News – Sydney Multicultural Community Services https://www.sydneymcs.org.au Fri, 15 Dec 2023 03:33:06 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/cropped-final-final-site-icon-32x32.png News – Sydney Multicultural Community Services https://www.sydneymcs.org.au 32 32 Multicultural ARC Book Launch https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/multicultural-arc-book-launch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=multicultural-arc-book-launch https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/multicultural-arc-book-launch/#respond Thu, 02 Nov 2023 01:42:47 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=3486 Multicultural ARC Book Launch Read More »

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We are proud to Launch our new book and welcome our guests to purchase a hard copy.

About The Book:

Multicultural Arc describes and analyses a half-century of multicultural action and policy in Australia, as the country changed from being 99.5% European to one of the most diverse societies in the world. Through examinations of the changes introduced by successive governments, readers follow the twists and turns of ideology and popular attitudes. From the “invention” of Australian multiculturalism through to attacks on its very existence, the affirmation of Australia’s multicultural future now depends on addressing systemic racism and continuing inequalities. Five key themes include the place of First Nations in a multicultural society, the problems of racism, the challenges of communication and representation, the shredding of research capacity, and the creation of best fit institutions. Key words for the future are recognition, research and representation. Multicultural Arc is published by Sydney Multicultural Community Services.

About The Author:

Emeritus Professor Andrew Jakubowicz
Bio. Andrew Jakubowicz, one of Australia’s most respected commentators on cultural diversity and public policy, is emeritus professor of Sociology at the University of Technology Sydney. He has been involved in the multicultural social movement since the 1970s, and has led research on many aspects of Australia’s cultural diversity, especially in relation to old and new media. His expertise has contributed to state and Commonwealth policy development, in areas ranging from education to public health. He holds elected membership as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, and the Royal Society of NSW. He has curated the web documentary “Making Multicultural Australia in the 21st century”, since 1999.

About The Designer:

Dr Tatiana Pentes
Tatiana Pentes is a multi-channel digital and creative communications producer. Her interactive documentary Strange Cities https://strangeblackbox.net/ won a number of awards as a pioneering work. Career highlights include 2023 Luminous Bodies art exhibition, Luna Studios Gallery, Sydney, 2022 Highly Commended, Burwood Art Prize Exhibition, 2018 Marketing Team Award, Reimagination Thought Leaders’ Summit, and Digital Disruptors Awards, ACS, 2015 W3 Silver Award for Best Integrated Media Campaign, 2000/2005 AMY & ATOM Awards, and 2008-2020 Juror AMY Awards, Digital & Technology Collective. She has a higher research degree 2006 DCA in Communications (Digital Media) Recommendation 1, University of Technology, Sydney.

How to Order the Book:

To order the book, please complete the order form and email to info@sydneymcs.org.au
Due to shortage of staff at the holiday seasons, all orders made from now to early next year will be dispatched by the end of January, 2024.

Thank you for your patience!

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Stories from our Volunteers https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/30-years-of-cvs-stories-from-volunteers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=30-years-of-cvs-stories-from-volunteers Tue, 06 Sep 2022 00:29:32 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=3217

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) supports by recruiting and matching volunteers to provide friendship and companionship through volunteer visits to care recipients of Australian Government funded residential aged care and home care packages who are isolated or at risk of social isolation or loneliness.

Volunteers are an essential part of Sydney MCS and we are very grateful to have volunteers continuing their services with some volunteers who have been active in our system for over five years. Our volunteers develop positive friendships with elderly clients which help with reducing loneliness and isolation. Most of our volunteers are bilingual migrant refugees who visit the elderly recipients that help them with integrating into Australian culture by giving them tips and tricks. The CVS service we deliver benefits both sides, for the visiting volunteers as well as the recipients. We are thankful to our volunteers for their dedication and contribution.

2022 marks 30 Years of CVS. To celebrate 30 Years of CVS, we have gathered some stories about the endearing bond between our volunteers and recipients below. 

Natalie Waser

Inspiring, intellectual and interesting, these are three words of many I would use to describe the beautiful elderly lady, Mrs. X. I have visited Mrs. X for over one year and have thoroughly enjoyed my visits.

My volunteering recipient, Mrs. X always greets me with a warm welcome and a cup of tea. We both share stories of our families, hobbies, worldly events, and our passions in common including dogs, travel, reading, religion and sports.

