Sydney Multicultural Community Services provides a range of community services to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

The Centre is committed to providing direct relief of suffering and enhancing the quality of life of people from CALD communities.

Specific target groups are aged people, newly arrived migrants, refugees, people who care for someone with a disability or dementia and families with young children.

People in crisis for whatever reason are also supported, as well as those suffering from language barriers, isolation, frailty, disability, sickness, dislocation, poverty, disadvantage, destitution, misfortune or helplessness.

Because of these barriers, many people from a CALD background are not able to enjoy the advantages of regular Australian society and Sydney MCS aims to encourage and facilitate development and empowerment among ethnic communities to counter this significant disadvantage.

To some extent this is achieved through promoting and facilitating participation and cooperation between ethnic communities as well as developing and enhancing greater understanding among funding bodies and local service providers about the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities and ethnic groups.

Services and assistance are offered to disadvantaged migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants, regardless of sex, religion, political affiliation or ethnic background. Those who have a relative or friend who requires assistance can visit the Centre and speak to the staff who will ensure that all issues are dealt with at the highest level of sensitivity and professionalism while assuring confidentiality.

Several specific programs are offered, including carer support, aged care, settlement support, financial assistance, and the community partners program.

Carer Support Program

The Carer Support Program aims to develop and enhance carer support, carer advocacy, carer service provider partnerships, networks and activities for the CALD communities in the Eastern Sydney region.

Within a framework which delivers direct support to CALD carers, services include:
• Individual Client Support;
• Advocacy;
• Strong partnerships and referral systems with existing projects and service providers;
• Carer activities, networks and support groups;
• Emotional support and counselling;
• Education, information and training;
• Respite;
• Financial Support.

Aged Care Program

Under the Aged Care Support Program, frail aged people are provided with care in their home in the context of their language and culture.

One part of the program is a community visitor scheme for isolated people in frail aged care facilities. Voluntary community visitors can talk to aged care residents in their own language. With the community visitor speaking the same language as the resident, the isolation caused by the language barrier is broken and therefore the resident has an improved quality of life through social contact.

There is also a frail aged day care scheme which operates as a respite program that provides cultural and social activities, meals and outings for aged ethnic community members residing in Botany Bay, Randwick, Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra LGAs.

There are Chinese, Italian and multicultural (includes Polish and Maltese) frail aged clients who are catered for under this program. There are also Chinese, Italian, Maltese and Polish senior’s social groups for younger and more independent clients.

The Community Partners Program (CPP)

This program aims to promote and facilitate increased and sustained access to aged care information and services by culturally and linguistically diverse communities with significant aged care needs.

The primary outcomes of the CPP include:

• More aged care support services delivering culturally appropriate care to older persons from culturally and linguistically diverse communities;
• Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities having increased access to culturally appropriate age care support services;
• Older people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities having greater capacity to make informed decisions about aged care support services.

Emergency Relief Program

This is a program which assists people in financial crisis to deal with their immediate situation in a way that maintains the dignity of the individual and encourages self reliance. Special emphasis is given to financially supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees.

A part of this program is the Material Assistance Program, funded by the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, which issues crisis vouchers to assist people who are financially disadvantaged and are having difficulty paying their home gas and/or electricity bill because of crisis. It is not intended as ongoing income support.

To find out more about the Sydney MCS, visit the website: http://sydneymcs.org.au/. Or phone (02) 9663 3922 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Am I eligible for a Community Aged Care Package?