Services for women and families
Supporting and empowering women and families
Our women and families team provides support to refugee and migrant women who are newly arrived in Australia with children up to age 8, to help smooth their transition to the Australian way of life and help them raise happy and healthy families. We also work in domestic violence prevention and support.
Our team offers services and programs to help parents and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) to raise happy and healthy families.
We support and empower parents who are expecting a baby and families with children up to eight years of age who live in the Blacktown and Penrith local government areas. The Family Support Program is funded by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).
We can help with
Supported playgroups
Supported playgroups are held during school terms for parents, grandparents, carers and their children aged up to five years. Parents engage with their children in a range of fun and educational activities like story time, rhyme time, arts and crafts etc.
Blacktown multicultural playgroup
Tuesdays 10 am to 12pm
SydWest office, Ground Floor, Suite 1, 125 Main St Blacktown
Women's support groups
Our Women’s support groups in the Blacktown and Penrith local government areas are a great way for women to meet up and share with others while their children are cared for in adjoining rooms. This gives parents a break and the chance to discover more about parenting in a supportive environment. They are also a great way to build a parent’s social network.
Each term, support groups have regular information sessions on health and wellbeing, education, raising families, parenting, creative arts and more
We have six groups that meet during the school terms: all group meetings are also listed below.
Strengthening connections
We work to bring communities together through special events such as Mother’s Day and International Mother Language Day.
As well, we encourage our clients to participate in community events to strengthen their connection to their local community.
Cultural information for service providers
By working with culturally and linguistically diverse women and families, our team is qualified to provide cultural information to other service providers to help them become more culturally knowledgeable and responsive to the needs of the community.
Support for parents expecting and caring for a new baby
Our team can link and refer families to other service providers to address their specific needs.
Home visits
Our qualified and experienced team can visit new parents in their home to support them and ensure they are connected.
Working with emerging communities
Our team supports emerging communities to understand their issues and responding with appropriate information sessions and referrals.
Cultural event celebrations
Our team coordinates a range of high-profile events during the year, including International Women’s Day and Family Fun days. As well, they work with our client families to celebrate key cultural events during the year, such as Ramadan, Diwali, Harmony Day and Refugee Week.
Domestic violence prevention
As part of the ongoing work that SydWest does to address domestic and family violence, we have been coordinating the CALD Domestic Violence Prevention project for the past few years, working with local community ambassadors to equip them with knowledge and networks to support people in their community to seek help.
Understanding Coercive Control
We’re part of a national initiative raising awareness about coercive control—an abusive pattern of behaviour used to dominate or isolate someone. In Australia, this behaviour is now illegal Coercive control is a criminal offence , with penalties of up to 7 years in prison.
Information is available online in 18 languages to help everyone understand their rights and where to get support.
We have six groups that meet during the school terms
Schofields Mums and Bubs Group
Fridays, 10am to 11.30am
Altrove Hilltop Park,
Hoy Street, Schofields
Penrith Migrant and Refugee Women’s Support Group
Thursdays during School Terms, 10am to 12pm
Playground at Victoria Park, Corner Putland and Princess Mary Street, St Mary’s
Glenwood Indian Women’s Support Group
Tuesdays during School Terms, 10 am to 12pm
Glenwood Community Hub, 72 Glenwood Park Drive, Glenwood 2768
Seven Hills Mums and Bubs Group
Wednesdays, 10.00am to 12.00pm
Bert Oldfield Public School, Oldfields Road, Seven Hills
Blacktown Multicultural Women’s Support Group
Thursdays, 10am to 12pm
SydWest Head Office, Ground Floor, 125 Main St Blacktown
