Success stories Draft

Success Stories

Read through our latest Success Stories.

You can also browse the Latest News section for other stories and content.

[image: (no alt text)]

A Wedding Wish Come True: How Teamwork Made a Family Moment Possible

This story is a beautiful reminder that aged care is about more than just daily support—it’s about helping people stay connected to the moments that matter most.

Read More

[image: (no alt text)]

From Refugee to Retail Success: Beheshta’s Inspiring Journey

Beheshta’s story is a powerful example of how targeted support and personal resilience can open doors to opportunity.

Read More

[image: (no alt text)]

Digital Mentoring: Empowering Seniors to Thrive Online

SydWest’s Digital Mentoring program is giving seniors the confidence to navigate the online world — from staying in touch with family to accessing vital services.

Read More

[image: (no alt text)]

Good News Story: Zerlish Fatima’s Journey

Zerlish shares her story of SydWest’s support in connecting with other mothers and finding a job she likes.

Read More

[image: (no alt text)]

Zawmyo’s story of settlement

Zawmyo’s story of settlement is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of community support.

Read More

[image: (no alt text)]

Job Readiness in Construction: a success story

For the past three years, SydWest has teamed up with John Holland and TAFE NSW to help newly arrived migrants and refugees kickstart careers in construction.

Read More

Show more

Our Community Connection Coordinator (CCC) met John (not his real name) and his brother after receiving a referral from Fairfield Hospital.

Upon visiting the brothers at their home in South West Sydney, our staff discovered that the brothers were not receiving any supports and were not managing at all to live on their own. Their only sister lives far away and did not understand how NDIS could help her brothers.

SydWest immediately began providing information about NDIS to John’s social worker and sister and explaining how NDIS could assist John to live independently and with ongoing supports from allied health professions in the home. Our CCC worked to build capacity in the social worker and sister to understand the documents required to access NDIS, as well as information regarding the Companion Card and the Taxi Voucher scheme.

John was success with accessing NDIS and our CCC continued to support John and hi sister with planning meeting preparation and the planning meeting process. Following John’s implementation meeting with the LAC, they sought SydWest assistance again as they did not understand the plan and how NDIS and choice and control works and how John can always choose what and how he wants to achieve his goals through the various funding options.

The sister now understands the whole plan very well and ISs comfortable in advocating for her brother. She was happy and relieved that her brother will be looked after by NDIS supports now. Due to CCC’s rapport with the family and the trust built up, the sister requested to stay with SydWest and receive further supports through SydWest’s NDIS Care Worker team.

Today, John receives Core Supports and Support Coordination services from SydWest and will be supported with his ongoing plan management processes into the future.

\[May 2022\]

Job Seekers Pumalay Mudliar, Anmol Singh, Christopher Prinze, and Michael Noble all graduated with a Certificate III in Retail in March 2020 just before the COVID-19 social distancing and lockdowns came into place.

The Certificate III in Retail is delivered in partnership with ACACIA Education & Training and is a free course for DES participants, driven by the need to upskill our Jobseekers and help them find sustainable employment in the retail sector.

Job Seeker Pumalay Mudliar was motivated by, and enjoyed the course, receiving an excellent recommendation from the assessor, which can help him secure employment in the future. Pumalay came from Fiji in 2000 with his family. He was a teacher for more than 22 years, both here and in Fiji but had to retire from the profession due to health reasons. As such, he continues to challenge himself with new opportunities such as the DES Retail Training. As an ex-teacher, he was also a great support to his fellow student classmates during the course and together they put in a lot of work to complete the short course.

_“This group has done exceptionally well and have thrown themselves into the study regime and the results show that they were diligent students”_ said Nicollette East, Trainer at ACACIA Education & Training.

For SydWest, this was an opportunity to guide our DES participants in their study and provide a safe place (both physically and mentally) for them to come each week and participate in the program.

The short course has proven successful with the Jobseekers and a great partnership opportunity for SydWest with ACACIA Education & Training and we are proud to continue working with the college to support our clients in the future.

The Retail industry has been extremely hard-hit by COVID-19 and despite available supports from the Government to rebuild the economy of the country, our DES Jobseekers are still actively looking for work.