For me, Mrs. X has helped fill the gap in my heart after losing my grandparents. We have a special bond and I feel comfortable opening up to her about topics I rarely share with others. It is her great listening ear, supportive advice, and witty humour that makes me feel so blessed to be part of her life journey.

farid silwanis

I am a 65 year old Engineer, Egyptian born, who has been living in Australia for the past 38 years. Professional life is demanding and taxes your life, with so little time left for family and friends. Having recently retired, I suddenly found myself with much time to pursue all the things I would have liked to do earlier but couldn’t. Yet, without having a purpose in living, life becomes meaningless, monotonous, and empty. It was time to give back and volunteer. This decision was easy for me to make, as I come from a family of volunteers. I volunteered in different areas – some are big organisations and others were a simple offer of assistance to anyone that required it wherever I can.

Of particular interest is my experience with Sydney Multicultural Community Services, or SMCS for short. CVS, or Community Visitor Scheme, is a government program to visit older people, providing companionship and friendship on regular basis. I was matched to visit a lovely lady, Patricia, and asked to simply stay in touch regularly, to chat and find areas of common interest to keep the communication going. From the very first phone call we had, I felt I was the lucky one to make her acquaintance.

Patricia is an 85-year-old Canadian born lady. She had many accomplishments in life, not least of which is that she published her own book about her life story. The title of the book (Why God Hates Me) is catching but does not reflect her devotion and faith. I read her book in almost no time and felt as if I have known her all my life. We found many things in common to chat about every week and in between. Patricia is a mother, grandmother, model, beauty queen, photographer, author, amongst many other things. Time with Patricia goes by so fast, conversation moving from one topic to the other. I found I could also confide in her with my own issues and seek her wisdom and advice at times.

Volunteering is not a one-way street. Far from it. Indeed it is reciprocal. You gain new insights, experiences, broaden your horizons and invest your time towards a cause that you believe in. In my case, my biggest gain is in gaining a dear friend. Thank you SMCS and thank you Patricia for being such a great companion.

Hilaria Chan

hilaria chan

Throughout the time of volunteering with Tim Mui Choy, I have always seen her as one of my grandmothers. As we share a similar cultural background and language, we talk about our past and the time blending in Australian culture. Back in the old days, she was a hardworking person. She carried vegetables from China to Hong Kong for sale every day. Life was difficult for her. Later, she settled down in Hong Kong and expanded her network. She had the ability to adapt to a new environment. Even when she came to Australia, she was able to learn some English words to communicate with people better. When we do video calls on the weekends, I could see her good relationship with the care staff. They always provide her with the best fresh fruits and snacks. She treats people well and appreciates others' efforts. When I visited her in person, she gave me all the fruits she has been saving that were stored in her drawer with care. She also shared her favourite biscuits with other people. I learnt how to be generous to people and be grateful about life. Cherish the small things in life.

Tim Mui Choy always has a smile on her face. She is happy to chat with me, she feels happy for me when I have some achievements in life. She always looks forward to talking to me. Sometimes when the call started later than the planned time, she would ask curiously " Why didn't you call me earlier? It is almost lunch time. Have you eaten breakfast yet? ". I think I add some joy to her life and make her day in the nursing home more special. I celebrate Chinese New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival with her so that she would feel involved in the tradition. I hope we can maintain this relationship and make our lives brighter.

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Sydney MCS celebrates Women’s Health Week 2022 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/sydney-mcs-celebrates-womens-health-week-2022/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sydney-mcs-celebrates-womens-health-week-2022 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 04:27:11 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=3197

‘It’s okay to put yourself first’ is the message for this year’s Women’s Health Week. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health together with Sydney MCS are encouraging  women to join the week to find the support, connection and information they need to be healthy in mind and body.

Sydney MCS is a Community Partner of Women’s Health Week 2022 and will join Jean Hailes in celebrating the campaign’s 10th year. Women’s Health Week is the biggest week in Australia dedicated to good health and wellbeing for women, girls and gender-diverse people, and supporting the people who care for them.

Sydney MCS is pleased to be working alongside Jean Hailes to spread important health messages throughout our multicultural community.

According to Janet Michelmore AO, CEO Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, the health awareness campaign is a perfect time for women to put themselves, and their health, first.

“This Women’s Health Week we also want women to know they are not alone, and getting together to support each other is a great step to good health.” says Ms Michelmore.

To help women learn more, have some fun and take the steps for good health, Sydney MCS is hosting a Morning Tea during Women’s Health Week.

