and an AUSLAN video. You can also email your thoughts or request a callback. You will find all of these options on the web page we have linked to above.

Please note, there are no immediate changes and participants should continue to use their plans as they are currently.

Our work in the Blacktown community includes assisting people from culturally diverse backgrounds with their housing needs and helping to keep a roof over their heads.

Last financial year we were able to assist over 100 local people at risk of homelessness, to either find a home or remain in their home.

The theme of National Homelessness Week this year is Homelessness Action Now.

As well as working directly with the homeless in our community, we're also advocating to end ‘rental racism’ – that is, situations where a tenancy application is denied solely because of racism.

Our advocacy includes helping to educate real estate agents in the Blacktown and Penrith areas about this issue and working with them to secure appropriate housing for our culturally diverse population.

We’re also working with other settlement agencies including Nepean Multicultural Access (NMA) and SSI to help our new arrivals understand tenancy rights and responsibilities.

Thanks to Karen McKeown OAM - MP for Penrith , Penrith Mayor Todd Carney and the real estate agents who supported our recent Penrith Housing Forum. Let's continue to work together to address homelessness in our community.

Don't forget it's less than 24 hours until the Sydney Disability Expo starts!

Home - Sydney Disability Expo The Sydney Disability Expo will link thousands of people with a disability with hundreds of product and service providers. Entry is Free

We hope you'll come and say hello to our Participate Australia disability services team when you're visiting the Sydney Disability Expo - https://www.facebook.com/events/870698574925666 - starting tomorrow from 9am at Sydney Showground.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Come say hi to the team at Participate Australia!

We’re going to be at the Sydney Disability Expo at Stand 19 from tomorrow at 9am. Entry is free for everyone!

The Expo aims to link thousands of people with disability with service providers so they can choose how they want to live their lives and plan for the future.

There will be lots of fun and interesting things to see. We look forward to seeing you there and talking to you about what we have to offer.

For more information on the Expo, visit https://hubs.ly/Q02JGTRq0

Today we celebrate one of our beloved care workers Gullu Onay who is leaving us after a massive 7 years!

What a special time to cherish as Gullu provided such wonderful care and assistance for Mrs Vidovic Antonija and Mr Vidovic Kresimir.

We wish you all the best in your new endeavours and thank you for all of your kindness and support. 💞

Social clubs like this are just one of the ways we support people with disability live the life they want. For more activities and events like this visit https://participateaustralia.com.au/events/ - the website of Participate Australia, which runs our disability services.

Did you know that Australia is now a country where 429 languages are spoken, including 183 Australian Indigenous languages? That’s why a review and refresh of our multicultural policy was needed!

We welcome the Federal Government’s release of its Multicultural Framework Review report that recognises multiculturalism as a key driver of democracy and a strong economy in Australia.

SydWest was glad for the opportunity to have a say with hundreds of other people and organisations who made submissions to the review. The report - Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all - makes 29 key recommendations.

SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis says she was particularly pleased to see a priority recommendation for the establishment of a Federal Multicultural Affairs Commission and Commissioner and a stand-alone Department of Multicultural Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship with dedicated Minister.

She said embedded culturally responsive services in areas including disability and aged care were also critical and timely given the reforms taking place. SydWest looks forward to working with the government, the sector and the community to implement the recommendations and advance a fairer and truly inclusive society.

You can read the report here:
https://hubs.ly/Q02HVmqC0

Artwork in this image used is from the report and is titled Everyone is Different. It is by artist Miliana who submitted her piece in the 4-8 years age group category under the theme 'Australia looks like this to me'.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been funded to continue to support newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants to Australia as they settle into their new homes in Western Sydney.

The Federal Government has just announced that SydWest will lead the new Western Sydney Region Settlement Consortium (WSRSC), consisting of migrant resource centres and organisations with extensive, local settlement expertise.

SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis said she looked forward to working closely with Accessible Diversity Services Initiative Limited, Community Migrant Resource Centre and Western Sydney MRC to ensure new arrivals are connected to local services that will help them feel part of the local community, get help with finding a job, learn English or join a local mother’s group.

You can read more about this announcement here at https://sydwestms.org.au/latest-news/sydwest-leads-new-settlement-partnership/

Engineering students from RMIT university Tahlia Torcasio and Myles Fraser spent some time with SydWest on their term break recently to gather initial research for an innovative collaboration.

The SydWest Engagement Challenge will see RMIT students work hand-in-hand with seniors from our culturally diverse Western Sydney community to solve local issues through humanitarian engineering.

"We are only just getting started in the reseach and planning stage," said Tahlia, "and in August RMIT students will come and meet with the seniors to learn about local issues and begin the co-design process."

Humanitarian engineering sits across all engineering disciplines with a focus on social impact and improving quality of life in society.

SydWest Settlememnt and Community Programs Manager Clement Meru, pictured here with the students, said he was proud SydWest was partnering with RMIT and academic Dr Spyros Schismenos, and looks forward to seeing what can be achieved.

RMIT University Elfa Moraitakis Clement Warille Meru

Thank you to the staff of Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture for their generous donation of $863. Staff raised the funds at a recent Harmony Day event.

We are very grateful for your contribution and the money will be well spent supporting our local multicultural community.

Participants in our Families in Cultural Transition program had a wonderful outing together in Sydney recently to celebrate the end of a 10-week program to help them settle into Australia.

This program is a partnership between SydWest and refugee support service STARTTS.

Program elements include learning about the Australian way of life, how to deal with practical issues such as budgeting, how to use an interpreter and how to apply for a job.