If you want to know more about our DES program or discuss job opportunities for our DES clients, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Recently, Mr. and Mrs. Pollifroni experienced a moment they thought was out of reach—attending their beloved grandson’s wedding. Thanks to the incredible Aged Care teamwork of Support Worker Maria, Case Coordinator Daisy, and our Rostering Team, this heartfelt wish became a reality.

It all began when their son reached out to Daisy, worried that his parents wouldn’t be able to join the celebration. With the whole family involved in the big day, he was unsure how their care needs and transport could be managed. Daisy listened with empathy and immediately took action.

Working hand-in-hand with the Rostering Team, Daisy coordinated every detail—from arranging transport to ensuring on-the-day care support was in place. Maria stepped in with her usual warmth and professionalism, making sure Mr. and Mrs. Pollifroni felt comfortable and cared for throughout the event.

Their arrival at the wedding was met with joy and emotion. Being part of such a special occasion meant the world to them—and to their family. Days later, their son reached out to express his deep gratitude, sharing how much it meant to have his parents present. This story is a beautiful reminder that Aged Care is about more than just daily support—it’s about helping people stay connected to the moments that matter most.

Shaliny is a great example of the power of the Blacktown Employment Accelerator to successfully accelerate the employment process for both employers and job-seekers.

Ann Shaliny Johnson came from Sri Lanka in March 2016. She obtained her diploma in Community Development and Management from Sri Lanka, with strong administration and office support background. She was looking for a job without success until referred to Sydwest to seek advice to find a proper job. She received professional advise on developing her resume, and attended a few workshops regarding employment processes in Australia and the work culture and environment in Australia.

She was invited to attend the Blacktown Employment Accelerator held by SydWest to improve her chance on securing a position in Australian workforce. As a result of meeting Reach for Training through the speed-dating approach, she handed them her resume.

After the event, SydWest was advised by Reach that they had several positions available and Shaliny was referred for one of the position. Within 1 month, Shaliny had been called in for an interview and was successful. She started her job in January 2018 as a receptionist and has since moved into Training Coordinator.

Shaliny acknowledges that her English language skills were limited when she started but the job has significantly helped her improve her spoken skills (written was already ok). Shaliny is particularly grateful to Haleh, her employment officer, for helping and encouraging her – she was hesitant because of the lack of local job references and experience. Shaliny has also started studying as part of her job in Cert 3 Business administration as a traineeship

While ‘Bowl N Dance’ was a roaring success, social engagement for seniors must be encouraged throughout the year. SydWest operates culture and language-specific social support groups for seniors that help break social isolation through regular social outings, information sessions and group sharing.

Raj and Satya Singh are regular members of the Blacktown Indian-Fijian Seniors’ Social Group, as well as recipients of our Home Care Package, which supports seniors to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

_“My husband and I joined the Seniors’ Social Support group 2 years ago because we wanted to socialise with people outside our immediate family. The Indian-Fijian Senior’s Social Group gives us the opportunity to meet a wider group of people, who we could still communicate with easily._

_“We have an excursion or event nearly every month to look forward to, but with nearly 25 people in our social group we have made lots of friends who we like to spend time with outside the group as well._

_“Another thing that has helped us are the information sessions. These have helped us understand what kind of support we have access to, in our own language._

_“Through the social group, we learned we were eligible for the Home Care Package, which provides some assistance to us in our own homes, so we can stay independent and avoid a nursing home._

_“Vithya, our group coordinator, has done an excellent job making sure we always have information when we need it or a fun event to look forward to. It’s really helpful to have someone be able to communicate with you in your language.”_

Raj & Satya Singh

When 16-year-old Yaser arrived in Australia last year, he spoke little English and hadn’t been to school in over three years. His family had fled Iraq over three years ago, living in Jordan as refugees where there was little time for school.

Yaser now attends the Intensive English Centre at Evans High School in Blacktown and admits that while he is very happy to be going to school again, it is difficult in a new country with a new language. In order to get a little extra help with his schooling, Yaser rides his bike to the SydWest office in Blacktown every Thursday afternoon where he joins more than 20 other children at our Homework Support sessions.

Yaser recalls the first time he asked his youth Caseworker for help with his school work. “I remember that day when I came to Mervat telling her that I am a donkey. I was very disappointed because I could not understand any of my school subjects especially Math and I was worried about my Maths exam. Mervat encouraged me and explained the subject in very simple way. She speaks my language and makes things easier for me. I got good confidence in myself that I will do good in my exams and I did. I got 75%,” Yaser said.

