Join us in support of women’s health and early detection
October marks the time to raise awareness of the importance of breast screening for keeping women safe from breast cancer.
We are pleased to be working with the Tamil Valarchi Manram and a range of other local stakeholder partners to offer an important Morning tea and presentations for breast screening awareness in our local community.
Date: Monday, 27 October 2025 Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 noon Venue: Redgum Centre, Wentworthville
There will be lots of fun activities, prizes and food, while learning about breast screening awareness.
For more information, contact Kanthi 0469 089 829.
Stay safe on our roads — join our upcoming information sessions!
SydWest Multicultural Services continues to deliver vital Multicultural Road Safety Information Sessions throughout 2025 and into 2026, helping our diverse communities stay informed and safe.
These sessions cover key road safety topics, including:
Child Car Seat Restraint and Education
Helping Learner Drivers become Safer Drivers
Driving for Older Road Users
Older Pedestrian Safety
To ensure these sessions are accessible to everyone, we offer them in multiple languages such as Dari, Farsi, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil, and Tagalog. Sessions are held at various locations across the Blacktown LGA, including Toongabbie, Glenwood, Blacktown, and Mt Druitt.
Understanding road safety and your responsibilities is essential for all road users. These sessions are designed to help you make safety a priority — every time you drive or walk.
Interested in attending? Contact Saurav or Sonia at info@sydwestms.org.au or call (02) 9621 6633 to learn more and reserve your spot.
More information on dates and venues will be available shortly.
SydWest is excited to launch Tuning into Kids, a free 6-week parenting program designed to help parents build stronger, more emotionally connected relationships with their children.
Starting Thursday 16 October 2024 at our Blacktown office, this evidence-based program—delivered in collaboration with Wesley Mission—offers practical tools to support your child’s emotional development and strengthen family communication.
What you’ll learn:
Understand and respond to your child’s emotions
Help your child manage big feelings
Strengthen communication and family relationships
Reduce challenging behaviours
Build your confidence as a parent
Sessions run every Thursday morning for six weeks, and free childcare is provided to support your participation.
Places are limited—register now! 📩 Contact Ambreen Kamran at ambreen.kamran@sydwestms.org.au or 📞 Call 9621 6633 to secure your spot.
Let’s grow together—because parenting is a journey best taken with support.
We’re thrilled to congratulate our incredible Aged Care team on winning the ACE Award in the Consumer Focus and Care Team category! This well-deserved recognition celebrates the outstanding work of our CHSP group-based programs, including centre-based respite and seniors social support groups.
Your dedication, compassion, and commitment to enriching the lives of older Australians, their families, and communities truly make a difference. You are ACE!
Today also marks Aged Care Employee Day – a national day to honour the amazing individuals who care for and support older Australians every single day.
Congratulations once again on your award win, and happy Aged Care Employee Day!
Celebrating Excellence in Aged Care – ACE Award Winners! 10Celebrating Excellence in Aged Care – ACE Award Winners! 11Celebrating Excellence in Aged Care – ACE Award Winners! 12
SydWest Multicultural Services and Western Sydney MRC, both members of the Western Sydney Region Settlement Consortium, are proud to announce its upcoming advocacy event, aimed at championing an increase in Australia’s refugee intake and enhancing the resettlement experience for migrants and refugees.
The event, set to take place on 17th June at West HQ will bring together community leaders, peak bodies, policymakers, and advocates to drive meaningful discussions and push for positive change.
With global displacement increasing year after year, Australia has a unique opportunity to strengthen its commitment to humanitarian support.
This event will shine a spotlight on Australia’s refugee response compared to other nations and the challenges refugees face upon arrival, while presenting solutions to their inclusion and belonging.
The event will feature speakers from SBS, SSI, Refugee Council of Australia and UNSW, some of whom were refugees themselves.
Attendees will have the chance to engage with policymakers and stakeholders, reinforcing the call for increased intake and a more compassionate and structured support system.
“This event is a crucial step toward ensuring Australia remains a leader in humanitarian action,” said Clement Meru, Settlement and Community Services manager at SydWest. “By advocating for an improved resettlement experience, we aim to empower refugees and build a stronger, more inclusive society.”
Members of the public, media, and key decision-makers are encouraged to attend and take part in shaping the future of refugee support in Australia.
Training that connects workers to their community and fits around their jobs
Lucia Uriona arrived in Australia from Argentina in 1971. Her family, of Italian heritage, relocated for her father’s work and settled on a farm, far from the city life they knew.
“Everything was new. I spoke only a little English, so I had to start from scratch,” Lucia recalls.
Years later, while watching carers from SydWest Multicultural Services support her ageing mother, Lucia found her calling.
“They were kind, respectful. I thought—maybe I can do that too.”
SydWest Multicultural Services provides quality approved aged care services to assist people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to live independently – at home and within the community.
“It was perfect – just one day a week. I could keep working with SydWest while learning,” she says.
Mereline Murimwa-Rarami, Sydwest Aged Care Services Manager, shares her thoughts:
Mereline Murimwa-Rarami
“Macquarie Community College provides flexible training arrangements that allow our care staff to continue working while upskilling. This means SydWest can maintain uninterrupted service delivery to our clients, which is essential.
We’ve received positive feedback from SydWest care staff who have completed training with the College. We’ve also noticed an improvement in their performance, which tells us the training is both practical and effective.”
At Macquarie Community College, Lucia experienced hands-on training, not just theory.
“They teach differently. We practised real skills; things I use every day.
When you’re working, you don’t always realise the impact you have. Studying helped me see that what we do really matters.”
