Category: Latest News

people shaking hands

SydWest Multicultural Services and Participate Australia join forces to benefit the community

Posted on | by Sydwest

SydWest Multicultural Services is pleased to announce the upcoming merger with Participate
Australia, effective 1 May 2023.

Participate Australia is an organisation that specialises in the provision of support services to people living with disability and their carers, bringing deep knowledge, skills, and expertise in disability services to further the range of SydWest’s operations.


This decision by both Boards marks a new chapter in our combined 80-year history and sends
a strong message to our sector. Our strengths need to be celebrated and leveraged, with the
community always at heart of what we do. This partnership will provide continuity of front-line services along with the opportunity to improve the customer experience and grow the capabilities of our dedicated workforces.

Read the full media release here.

Australian passport

Temporary Protection and Safe Haven Enterprise Visa Holders Now Able to Apply for Permanent RoS Visas

Posted on | by Sydwest

SydWest is pleased to announce that the Australian Government now allows Temporary Protection visa and Safe Haven Enterprise visa (SHEV) holders eligible to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa, and to convert applications for TPV/SHEVs to applications for RoS visas.

If you have held or app­lied for a TPV or SHEV before 14 February 2023, you may be eligible for a permanent RoS visa.

People granted a permanent RoS visa will have the same rights and benefits as all permanent residents.

This includes no waiting period and immediate eligibility for:

RoS visa holders will also be eligible to:

  • become Australian citizens once they meet residency and other requirements
  • sponsor family to come to Australia under the family visa stream of the Migration Program.

Download Factsheet Here
Social Impact summit no button

SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis to speak at Social Impact Summit

Posted on | by Sydwest

For the first time ever, this year’s Social Impact Summit brings together Government, corporate and not-for profit sectors in one setting to discuss what the implementation of the well-being budget announced by the Federal Government looks like.

As a nation, we will define what this truly means and evaluate the interdependency of social and economic outcomes when it comes to the wellbeing of our community.

From change makers, inspirational speakers, academics, researchers, practitioners, to leaders across the nation reviewing the importance of wellbeing – genuine discussions will take place to address the scope of practical work and implementation of policy, when it comes to dealing with social outcomes. This is one Social Impact Summit you don’t want to miss.

Our very own Elfa Moraitakis, CEO of SydWest Multicultural Services, a strong advocate for not-for-profit sector collaboration is one of the speakers of the Summit. Elfa genuinely believes that every organisation and sector can bring different strengths to help recognise the issues unfolding on the ground and identify early intervention measures for implementation to effect real change.

Whilst crisis and post-crisis management support is critical in addressing current challenges, focusing our efforts on early intervention will allow us as a nation, to better equip Australians be prepared for their future and well-being, rather than unravelling yesterday’s cumulative impacts today.

Click Here to Register
flyer image 01 backswing

Western Sydney Backswing starting now!

Posted on | by Vikki Hine

The Western Sydney Backswing project is a creative job preparation and employer engagement program, designed for people with a disability, including those from a multicultural background to improve economic participation.

Importantly, the project will give participants the skills to get a job, as well as a work experience with a local employer.

It’s all about raising awareness of the benefits of employing people with a disability, who may be from a CALD background. And it’s FREE!

If you want to know more or get involved, please contact Tony Maricic, Backswing Coordinator on Tel: 0439-536-407 or tony.maricic@sydwestms.org.au

ACU Report GBNews 210223

A commended solutions provider

Posted on | by Vikki Hine

Our employment services were recently profiled in the Greater Blacktown News with ACU Report: Skilled Migrants Battle Job Lock Out published 23 November 2022.

GREATER Blacktown is seen as a hotpoint in the struggle of skilled migrants and refugees facing an uphill battle to secure work in the community…. read more

If you wish to read a copy of the report prepared by ACU for SydWest Multicultural Services entitled Migrating from Settlement to Prosperity – an evaluation of SydWest’s employability programs and services for recently arrived migrants and refugees in Blacktown and Mount Druitt, NSW, please click here.