Announcement of New Canterbury Bankstown and Inner West (CBIW) SETS Partnership
MEDIA RELEASE
14 AUGUST 2024
Announcement of New Canterbury Bankstown and Inner West (CBIW) SETS Partnership delivering Settlement Support for Migrants and Refugees
We are pleased to announce the establishment of the Canterbury Bankstown and Inner West (CBIW) SETS Partnership, the new regional settlement service consortium to support newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants through the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program in Canterbury Bankstown, Inner West and Inner Sydney regions of NSW.
The consortium brings together three place-based organisations Metro Assist (lead), the Lebanese Community Council of NSW (LCC), and the Canterbury City Community Centre (4Cs) that share a long-standing commitment to supporting migrants, refugees, and multicultural communities.
The Canterbury Bankstown and Inner West regions are among the most multicultural areas in NSW, where many newly arrived migrants and refugees settle each year. With a strong footprint in the local community for over four decades, the partners have consistently achieved successful settlement outcomes for many individuals who have made this region their home.
As a lead agency, Metro Assist has been at the forefront of settlement service provision since 1986. We have continually adapted our services to meet the evolving needs of our migrant community, responding to demographic shifts and emerging challenges in the settlement landscape. The LCC has a long history of offering specialised support to Arabic-speaking migrants and refugees who have arrived from various countries of origin through different waves of displacement. 4Cs has served as a key local organisation for over 50 years, offering a range of services to assist growing migrants and the refugee population. Together, our partner organisations bring a wealth of experience making the consortium exceptionally well-equipped to meet the needs of newly arrived individuals and families.
"On behalf of the consortium partners, we extend our sincere appreciation to the Government and Department of Home Affairs for entrusting us with this responsibility and for their continued support towards ‘place-based’ service providers," said Metro Assist CEO, Nina Shahi. "We also welcome the expansion of SETS service eligibility criteria in the new funding round, recognising it as a crucial step in enhancing our ability to support migrants and refugees who have been in the region for more than five years and continue to face barriers in achieving their settlement outcomes."
“Collaboration is at the core of our mission. The CBIW SETS partnership is committed to working closely with other SETS grant recipients and settlement service providers in the region, while also continuing our partnerships with the broader network of service providers across NSW established under previous NSP partnership.” Continued Nina Shahi. “This collective effort ensures that we can provide the most effective and coordinated settlement support initiatives.”
We also extend our thanks to Settlement Services International (SSI) for their leadership, and all the partners of the previous NSP Partnership for their commitment to collaborative efforts over the past nine years. Their commitment to cooperation, knowledge sharing, and mutual learning has been crucial in enhancing the overall capabilities of the sector.