Learning, Friendship, and Ongoing Growth
Lucia’s learning journey brought more than skills – it gave her community.
“I made lovely friends during the course. I’m a big talker, and we all connected. We still keep in touch!”
Her trainer, Jas Khanooja, made a lasting impression.
“He explained everything so well. He really knows his stuff.”
With continued support from SydWest team, Lucia continues learning through in-house training like Dementia care.
“The Sydwest team offered so much. I love learning – it keeps me fresh, motivated, and connected to my community.”
Heather Hill, Community Services Lead at Macquarie Community College commented:
Heather Hill
Lucia’s story is truly inspiring – a powerful reminder of how meaningful and fulfilling a career in aged care can be, especially when grounded in empathy, cultural understanding, and a commitment to lifelong learning.
I’m so proud of the way SydWest and Macquarie Community College collaborate to support individuals in not only growing professionally but also finding purpose and connection.
Aged Care Career Is Where Lucia Belongs
Lucia isn’t thinking of slowing down anytime soon. Despite suggestions from her sister to retire, she’s staying put.
“I feel so comfortable in this job. I love the seniors – they’re beautiful people. Understanding their culture, their stories – that’s so important.”
For Lucia, aged care isn’t about money:
“You do this work for people. A kind word goes a long way. We all need that. When we retire, we can’t just sit at home. Aged care is a great way to keep going and do something meaningful.”
Inspired by Lucia? Start Your Own Aged Care Journey!
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to build on your experience, Macquarie Community College offers flexible, practical Aged Care courses. With trusted partners like SydWest Multicultural Services, you’ll be supported to grow, connect, and thrive.
Stay safe with our upcoming Information Sessions – last sessions for May!
We are running a series of Multicultural Road Safety information sessions in 2025 from February to May.
Upcoming sessions include: 12 May 10am-11am Parents/Caregivers of Learner Drivers, SydWest Blacktown in Tagalog 16 May 3pm – 4pm Older People Licensing, online in Dari (just added!) 28 May 10am-11am Parents/Caregivers of Learner Drivers, SydWest Blacktown in Tamil
The sessions have covered important topics such as:
• Child Car Seat Safety • Licensing for Older People • Guidance for Parents/Caregivers of Learner Drivers • Pedestrian Behaviour for Older People
To ensure accessibility, we have been offering these sessions in various languages, including Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Urdu, Punjabi, Tamil, and Tagalog. Sessions are held in various venues across Blacktown LGA including Toongabbie, Glenwood, Blacktown and Mt Druitt.
Understanding road safety and your responsibilities is crucial for everyone. We aim to help you prioritize safety every time you drive.
If you’re interested in participating and for further information, please reach out to Saurav or Sonia at info@sydwestms.org.au or call 9621-6633.
Please book your seats as there are limited seats available in each session.
SydWest Multicultural Services congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Australian Labor Party (ALP) on their return to government.
This re-election presents a renewed opportunity for the Australian Government to deliver on the vision expressed during the Prime Minister’s victory speech which is to “show courage in adversity and kindness to those in need.”
The Prime Minister explained that for Australia to serve its Australian values and be the best it can be, we must value every Australian, a statement that SydWest Multicultural Services fundamentally believes in. This is a new phase for the Government, yet SydWest’s vision endures which is to create an inclusive society where all people have equal opportunities to grow and thrive.
Elfa Moraitakis, CEO of SydWest Multicultural Services said that “voters in Australia and Sydney have voted for a government that considers the needs of all Australians – people of all ages, backgrounds and living situations. Sydney is a community with diverse demographics and challenges and a government that addresses this diversity is vital to building a thriving society.’
Millions of Australians are counting on the Prime Minister’s leadership to ease the cost-of-living crisis and provide access to secure, safe, and affordable housing.
For the nearly 50% of Australians, from culturally and linguistic diverse (CALD) backgrounds, this next government term also holds the promise of meaningful action on key priorities, including:
• Culturally responsive domestic and family violence support,
• Aged care that is fair, affordable and accessible to all, and
• An NDIS that provides participants with genuine choice and control.
Now is a pivotal time for community organisations such as SydWest. We are hopeful for a stronger focus on reducing barriers and ensuring reforms are introduced with adequate lead times, enabling the sector to prepare and respond effectively. Our mission is to deliver quality services meeting diverse needs and we invite federal MPs to work with us to ensure its policies meet the needs of all Australians.
Media enquiries For further information or to arrange photo opportunities or interviews, contact Vikki Hine, Media and Events, SydWest Multicultural Services on vikki.hine@sydwestms.org.au or 0428-109-215.
Our Penrith Migrant and Refugee Women’s Support Group families had a special excursion recently to The Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
Thank you to Penrith City Council for arranging our complimentary tickets.
Everyone had a wonderful time and the show brought smiles, laughter, and excitement to all.
Our mothers expressed appreciation for the opportunity to see the 50 minute show, which brought their favourite book characters to life.
One of our younger guests summed it up perfectly with “This is much better than going to the movies!!! These are real people!!!”
Everyone had a great day and we’re very grateful for the opportunity provided.
If you want to know more about our Penrith Mothers Support group, contact our Women and Families team on 9621-6633 or anjum.ali@sydwestms.org.au
If you’re interested in joining one of our groups, contact the Women and Families team today on Tel 9621-6633 or info@sydwestms.org.au to learn more about the regular sessions and activities.
Our groups are a great way to develop friendships and social networks, as well as learn new things and engage in lots of fun and educational activities.
