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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

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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.

Communities of Change Roadshows Roll Out

Meeting room with people concentrating on the meeting

The Communities of Change Roadshows are underway, delivering key insights from the Communities of Change Report, throughout the local government areas of Western Sydney. The Roadshow sessions are an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the report with WSCF specialists and facilitators, specifically relating the data to current and future service delivery in local government areas. 

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.

Billie Sankovic in New Planner: Social Infrastructure and Services are just as vital to Liveability

Social infrastructure and services

“Social infrastructure & services are just as vital to liveability” To create liveable communities, multiple interdependent and related factors need to be considered, prioritised and financed. The Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) draft long term plan for growing Sydney on behalf of the NSW Government, Towards Our Greater Sydney 2056, provides an impressive vision that prioritises the significance of central and western Sydney in creating a global metropolis. The recently released GSC draft District Plans draw on this emerging vision to operationalise and bring this aspiration to reality through a focus on creating a liveable, productive and sustainable city.

Western Sydney City Deals Commit to the Future of Western Sydney

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A number of commitments are encapsulated within the Western Sydney City Deals which look towards a more connected city, a commitment towards 200,000 new jobs and the support for education and training for those jobs, support for local character, wellbeing and belonging, housing packages and a built-in monitoring and evaluation mechanism.

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