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Some positive signs in the budget, but more needs to be done to address inequity in Western Sydney  

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Since the budget announcement on Tuesday night, I have been reflecting on what all this means for the community and human services industry, and more importantly for the people of Western Sydney that we support. On budget night, I saw a shift in the national narrative with the Government’s approach to people experiencing vulnerabilities. I saw a shift in how income support and rental assistance was viewed, that it is a security safety net for times when people are in need and at times of crisis.

Economies thrive when communities do – Equity and the NSW State Budget 2020-21

Economies thrive when communities do equity and the NSW State Budget 2020-21

As I tuned into the NSW Government’s Budget 2020-21 announcement on Tuesday, I couldn’t help but hold a level of anticipation. Amid recent announcements that Australia is facing a recession, I needed to know as I scanned the influx of media announcements – was Western Sydney going to be a ‘winner’ in this year’s budget?

Multicultural NSW Wellness and Reablement Forum

A man speaking on a podium with two woman on each of his side sitting down and focusing on his speech

On Wednesday 7 November, WSCF staff attended the Healthy Ageing Forum in Granville, hosted by Multicultural NSW, facilitated by Granville State member Tony Issa MP, with panelists includng the Minister for Multiculturalism, the Hon. Ray Williams MP and the Minister for Ageing, the Hon. Tanya Davies MP.

Young Leader in Aged Care: Helping People Live at Home

Generation Community Young Leaders in Aged Care. Women smiling

Anastasia Sadovaya is a case manager and Team Leader at St Simeon’s Health Care, and Coordinator of Home Care Services – and a 2018 Generation CommunitY Alumnus.
Generation Community is a leadership program for young people, delivered annually by Western Sydney Community Forum, which is aimed at developing knowledge, skills and goals toward a self-defined career in leadership and managerial roles. Over 6 months, participants delve into discovering what motivates them in their work and aspirations, working on ways to constructively harness their strengths and work with any perceived limitations.

NAIDOC 2018: ‘Because of Her, We Can!’

Because of her, we can. Celebrating NAIDOC week 8-15 July 2018

The 2018 NAIDOC week theme focuses on the essential role Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women play as leaders and change makers – in families, communities, across industries – and the way this continues to define and inform Australian history and culture. The experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia is unique: striving against social, systemic barriers and marginalisation, surviving effects of intergenerational trauma, whilst achieving a powerful sense of identity as well as distinctive, far-reaching impacts on local and global politics, planning and culture.

Regional Community Care Forums – Aged Care and Disability

A series of images of people giving out talks on podium, community meeting and gatherings and two women carrying a basket with foods

WSCF Regional Community Care Forums this month were held in two sessions, focused on Aged Care and Disability respectively, with feature guest speakers delivering presentations to address some of the current issues arising from recent developments and updates in these areas. More than 60 Community Care agencies attended the Aged Care focused session, held in Penrith City Council Nepean Room on June 26. Guest speaker Tanya Travis-Smith, from the NSW Government Department of Health and Ageing, covered a range of issues including the extension to CHSP contracts, the new manual, wellness approach, reablement and restorative care.

Construction and cranes only get us so far – Equity and the State Budget

Equity and the state budget

The NSW Government released its much-anticipated Budget this week. I was excited. We had the recent signing of the Western Sydney City Deal. We saw a strong public discourse of governing ‘with heart’.  And we have an election(s) looming. I was excited and keen to hear how this would all play out in reality, to get to the heart of priorities across Western Sydney and beyond, in NSW.
What I found is that this Budget, in the main, begins to address some of the infrastructure priorities of the region but has some considerable way to go before it gets close to being a Budget that will foster, sustain and improve community wellbeing and liveability.

Communities of Change Report Launch Snapshots the Future of Western Sydney

Communities Of Change Report Launch Banner

Joint Media Release St Vincent de Paul Society NSW and Western Sydney Community Forum

Parramatta, 23 May 2018:  The release of a major report on the changing landscape of Western Sydney reveals important insights which could impact future planning and investment in community health and wellbeing.

The ‘Communities of Change: Western Sydney Now and Into the Future’ report, a collaboration between Western Sydney Community Forum and St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, highlights areas of potential shortfalls in investment and service delivery.

Community Profile: the Craig’s Table Program and its inspirational creator, Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson

In Focus Craig's Table. Social equity for injured workers

“Workers Compensation should be a detour, not a journey for life.” Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson

Set back from the street in a quiet industrial part of Girraween in Sydney’s west is a social enterprise that carves out a place of meaningful work, transition and life-changing purpose, for people whose experience in being injured at work led them into a complex of systemic holes.  

Rosemary McKenzie-Ferguson is the author, powerhouse and patron of the Craig’s Table program, which supports people who have been injured at work and who find themselves stuck in a hard place. Initially from Adelaide, Rosemary has been in Sydney for 15 months, to trial delivery of the program – which is unique in the world – together with with colleague Corey Williams, and supported by NSW insurance and care organisation, iCare.

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