There were also opportunities to meet other refugees and members of their community to talk about family relationships and raising children.

The program had weekly sessions and was delivered to our Arabic refugee clients by trained and experienced bicultural facilitators from STARTTS.

To celebrate the final session, participants visited the Madame Tussauds Museum in Sydney, and enjoyed a walking tour near the Sydney Harbour Bridge and surrounds

Here are some of the fun photos from the outing.

We are so proud of Mervat Altarazi!

Who will win this year? We have so many wonderful residents.

We often talk about the fantastic cultural diversity of Blacktown City and not enough about the people who make it work.

If you know a volunteer or worker who does, I would love you to nominate them for the Blacktown City Multicultural Awards.👳👵🧕

SydWest Multicultural Services’ Case Worker Mervat Altarazi was Inspirational Person of the Year for 2023. Who will win this year?

You can nominate here: https://www.blacktown.nsw.gov.au/Events-and-activities/Blacktown-City-Multicultural-Awards-2024

It’s National NAIDOC Week and this year’s theme is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud.

The theme honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture – fire is a symbol of connection to Country, to each other, and to the rich traditions that is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NAIDOC Week started in 1975 and provides opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrating the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.

For more information and to get involved in events and activities in your local area, visit
https://hubs.ly/Q02FLYQS0

Happy NAIDOC Week 2024 everybody!

Happy 70th birthday to our Home Care Coordinator Marija Derikuca!

Marija joined SydWest in 2006, working as a Home Care Support Worker assisting seniors in their home to help them maintain their independence.

However, before that she was a client, with SydWest providing settlement support to her as a refugee from the former Yugoslavia.

An economist in her home country, Marija completed further training and soon moved into a home care coordination role, where her knowledge of several languages has been invaluable to us as we work with seniors from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds.

Marija is a terrific example of positive ageing, with no plans to retire anytime soon.

She says coming to work and interacting with our younger staff and SydWest seniors' clients gives her purpose and energy!

Marija is pictured below cutting her birthday cake with colleagues from the Aged Care team.

Did you catch our latest Community Connections newsletter?

Filled with all the latest news, stories and updates, you can subscribe to our quarterly edition here: https://hubs.ly/Q02DQBCk0

We love stories like this one where we launched a series of educational videos for people with disability to support them with their relationships, sexuality, gender identity and expression.

The videos were co-designed with our disability participants who helped develop the scripts, film and act in the videos which were funded through a Council for Intellectual Disability My Rights Matter grant.

Catch up on all the latest stories here: https://hubs.ly/Q02DQk_00

We recently held two important information sessions about diabetes for our settlement clients who are new to Australia, to convey the importance of a healthy lifestyle in avoiding this serious disease.

Did you know that Blacktown is a diabetes hotspot? So providing information on how to prevent it is critical.

The info sessions were held in Arabic and Dari, delivered by Diabetes Australia in NSW & ACT and attended by more than 40 of our clients. They talked about session food, and exercise and their direct impact on preventing diabetes.

To support the key messages on healthy lifestyles, every attendee received a food package to take home and to help them embrace healthy living.

The sessions were held in direct response to our client surveys which showed low awareness of diabetes and how to avoid it.

Fast facts:
- Blacktown has one of the highest rates of diabetes, with 6.1% of the people living in Blacktown City with diabetes (compared to the average of 4.6% for greater Sydney).
- In fact, it is estimated that 65% of all Diabetes people in Greater Sydney live in Western Sydney.
- And more than half of Western Sydney’s population is overweight and at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

For more information on preventing diabetes, visit https://hubs.ly/Q02DQkYb0

The activities continued last week with some much-needed artwork! Clement, our Settlement and Community Programs Manager, was the MC at the Refugee Week Arts Exhibition, hosted in Parramatta.

This exhibition is a collaboration between NSW Police Force and SSI. They featured artwork by 12 artists from diverse refugee backgrounds, including Syria, Afghanistan and DR Congo. This collaboration started in 2022 and has become an annual event.

We were especially impressed with Sohail Naeem, a 12-year-old artist from Afghanistan who came to Australia in 2023 with his parents. He developed artistic skills through a neighbour in Pakistan while his family waited for their refugee application to be processed. What a talent! One to keep an eye on.

Here's a small selection of some of the highlights of the recent SydWest Refugee Week 2024 celebration event held in Bowman Hall on 19 June and featuring our new short film, a panel discussion and entertainment for all. We hope you enjoy!

What a great initiative to help get more diversity among our elected representatives.

Sharing for our followers.

Are you (or a woman you know) interested in representing your community by running for public office? Then this is the opportunity for you!

Women for Election, a national, non-partisan organisation on a mission to increase the number of women running for public office in Australia, is bringing its flagship EQUIP: Candidate Training Program, plus a dedicated First Nations workshop, to Western Sydney on 25 and 26 June!

These highly practical workshops are designed to INSPIRE and EQUIP women with the skills to run for public office. You’ll learn about the tools and techniques to enable you to run for office, be the best candidate you can be, or assist another woman with her political campaign.

Secure you place for these FREE workshops today at: EVENTS • WOMEN FOR ELECTION (www.wfe.org.au)

Great work NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service. It’s vital that information about domestic violence is available to all in the community.

We're excited to launch new translated health information for refugee communities on this World Refugee Day!

There is no place for domestic and family violence in Australia. The law protects everyone, including new migrants and temporary visa holders. Support is available—talk to a doctor or health worker.

Explore our audio-visual resources available in English and 20 community languages. Learn more: www.mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au/publications/refugee-health