DATE & TIME: Wednesday 7 September, 10 am – 12 pm

WHERE: 3 General Bridges Crescent, Daceyville 2032

WHAT: We will be joined by Dr. Aajuli Shukla, NSW Health Educator from The Water Well Project. Aajuli is passionate about health promotion, and as an immigrant herself, she is looking forward to facilitating a health information session for women from our multicultural community. She is a General Practitioner with several years of experience in managing acute and chronic conditions, and will provide important tips on maintaining good health at all ages, as well as guidance on navigating Australian health services.

WHY: Sydney MCS believes in helping women in our community live happy and healthy lives.

For more information and to register your attendance to our Women’s Health Week Morning Tea, contact our office on 02 9663 3922 or email info@sydneymcs.org.au.

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Welcome new caseworkers https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/welcome-new-caseworkers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=welcome-new-caseworkers https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/welcome-new-caseworkers/#respond Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:23:14 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=3039

Sydney Multicultural Community Services (SMCS) welcomes new bilingual caseworkers to our team with Burak Alobaide and Rain Lau commencing work in the Daceyville head office this July. 

burak alobaide

Burak Alobaide is our new Arabic speaking bilingual caseworker who completed a Bachelor of Social Science Major of (child and community development) as well as a Bachelor of Social Work from Western Sydney University. She is a current student at ACAP College Sydney completing a masters degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy. Burak comes from an Australian Arabic background and is interested in working with the CALD community as she is passionate about supporting local migrants and refugees. She values diverse cultures and has experience working with refugees, aged care program CHSP, and OOHC service. Burak Alobaide will be working full days on Mondays and Tuesdays and half days on Wednesdays from 8:30 am – 12:30 pm.

مرحبا

أنا براق العبيدي – موظفة أجتماعية أتحدث اللغة العربي والإنكليزية

أنني حاصلة على بكالوريوس في العلوم الاجتماعية متخصصة في (تنمية الطفل والمجتمع). وكذلك حاصلة على بكالوريوس في الخدمة الاجتماعية من جامعة غرب سدني. وحاليا أنا طالبة ماجستير في الاستشارات والعلاج النفسي.

أنا من خلفية متعددة الثقافات, وهويتي أسترالية من أصول عربية.

أهتمامي بالعمل مع المجتمع متعدد الثقافات قد دفعني لدعم المهاجرين والاجئين المحليين. لدي خبرة سابقة في مجال الخدمات

الاجتماعية مثل العمل مع اللاجئين, العمل في برنامج رعاية المسنين وكذلك عملت في مجال حماية الطفل

أهم مبادئي هي أحترام المجتمعات المتعددة الثقافات.

أوقات عملي من الساعة 8:30  صباحا الى الساعة 5 عصرا يومي الاثنين والثلاثاء

                            ومن الساعة 8:30 صباحا الى الساعة 12:30 ظهرا يوم الأربعاء

rain lau

Yuk Yu, or Rain Lau is our new Chinese speaking bilingual caseworker. Rain is a Case Manager from a Mandarin and Cantonese speaking background. She was born in Guongdong China and grew up in Hong Kong SARs. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) - Social Work from Hong Kong SARs. Rain loves to meet new people, share information and support people who are facing changes. She has worked with youth and families for 11 years before she moved to Australia. If you would like to meet Rain, she will be working full days on Thursdays and Fridays and half days on Wednesdays from 1 – 5 pm.

大家好! 我叫玉如, 您也可以叫我的英文名字Rain。

我是一位个案经理, 我能讲国语和广东话。我喜欢接触新朋友,分享信息,和支持有需要的朋友。

我出生在广东,后来随家人到香港定居。我在香港取得社工学位, 然后工作了11年,才移民来到澳大利亚。我当时的工作主要是支持有需要的青少年与其家庭成员, 协助他们面对成长压力和创建和谐家庭关系。

如果您也是这里的新朋友,欢迎您来跟我聊聊。

大家好! 我叫玉如, 您也可以叫我的英文名字Rain。

我是一位個案經理, 我能講國語和廣東話。我喜歡接觸新朋友,分享資訊,和支援有需要的朋友。

我出生在廣東,後來隨家人到香港定居。我在香港取得社工學位, 然後工作了11年,才移民來到澳大利亞。我當時的工作主要是支援有需要的青少年與其家庭成員, 協助他們面對成長壓力和建立和諧家庭關係。

如果您也是這裡的新朋友,歡迎您來跟我聊聊。

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SMCS congratulates incoming Labor government – media release https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/smcs-congratulates-incoming-labor-government-media-release/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=smcs-congratulates-incoming-labor-government-media-release https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/smcs-congratulates-incoming-labor-government-media-release/#respond Fri, 27 May 2022 01:23:15 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2821

Sydney Multicultural Community Services (SMCS) congratulates Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his team on winning the federal election of a Labor Government. 

