A young person can access support through our Youth Homelessness Service. This service provides support to young people aged between 12 -25 years broken down into 3 services; Early Intervention and Prevention, Crisis Refuge and Intensive Support Program

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Last year we provided refuge to a young man of 17 years old experiencing extensive family violence due to his “differences”, he was scared to live who he was. He came to the refuge and relished in the opportunities we at CORE Community Services provided; he completed his TAFE course in beauty therapy, which was only made possible by access to funding of the makeup kit and tutoring services in English. He tapped into his creativity by making videos and practising photography.

Furthermore, he attended fortnightly sessions with our on-site physiologist to explore his emotions. He began to thrive in confidence, and even he changed his name. He was linked to an LBTQI transitional service for longer-term housing and social inclusion. He had the opportunity to perform alongside singer Sam Smith at the Mardi Gras parade.

He now holds a job in retail and hosts a beauty YouTube with make up tutorials. The young man speaks very highly of his time at CORE Community Services and recently referred a friend for support.

Employment confidence gives young people experiencing homeless a much greater chance of maintaining long term housing and overall wellbeing.

Contact our youth services on

☎️ (02) 9755 8000 ☎️ 1800 074 922 or email us on youthcorecs.org.au

Brief Summary of the Report One of the most significant challenges experienced by humanitarian entrants in Fairfield LGA is the high rental costs. This is often in response to the influx of large number of humanitarian entrants. The arrival of humanitarian entrants does not stimulate housing development and often humanitarian entrants are competing with others who can pay rent at higher rates to secure accommodation. Therefore, humanitarian entrants in Fairfield are more likely to experience rental stress as they spend a significant proposition of income on rent. Service providers see clients who pay up to 80% of their income on rent. This has detrimental effects on the ability of humanitarian entrants to settle and adjust to life in Australia. Humanitarian entrants, who struggle to find employment on arrival, may not be able to meet basic needs of their households   The situation of humanitarian entrants on arrival in Fairfield City suggests that a rent subsidy scheme tailored specifically to meet their needs can help ease housing stress and improve the critical early settlement experience. This report proposes a rent subsidy scheme for 50 humanitarian entrant households in Fairfield as a pilot modelled on existing schemes in NSW. Interviews with local service providers and the Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment (MWIA) were used to assess the potential impact of the proposed pilot on the mental wellbeing of humanitarian entrants in Fairfield. The results show that the proposed subsidy and support would improve their mental wellbeing.  

The Fairfield Housing Taskforce The Fairfield Housing Taskforce was set up to address housing issues as part of the Fairfield City Settlement Action Plan (FCSAP). FCSAP outlines issues and challenges associated with refugee settlement and aims to identify solutions and actions to help address them. It provides a collaborative and strategic approach to the delivery of settlement services in Fairfield City. Fairfield City Council endorsed the FCSAP. The Housing Taskforce represents various agencies including Department of Communities and Justice, Hume Housing, Settlement Services International (SSI) Core Community Services (CORE CS) Assyrian Resource Centre and South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD)

6th August 2021

The quick spread of COVID-19 in Fairfield City has been linked to household transmission within large families. But this is not the full picture of large households in the area. Many Fairfield residents are experiencing severe overcrowding.

“Overcrowding is a big problem in Fairfield. There is a shortage of affordable accommodation, there may be 2 families living within the same house. So when we have heard that large families are contracting the virus, some of these cases are linked to overcrowding. ” explains Juana Reinoso, CEO of CORE Community Services, an organisation working with the local migrant and refugee population in Fairfield City.

Fairfield City is one of the most disadvantaged cities in Greater Sydney based on low employment, low educational attainment, and higher levels of employment in unskilled occupations. Fairfield City is a place where the majority of people from refugee backgrounds start their life in Australia. Nearly 60 percent of people in Fairfield City were born overseas and three quarters of households speak a language other than English.

“Service providers see clients who pay up to 80 per cent of their income on rent,” explains Juana. “This affects the ability of humanitarian entrants to settle and adjust to life in Australia. Humanitarian entrants, who struggle to find employment on arrival, may not be able to meet basic needs of their households.”

“Affordability is the huge issue in Fairfield and the high rental costs means it is common to see families of 5 people living in a 2-bedroom home, and grandparents, parents and children all living in the one house”. Juana explains

A new report by the Fairfield Housing Taskforce and the University of New South Wales titled Mental Wellbeing Impact Assessment of Refugee Transitional Housing Support Program looked at the impact of congested living on mental wellbeing of refugees. The lack of freedom and personal space from overcrowding has led to poor mental health outcomes. Evidence from settlement caseworkers identified rental affordability as one of the key factors which contributes to congested living arrangements.

Fairfield Housing Taskforce spokesperson Marie Saliba explains that “the COVID outbreak in Southwest Sydney has again brought to the forefront the inadequate living conditions of many living in Fairfield city, which has increased their exposure to Covid-19. The extended lock-
downs targeting the city will only push more people into poverty, exacerbate existing mental health issues, and create more demand for social housing which is of huge under supply and investment by government”.