“SydWest gives me the confidence in myself and this is the perfect place to improve myself and my English language. Now I have many friends from different cultures from my school and from SydWest. I am very happy to get good marks in Maths and receive a certificate too,” he said.

Yaser is one of 60 students who attend SydWest’s homework support sessions held once a week across Blacktown, St Mary’s and Mt Druitt – supported by our Youth workers and dedicated volunteer tutors.

Sarah Osei has a passion for creating and baking. After finishing a baking course in late 2016, she turned her passion into a small business – Sarah’s Cupcaake Creations – a Women Taking Care of Business success story.

Sarah joined one of the SydWest _Women Taking Care of Business_ programs, which aims to develop the small business skills required of an entrepreneur such as Sarah. The training covered business planning, marketing, financials/budgeting, market-testing and much more. All of our participants learned vital skills to help them succeed in business.

Initially focusing on just cupcakes, little did Sarah know that, with time, encouragement from her family and enhancing her business skills with the Women Taking Care of Business program, the business would blossom into a focus on custom baked goods. Sarah now specialises in wide range of custom cakes, cupcakes and cookies. Supporting her small business, SydWest Multicultural Services has enjoyed Sarah’s Cupcaake Creations on several occasions, including the cookies provided at the recent International Women’s Day event in Blacktown.

When Sarah is not in the kitchen whipping up something yummy to decorate, she loves to spend her time travelling, using this as a way to see how bakers around the world come up with their own creations. For Sarah, the knowledge and networks established through SydWest’s Women Taking Care of Business program have been invaluable to her business directions and growth, particularly focusing on custom work.

SydWest Multicultural Services is proud to be supporting emerging small businesses by women, often refugees to Australia, who are courageous enough to become a self-employed small business entrepreneur. To see more of Sarah’s creations, visit https://www.facebook.com/sarahscupcaakecreation/

For more information on our Women & Families programs, contact SydWest on Tel: (02) 9621 6633 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ed Yousef is a young man who arrived from Syria in June 2013 seeking a safe place to live, away from war and destruction and looking to start a new life with better opportunities.

Ed is 3rd year at UNSW studying medicine and majoring in pathology. He was first a client of SydWest, then a volunteer and now a tutor with our youth homework study centre program for young people from refugee and other migrant backgrounds.

_I still remember the day when I first visited SydWest as a fresh client. I met with my caseworker and after he greeted me, he introduced me to SydWest and the programs that were running at that time._

Three days after his first meeting, it was the first Syrian Welcome Picnic, held in Alpha Park, Blacktown.

_My family and I went with SydWest to one of the parks and had a wonderful barbeque under the rain. Then we shared our life stories with each other, and we discussed the obstacles and hardships we had to go through on the way to Australia._

_During the first couple of weeks after my arrival, SydWest provided us with the great support to start our life in Australia and make new connections._ _I remember the day I went back to SydWest to participate in the volunteering program and contacted clients who share the same mother tongue as me. It was such a wonderful moment helping others and givng them a hand to solve their problems._

_In early 2017, I joined the homework support program at SydWest and worked with an amazing team to assist students with their homework. My role as tutor is to help students with their homework, teach them techniques to solve their mathematical problems and simplify concepts for them as much as I can. I am very proud of being tutor at the homework support centre at SydWest because it gives the opportunity to pay back to my community as well as SydWest and its great people._

_At the moment, I work at four different jobs (Woolworths, Kmart, HireUp) as well as SydWest. I am also finishing my Bachelor of Medical Science degree._ _I am looking forward to continuing to work with SydWest and participate more in helping the community._

Ed Yousef also spoke at the SydWest 2018 AGM in Rouse Hill, sharing his story to inspire others to reach high and achieve their dreams.

At SydWest, we believe that everyone deserves to feel confident in the digital world — especially our seniors. That’s why we’ve launched a hands-on Digital Mentoring program that’s transforming how we support older clients with everyday tech tasks.

From sending messages to loved ones, to booking health appointments and navigating government services, our seniors are learning to do it all — safely and independently. The training focuses on practical skills that make a real difference in daily life, helping seniors stay connected and in control – all via upskilling our incredible staff, volunteers, and carers.

