Employment Accelerator in Blacktown!

Posted on 26/09/2023 | by Vikki Hine

Making finding jobs for new arrivals easier

SydWest Multicultural Services is pleased to announce it is a partner in the upcoming Employment Accelerator being held 11th October 2023 in Blacktown.

This event is designed to support those from diverse cultural backgrounds and those who have recently migrated to Australia, and who are looking for work.

Don’t miss this chance to:Network with local employers, Be interviewed, Gain access to local support that helps build your work-ready and employability skills and, connect with organisations who can help to recognise prior learning/qualifications.

Industries present on the day:
• Health and Care Industry
• Transport & Logistics including: Warehousing
• Retail
• Construction

If you are interested in attending, visit Employment Accelerator Celebrating Diversity Tickets for more information and to register.

Alternatively, please contact Saurav Shrestha, Settlement Services Team Leader at SydWest Multicultural Services by email Saurav.shrestha@sydwestms.org.au or Tel: 9621-6633.

This event has been organised in collaboration with:

Sydney Greater West Local Jobs, SydWest Multicultural Services, Australian Catholic University, Blacktown City Council, TAFE NSW, State Member Mr Stephen Bali, Macquarie Community College, SSI – Homecare workforce program, FindMe, Salvation Army Employment Plus, AMES Australia, AUSRIA, Services Australia, OCTEC, Reach for Training, LEAD Connect.

26 September 2023

The Voice Referendum: Resources for people with disability

Posted on 22/09/2023 | by Vikki Hine

Participate Australia has developed a suite of video resources to help disseminate information about The Voice referendum to people with disability.

PA and SydWest support people with disability to live full lives as members of the community, which includes exercising their right to vote at elections.

The three videos provide easy English explanations about the upcoming referendum and are intended to be conversation starters between people with disability and trusted family or friends.

They explain concepts including the Constitution and referendums, outline what the October 14 referendum is about, detail why Australians are being asked to make a change, and explain that people can vote either yes or no.

Participate Australia spokesman Thom Calma said it was important that all members of the community could take part in discussions about the Voice.

“There are around 4 million people in Australia who have a disability, many of whom vote, but there is a gap when it comes to accessible information,” said Mr. Calma.

“These videos provide easy to understand information about the referendum and we hope they are used to generate important conversations in households, workplaces and support organisations across the country.

“We are proud to co-create these videos with our community.

“People with disability have a powerful voice in the upcoming referendum.”

Participate Australia is a subsidiary of SydWest Multicultural Services. SydWest will help disseminate translated information about the referendum to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

To access more resources, visit https://participateaustralia.com.au/thevoice

For media enquiries, please contact vikki.hine@sydwestms.org.au

22 September 2023

SydWest is hosting a special Cost of Living Forum for community leaders as part of WEXPO Blacktown 2023.

WEXPO 2023 and Cost of Living

Posted on 01/09/2023 | by Vikki Hine

SydWest Multicultural Services is pleased to announce that it is a premium sponsor of this year’s WEXPO Blacktown and will be delivering an important Cost of Living Community Leaders Forum on Tuesday 5 September 2023 at Workers Blacktown.

WEXPO 2023 is a unique blend of exhibition, workshops and thought-provoking Forums and everyone in the community is invited to visit and join in.

“SydWest Multicultural Services is particularly proud of its Cost of Living Forum, an important session to address cost of living pressures that so many of us are experiencing. said Elfa Moraitakis, CEO.

With an almost 7% inflation rate, essential things like food, medication, electricity and housing are becoming high price items – individually and collectively we need to explore options and address the growing inequality that cost of living is causing in our society.”

This session will promise insights, solutions and recommendations to the NSW government on how to take the crisis out of cost of living, with guest speakers including:
• Dr Jim Taggart OAM – Forum moderator
• Elfa Moraitakis, CEO, SydWest Multicultural Services – Welcome/Introductions
• Panel Speakers
• Joanna Quilty, CEO, NCOSS
• Michael Fox, Quality and Practice Manager, Mission Australia Western Sydney
• Clement Meru, Settlement and Community Programs Manager, SydWest Multicultural Services
• Najwa Tirezy, community representative

The Cost of Living Forum will be held as part of the Community Leaders sessions being held during WEXPO Blacktown 2023.

Now in its second year, WEXPO is a full day of workshops, forums, entertainment and special guest speakers. There will also be exhibitors showcasing their services and products in the Diamond Room and near the Ballroom.

There is no need to register for WEXPO 2023 if someone is just visiting the exhibition. However, all Forums have registration processes.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FULL MEDIA RELEASE

1 September 2023

National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference 2023

Bronze Sponsor of National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference

Posted on 14/08/2023 | by Vikki Hine

SydWest Multicultural Services is pleased to announce that it is a Bronze Sponsor of the upcoming inaugural National Multicultural Health and Wellbeing Conference 2023 being held 21-22 November in Sydney. The Conference is an initiative of Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative.

In partnership with NSW Health, the conference will address challenges, review best practices and explore how to improve access to health and wellbeing services for Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population. For more information visit https://www.multiculturalhealthconference.org.au/

#multiculturalhealth

14 August 2023

It's Aged Care Employee Day 2023 and a special time to say thank you to all the carers in our world.

Take time to say #ThanksforCaring

Posted on 31/07/2023 | by Vikki Hine

SydWest Multicultural Services encourages the Western Sydney community to recognise those who care for older Australians and say “thanks for caring” ahead of Aged Care Employee Day (ACED) on Monday 7 August 2023.

“We’re asking our community to take a moment and think about the quiet achievers and the superheroes who provide care with professionalism, compassion and dedication for our loved ones and give them the recognition they deserve,” SydWest’s Aged Care Services Manager, Mereline Murimwa-Rarami says.

“It’s been a particularly challenging eighteen months for aged care workers both in residential and home care services leaving many families and friends unable to visit loved ones in care for weeks on end.

“It often fell to the carers, the nurses and other staff to make up for that loss of family contact and become that crucial connection for frail and vulnerable older Australians.

“So, in the lead up to 7 August, we ask you to take time to think of the nurses, personal care workers, chefs, cleaners, gardeners, laundry staff, activities coordinators and administration staff when you next visit a loved one in aged care and say “thanks for caring”.

ACED will feature a #ThanksforCaring social media campaign with videos, stories and photographs that acknowledge Australia’s aged care workers.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL MEDIA RELEASE

31 July 2023

Removal of settlement service accessbility constraints – is it financially viable?

Posted on 11/05/2023 | by Sydwest

SydWest Multicultural Services welcomes the Government’s decision to remove the 5-year eligibility criteria for migrants and refugees to access settlement services.

We also welcome the ease of cost-of-living pressures and the $4bn injection to fully fund frontline workers’ wages for the community sector, who play an integral role supporting some of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our communities.

There is a mixed response of disappointment and concern about the lack of funding adjustment in the 2023 Federal Budget to facilitate the expected increase in service up-take.

SydWest, one of the NSW Settlement Partnership Consortium members that has been supporting migrants and refugees through its Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program in the Outer West of Sydney, has been one of the partners on the receiving end of funding cuts, no provision for indexation, increased operational costs that may potentially paralyse and threaten the quality of its services, if these substantial issues are not addressed.

Read the full press release here.

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

Posted on 26/04/2023 | 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.

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

Posted on 14/04/2023 | 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