Category: Success Stories

At SydWest, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident in the digital world — especially our seniors. That’s why we’ve launched a hands-on Digital Mentoring program that’s transforming how we support older clients with everyday tech tasks.

From sending messages to loved ones, to booking health appointments and navigating government services, our seniors are learning to do it all — safely and independently. The training focuses on practical skills that make a real difference in daily life, helping seniors stay connected and in control – all via upskilling our incredible staff, volunteers, and carers.

Thanks to our partnership with Be Connected, expert tutors Richard and Marcus from YourLink have delivered engaging sessions that are already making waves. Now, our team is equipped with the tools and confidence to guide seniors through the digital maze.And the learning doesn’t stop there! Trainees have access to ongoing mentoring and online resources, creating a vibrant community of digital champions who continue to share knowledge and support each other.

Together, we’re building a future where seniors feel empowered, informed, and digitally included — one click at a time.

Hello, my name is Zerlish Fatima. I am currently pursuing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, and I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I am thrilled to share that I am now working with the Blacktown Area Community Centre (BACC).

In 2022, I began attending sessions at the SydWest mothers group in Mt Druitt with my daughter. These sessions were a wonderful experience, allowing me to build strong connections with other mums and gain valuable insights.

Recently, as I started searching for a job in the early childhood sector, I reached out to SydWest for guidance. I expressed my passion for this field, and they kindly recommended me to BACC. After submitting all the necessary documentation, I am delighted to announce that I secured the job!

I am deeply grateful to SydWest for their support and positive recommendation. Your assistance truly made a difference, and I sincerely appreciate your encouragement during my job search journey.

Thank you so much—your support means the world to me.

When 16-year-old Yaser arrived in Australia last year, he spoke little English and hadn’t been to school in over three years. His family had fled Iraq over three years ago, living in Jordan as refugees where there was little time for school. 

Yaser now attends the Intensive English Centre at Evans High School in Blacktown and admits that while he is very happy to be going to school again, it is difficult in a new country with a new language. In order to get a little extra help with his schooling, Yaser rides his bike to the SydWest office in Blacktown every Thursday afternoon where he joins more than 20 other children at our Homework Support sessions.

Yaser recalls the first time he asked his youth Caseworker for help with his school work. “I remember that day when I came to Mervat telling her that I am a donkey. I was very disappointed because I could not understand any of my school subjects especially Math and I was worried about my Maths exam. Mervat encouraged me and explained the subject in very simple way. She speaks my language and makes things easier for me. I got good confidence in myself that I will do good in my exams and I did. I got 75%,” Yaser said. 

“SydWest gives me the confidence in myself and this is the perfect place to improve myself and my English language. Now I have many friends from different cultures from my school and from SydWest. I am very happy to get good marks in Maths and receive a certificate too,” he said.

Yaser is one of 60 students who attend SydWest’s homework support sessions held once a week across Blacktown, St Mary’s and Mt Druitt – supported by our Youth workers and dedicated volunteer tutors.

Our Community Connection Coordinator (CCC) met John (not his real name) and his brother after receiving a referral from Fairfield Hospital.

Upon visiting the brothers at their home in South West Sydney, our staff discovered that the brothers were not receiving any supports and were not managing at all to live on their own. Their only sister lives far away and did not understand how NDIS could help her brothers.

SydWest immediately began providing information about NDIS to John’s social worker and sister and explaining how NDIS could assist John to live independently and with ongoing supports from allied health professions in the home. Our CCC worked to build capacity in the social worker and sister to understand the documents required to access NDIS, as well as information regarding the Companion Card and the Taxi Voucher scheme.

John was success with accessing NDIS and our CCC continued to support John and hi sister with planning meeting preparation and the planning meeting process. Following John’s implementation meeting with the LAC, they sought SydWest assistance again as they did not understand the plan and how NDIS and choice and control works and how John can always choose what and how he wants to achieve his goals through the various funding options.

The sister now understands the whole plan very well and ISs comfortable in advocating for her brother. She was happy and relieved that her brother will be looked after by NDIS supports now. Due to CCC’s rapport with the family and the trust built up, the sister requested to stay with SydWest and receive further supports through SydWest’s NDIS Care Worker team.

Today, John receives Core Supports and Support Coordination services from SydWest and will be supported with his ongoing plan management processes into the future.

[May 2022]

Job Seekers Pumalay Mudliar, Anmol Singh, Christopher Prinze, and Michael Noble all graduated with a Certificate III in Retail in March 2020 just before the COVID-19 social distancing and lockdowns came into place.

The Certificate III in Retail is delivered in partnership with ACACIA Education & Training and is a free course for DES participants, driven by the need to upskill our Jobseekers and help them find sustainable employment in the retail sector.

Job Seeker Pumalay Mudliar was motivated by, and enjoyed the course, receiving an excellent recommendation from the assessor, which can help him secure employment in the future. Pumalay came from Fiji in 2000 with his family. He was a teacher for more than 22 years, both here and in Fiji but had to retire from the profession due to health reasons. As such, he continues to challenge himself with new opportunities such as the DES Retail Training. As an ex-teacher, he was also a great support to his fellow student classmates during the course and together they put in a lot of work to complete the short course.

“This group has done exceptionally well and have thrown themselves into the study regime and the results show that they were diligent students” said Nicollette East, Trainer at ACACIA Education & Training.

For SydWest, this was an opportunity to guide our DES participants in their study and provide a safe place (both physically and mentally) for them to come each week and participate in the program.

The short course has proven successful with the Jobseekers and a great partnership opportunity for SydWest with ACACIA Education & Training and we are proud to continue working with the college to support our clients in the future.

The Retail industry has been extremely hard-hit by COVID-19 and despite available supports from the Government to rebuild the economy of the country, our DES Jobseekers are still actively looking for work.

If you want to know more about our DES program or discuss job opportunities for our DES clients, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.