Thanks to our partnership with Be Connected, expert tutors Richard and Marcus from YourLink have delivered engaging sessions that are already making waves. Now, our team is equipped with the tools and confidence to guide seniors through the digital maze.And the learning doesn’t stop there! Trainees have access to ongoing mentoring and online resources, creating a vibrant community of digital champions who continue to share knowledge and support each other.

Together, we’re building a future where seniors feel empowered, informed, and digitally included — one click at a time.

Just over a year ago, Beheshta Aaram arrived in Australia from Afghanistan, facing the daunting challenge of starting over in a new country without local work experience or recognised qualifications.

Determined to build a future for herself, the 24-year-old was referred to the SydWest Multicultural Services’ School to Work Program in late 2024. With the guidance of her Employment Mentor, Beheshta received tailored support including resume development, interview coaching, and job application assistance.

Her hard work paid off when she secured a retail position at Novo Shoes in Mount Druitt Westfield. Today, Beheshta is thriving in her role, gaining valuable experience and confidence as she builds a new life in Western Sydney.

Beheshta’s story is a powerful example of how targeted support and personal resilience can open doors to opportunity. It also highlights the importance of community programs like SydWest’s, which help newcomers overcome barriers and contribute meaningfully to the local workforce.

Hello, my name is Zerlish Fatima. I am currently pursuing a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care, and I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. I am thrilled to share that I am now working with the Blacktown Area Community Centre (BACC).

In 2022, I began attending sessions at the SydWest mothers group in Mt Druitt with my daughter. These sessions were a wonderful experience, allowing me to build strong connections with other mums and gain valuable insights.

Recently, as I started searching for a job in the early childhood sector, I reached out to SydWest for guidance. I expressed my passion for this field, and they kindly recommended me to BACC. After submitting all the necessary documentation, I am delighted to announce that I secured the job!

I am deeply grateful to SydWest for their support and positive recommendation. Your assistance truly made a difference, and I sincerely appreciate your encouragement during my job search journey.

Thank you so much—your support means the world to me.

The importance of collaboration between the sector and NFP

For the past three years, SydWest has teamed up with John Holland and TAFE NSW to help newly arrived migrants and refugees kickstart careers in construction. The latest 9-week program, completed in late 2024, saw 15 participants gain essential skills, hands-on experience, and a White Card.

Meet the Participants:

• Adam: A civil engineer from Sudan, Adam improved his English at TAFE NSW while completing the program. He’s now working part-time with a local construction company.
• Reza: From Afghanistan, Reza specialized in bricklaying and concreting. The program boosted his confidence and skills, leading to full-time work with a building contractor in south-west Sydney.
• Jonathan: Originally from Tanzania, Jonathan recently finished high school in Australia. Excelling in the program, he secured a full-time job with a large landscape and civil construction service.

With another program starting mid-2025, interest is already high. This success is thanks to the strong partnership between SydWest, TAFE NSW, and John Holland, ensuring smooth transitions into the workforce for migrants and refugees.

For more information, contact SydWest on info@sydwestms.org.au

First published in Community Connections, Issue 1, 2025 (March)

Rachael has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for mobility. Rachael completed her participation in Backswing, a program that is designed to help people living with a disability increase their work readiness and employability skills.

Rachel has always wanted to have independence, wanting economic participation. However, with no prior work experience and feeling like her chair was a barrier to employment and being very shy, she found the process a huge challenge.

As a first step, SydWest staff worked with Rachael to help build up her confidence and provided her with the tools she needed to seek work experience. Rachael emailed disability organisations for work experience and after many knock backs, she was offered work experience with Diversity and Disability Alliance.

This is a big achievement for Rachael, who at 32 felt like her life was not going to ever be different or change for the better. Through SydWest, Rachael was connected with a peer support buddy, who also has cerebal palsy and works at Diversity and Disability Alliance.

Rachael was so pleased with the support she received during and after her participation in Backswing, she has signed up with SydWest Disability services for support coordination, to assist her with her NDIS plan. SydWest will also continue supporting Rachael to explore independent living options and help her achieve her goals.

Find out more about the Backswing program here and SydWest’s other disability services here.

**\*Names have been changed to maintain client confidentiality.**

21 May 2020

SydWest Multicultural Services wishes to acknowledge and thank all of our dedicated and hardworking volunteers. Together we make a difference in the lives of the clients we serve.

