Together as One - Communities Inter-connect Project

The Communities Inter-Connect project is funded by Community Services under the Community Builders funding (the former Area Assistance Scheme). The project aims to create an environment where every person will have equal opportunities to pursue their expectations while respecting social norms and cultural diversity and to establish a balance between diversity and unity.

Primary target group of the project are newly arrived migrant families from CALD background in the Hills Shire area. The project also benefits community volunteers and the wider community from mainstream and CALD backgrounds.

The project activities cover:

• Social Networks providing opportunities for new migrant families to come together and network and to discuss their aspirations and challenges as new migrants.


• English conversation sessions. As skilling their English Language is one of the important expectation, the project has connected them with a volunteer English teacher. This has resulted in once a week English conversation sessions being held at the Castle Glen Community Centre where the project is based.


• Cultural Confidence Building
  These families have started a journal "New Horizon – My Story" to document their stories as migrants. This will be exhibited to showcase their experiences in their new home country.


• Mentoring Program
  Through an informal mentoring process, community volunteers help the group to understand the Australian way of life making it easier to connect with the wider community and making the transition smooth and easy.


• Strengthening Partnerships
  The project works collaboratively with other service providers building strong partnerships to provide support to new migrant families in the Hills.


• Information sessions for New Migrant Families focussing on:
  • Healthy Living through practical nutritional cooking
  • Health and Lifestyle choices
  • Employment opportunities and career pathways
  • Australian legal System
  • Australian History, heritage and social norms
  • Civil rights and responsibilities
  • Australian Government System

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