“I hold positive regard for the Australian Labour Party (ALP) for being the initiators of social support programs. We look forward to working with the new government on funding better services and programs like ours, such as disability, health, settlement services and refugee services. I am hopeful that the Labor Government will better support our programs and services in the upcoming years.” said Ms Rosa Loria, CEO Sydney Multicultural Community Services.

Ms Loria said throughout the years, millions of refugees have fled from areas of conflict and violence like Syria, Iraq, Myanmar, the Latin American turmoil, from the Ukraine War and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Resettlement for refugees is now more important than ever.

Sydney MCS is committed to a world where human rights can be enjoyed by all. SMCS always sided with organisations and campaigns to make sure Government honour and protect the rights of refugees. The last 20 years have been difficult for refugees as policies have become punitive and non-compliant with UNHCR’s Charter. Syney MCS have settled thousands of refugees over the years and as Migrant Centre, we work together with the Government to maximize the outcome for people we care for. 

As stated in ALP’s National Platform, Sydney MCS look forward to working with the new government to make progress on increasing the annual refugee intake, setting up community sponsorship programs and ending temporary protection visas.

Ms Loria said, with Australia’s diverse community, we will work alongside the new government so that individuals can contribute and actively play a part in their communities to ensure full engagement in a fair and inclusive society.

For media enquires contact Hnin Yi Win on 9663 3922 or communications@sydneymcs.org.au

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The NSW Settlement Partnership https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/the-nsw-settlement-partnership/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-nsw-settlement-partnership https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/the-nsw-settlement-partnership/#respond Tue, 17 May 2022 00:58:53 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2653

A dynamic network of leading organisations supporting refugees and migrants

The NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP) is a powerful consortium of diverse settlement service organisations led by Settlement Services International (SSI), it has been delivering results since 2015.

We are a proud member and one of the 21 organisations, who works together with our partners to support refugee and migrant communities in NSW throughout their settlement journey.

Members include the leading migrant resource centres (MRCs), multicultural services and ethno-specific agencies.

The key vision of the network is the empowerment of refugees and migrants so they can thrive independently in their new home.

Together, we deliver settlement services under the Department of Home Affairs’ Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program (SETS).

Since 2015, collectively, we have supported 185,886 clients via 546,628 instances of service across 88 Local Government Areas, with 177 client countries/cultures which include over 160 ethnic languages spoken by clients.

The NSW Settlement Partnership offers an innovative service delivery model to address the diverse range of needs of clients, community and government.

Leveraging grassroots experience and the power of a large network, the NSP offers equitable participation in Australian society, promoting social cohesion and productive diversity.

To find out more about the NSW Settlement Partnership click here.

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Ukrainian Support https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/ukrainian-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ukrainian-support https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/ukrainian-support/#respond Tue, 03 May 2022 05:11:08 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2592

Settlement Services International (SSI) is providing support to Ukrainian nationals who holds a non-humanitarian temporary visa or any Ukrainian individuals in the community who may need support. Please contact SSI on 02 9685 0100 or email ukrainian.support@ssi.org.au. 

View above flyer in Ukrainian translation here

Free public health care services will be provided to Ukrainians in New South Wales who arrived in Australia on or after 1 December 2021. For more information and to check if you are eligible, see this flyer here. Or view this flyer in Ukrainian translation here.

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Our Successful Digital Literacy Course! https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/our-successful-digital-literacy-course/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=our-successful-digital-literacy-course Mon, 11 Apr 2022 02:13:33 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2547 Our Successful Digital Literacy Course! Read More »

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Congratulations to our multicultural group who completed the ‘Learn Digital Literacy Course’ last week. After 6 sessions, this group can now navigate online systems easier, access online support services and study options, and perform and register the at-home Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test.
 
Thank you to our Casework Rigzin Yuthok, and the team from TAFE Ultimo for facilitating this course – and thank you to the participants for your dedication and consistent efforts.
 
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Video from Multicultural Seniors Carnivale https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/video-from-multicultural-seniors-carnivale/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=video-from-multicultural-seniors-carnivale Mon, 11 Apr 2022 01:41:00 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2537 Video from Multicultural Seniors Carnivale Read More »

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Ramadan Kareem! https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/ramadan-kareem/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ramadan-kareem Mon, 04 Apr 2022 02:31:43 +0000 https://www.sydneymcs.org.au/?p=2514

Ramadan Kareem! Wishing our Muslim brothers and sisters a safe and happy Holy month.

Please celebrate in a Covid safe manner.

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