Western Sydney MRC is a community-based not-for-profit organisation that works with all people from a non-English speaking background, specialising in helping newly arrived migrants, refugees and diverse communities to settle in Australia.
Its mission is to actively and directly relieve the situation of migrants and refugees whose social condition renders them disadvantaged. This includes second generation Australians.
Western Sydney MRC seeks to champion and respond to the needs of refugees, migrants and the cultural, linguistic and religious diversity of Liverpool and its catchments, and to create a socially just and inclusive society, in which individuals and communities are celebrated and have the opportunities to reach their potential.
The organisation has been in operation for over 35 years.
Currently, Western Sydney MRC provides clients with:
- Practical information, referrals and opportunities to make new connections and build networks, while developing skills and knowledge, through group activities and casework services.
- Information sessions to support groups of people who have similar issues.
- Community development activity opportunities to build their capacity.
- Representation to mainstream service providers in the area, support addressing policy and practice issues, and provision of information on emerging issues to stakeholders.
Target groups
Settlement Support Programme and Complex Casework Support Programme casework. These programs assist humanitarian entrants that have been in Australia for less than five years through providing bilingual information, referrals and case management.
Supported Playgroups and Parenting Support. These programs support diverse families with children aged 0 to 5, including families from small emerging communities and their extended family members.
Youth services. The Youth Worker at Western Sydney MRC works with young people aged 12 to 24 years who come from a migrant and/or refugee background. Support provided includes homework support, casework and recreational activities.
Classes and courses. These include English Beginners and Pre-Beginners classes, and an employment preparation program — Lead the Way — which runs throughout the year at the centre.
Capacity building opportunities. These include financial capability and financial counselling clinics with community partners Anglicare and Salvation Army. Western Sydney MRC also runs twice-weekly Form Assistance Clinics.
Information sessions and one-on-one advice clinics. On topics such as citizenship, separation/divorce, immigration, social security and family law with community partners including Legal Aid NSW.
Aged care support. Western Sydney MRC has been running the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) for over 15 years. CVS aims to enrich the quality of life of Aged-Care residents who have been identified as being lonely or socially isolated and would benefit from having a regular friendly visitor. Western Sydney MRC uses its community connections to link culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) volunteers with CALD residents who have limited fluency of English.
Social groups. Western Sydney MRC runs a Women’s Group called STRIVE for newly-arrived refugee and asylum seeker women.
Festivals and community events. Western Sydney MRC runs regular community events throughout the year to mark occasions and festivals such as Harmony Day, Refugee Week and White Ribbon Day.
Volunteering and student/intern opportunities. Western Sydney MRC provides volunteering and student/intern opportunities across several programs, including research-based projects. Western Sydney MRC has hosted students from the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University and Deakin University.
Western Sydney MRC is an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO) for the Community Proposal Pilot (CPP). The APO is responsible for lodging humanitarian visa applications on behalf of community organisations or individuals. The program offers a new pathway for refugees to enter Australia and it enables communities within Australia to assist people to resettle here under the nation’s Humanitarian Program.
Contact
Western Sydney MRC
Business Hours: Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm
Office address: Ground Floor, 108 Moore St, Liverpool NSW 2170
Postal address: PO Box 435, Liverpool NSW 1871
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Telephone: (02) 8778 1200