This week is #national volunteer week. #volunteering is a great way to connect with your local community!

Football is known as the World Game, with culture being the stem for many individuals, families and communities. On the 19th of July, Football NSW in conjunction with SydWest Multicultural Services organised a community coaching session for newly settled refugees.

SydWest’s Youth Team pioneered this coaching qualification opportunity, with 25 young avid footballers from all kinds of cultural backgrounds participating in the program. The youth participated in the ALDI MiniRoos Certificate, as well as in a Grassroots Course for Youth Refugees and Migrants who had recently moved to Australia. The key focuses for day were leadership, teamwork and education, with hopes of the individuals staying with the program for the longevity of their football careers whether that be on or off the field.

The youth embrace training opportunities, build their teamwork and leadership skills and will go forward with their football passion by hopefully coaching in their local community._They were delighted to have that training & credentials and some of the participants are already coaching grass root kids and the training have added new skills to even be better coaches & leaders_. (Ahmed Shmela, Youth TL).

The course was run by Football NSW Coach Education Manager Oscar Gonzalez with the assistance of Game Development Officers Kevin Guardado Amaya and Charlotte Ercil and the SydWest Youth Team.

Soheil Ettehadolhagh arrived in 2015 from Iran after fleeing religious persecution. With the help of SydWest, Soheil has been building a new life for his family in Blacktown and continuing his work as a professional photographer.

Soheil has been working with SydWest caseworkers to build his skills, confidence and financial independence in Australia. With more than 20 years’ experience in running a photography studio, Soheil established his new business in 2015 and trades as UNIPIC Photography (drawing on the name of his former business in Iran).

In working with SydWest, Soheil was introduced to Thrive Refugee Enterprise, which offers low-interest business loans to eligible refugees. Soheil was successful in securing a loan that has allowed him to invest in new photographic equipment, aimed at further growing his new business.

Soheil has provided his services to SydWest Multicultural Services to capture the moments of the Blacktown City Celebration of Refugee Week in Mt Druitt, the AGM and some corporate staff portrait photographs. Soheil’s work was also featured in the Beyond Refuge: citizensexhibition at Casula Powerhouse, organized as part of the Arts & Refugees Forum in 2016.

Soheil is now well-settled into the local Blacktown, Western Sydney community life. His wife and children are continuing their education at university. His love of photography, first ignited when he was 10 years old and visited his uncle’s photography studio, continues to bring new opportunities for him, as he enjoys taking a wide range of photographs in the local area.

If you are seeking the services of a local, experienced photographer and want to help Soheil to establish his new business, visit http://unipic.com.au/ for further information.

SydWest’s Youth Team recently visited Canberra with a group of 26 young people from refugee backgrounds for a trip to both Old and New Parliament House, and a chance to learn about how the Australian Government operates.

The Youth group toured the houses of parliament where their guide explained the architectural aspects of the buildings and environmental and other features of the new building, as well as visited where our sitting members undertake their everyday work.

The visit provided education to our youth on how law is made in Australia and a chance for them to ask many of the questions they had about how parliament operates (eg sitting time, question time, etc). The trip provided to be fascinating, interesting and enjoyable for our young new arrivals and hope it stimulates them to learn more – and possible consider a career in politics in the future!

SydWest Multicultural Services runs a comprehensive youth development program that aims to support young refugees and migrants to settle, engage and participate in Australian society. For more information on the many services and supports available through the SydWest Youth Team, contact us today or visit http://www.sydwestms.org.au/

An inspiring success story

In 2017, Zawmyo arrived in Australia from Myanmar, facing numerous challenges, including language barriers, finding employment, and navigating the citizenship process. With the dedicated support of the SydWest Settlement Services team, Zawmyo embarked on a transformative journey.

Through our step-by-step guidance, Zawmyo attended our citizenship classes, significantly improving his English language skills. We also provided comprehensive assistance with his citizenship application and job search.

Not long after, Zawmyo reached out to express his heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you so much for your support. With your citizenship classes and the services provided through SydWest, I secured a job at the well-known store Fabre Castell Pencils in Seven Hills and successfully passed the citizenship test!”

Zawmyo’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of community support. His success inspires us all and highlights the importance of the services we provide at SydWest Multicultural Services.

\first published in [Community Connections No 1, 2025 \]