The Fairfield Housing Taskforce calls for federal and state government to make investment in sustainable, quality social housing in the area a priority. This would create local jobs, stimulate the economy, improve the health and wellbeing of residents, and improve the health and safety of the entire Greater Sydney population.

Media Enquiries

Media@corecs.org.au

❗SERVICE REMINDER❗⛔ We’re continuing to operate remotely ⛔
We urge everyone to follow NSW Government advice on the #publichealthorders. Let’s keep our communities safe. For general enquiries please contact (02) 9727 0477 or email us on info@corecs.org.au

🏡 Stay at home
😷 Wear a mask
✔️ Check NSW Health for updates and advice

Aged & Disability Care Services
Our social support groups are cancelled until further notice.
Please continue to contact us (02) 8717 1500 if you require any support or assistance for Home Care service, Home Modifications & Home Maintenance and NDIS program.

Children’s Services
We are continuing to provide Preschool to our early learners to continue to support our families. Contactable on (02) 8582 4288
✔️😷Please wear a Mask when picking up and dropping off children.

Multicultural Communities
Our Food Relief services are appointment based only, please contact Mount Pritchard 02 8582 4170 or The Hub at Miller 02 8582 4110.
Settlement Services are contactable on 02 8582 4140

Youth Service
Youth services are contactable on (02) 9755 8000 or email them on youth@corecs.org.au

❓ Make a Referral here

Whilst we’re all on #lockdown. Be excited about what’s to come on the other side of lockdown.

Our services are still operating remotely.

The cultural diversity of Fairfield was at its best last Wednesday 19 May where local agencies hosted a Faith Leaders Forum on Gambling Harm in Fairfield. The forum was a NSW first, where over 18 religious leaders and representatives came together to learn about the devastating impacts gambling has in the wider community.
There were representatives from the: Christian faith including Assyrian, Chaldean, Antiochian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox and Agape International Church Inc; Alvi faith; Buddhist faith from the Cambodian and Lao communities; Islamic faith from the Turkish community; and the Sabean-Mandaean faith.
“Cultural diversity is more than our different food, it is having faith leaders come together to learn and discuss issues facing our whole community such as gambling harm” Rev. Tim Costello, Chief Advocate for Alliance for Gambling Reform during his talk as guest speaker at the forum said.
“As service providers we understand that faith leaders are highly respected and influential to their community members… the event aimed to support religious leaders in understanding the impact of gambling on individuals and the community, as well as share information on local support available for community members impacted. The event also provided opportunity for discussion and questions and explore ways to work together” Marie Saliba, Stakeholder Engagement Manager at CORE Community Services said.
Religious leaders heard from expert counsellors who work with multicultural communities about the support services available, as well as lived experience stories from people impacted by gambling harm. One lived experience speaker from refugee background mentioned “when I arrived in Sydney the first place my brother took me was Fairfield RSL, after my first win, I thought Australia was a great place, you didn’t need to work hard to make money”. His story only went downhill from there, suffering marriage breakdown and becoming estranged from his children. But it was also a story of hope as he stood in front of the room willing to share his story of recovery from the assistance of counselling services, and share his journey with the local community.
‘’This story is unfortunately not uncommon – one of the challenges that the community face, as well as new migrants and refugees is not understanding that the government allows an activity that can be so harmful to be so accessible in our local pubs and hotels, and how highly addictive
poker machines are,” Kate De Costa, NSW Campaigner for the Alliance for Gambling Reform said.
Figures from NSW Liquor and Gaming for July-December 2020 show that about 1.57 million is lost per day in the Fairfield Local Government Area to its 3,861 poker machines. Across NSW this is $20.4 million lost to poker machines per day.
One faith leader who attended was Rev. Fr Younan Dawood from the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. “…the Gambling Forum was highly informative and productive, and I will be sharing this information with other religious leaders and the community…the lived experience stories allowed me to connect to the forum on another level and also motivated me in creating change,” he said.
The event was a collaboration between CORE Community Services, Alliance for Gambling Reform, Assyrian Resource Centre, Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, and NSW Police, Oakdene House Foundation and Fairfield City Council.
This event is one of many events to further raise awareness of the impact of gambling harm and how organisations can play their part to bring change to the issue.

For Gambling Harm support please contact:
Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858 for free and confidential support 24/7

Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW for accessible counselling, treatment and support services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities. For referral and enquiries please call 1800 856 800 (business hours) or 1800 858 858 (after hours)

The Gambling Harm Working Party comprises of representatives from CORE Community Services, Alliance for Gambling Reform, Assyrian Resource Centre, Multicultural Problem Gambling Service for NSW, NSW Department of Communities and Justice, NSW Police and Fairfield City Council to initiate and action ways to minimise gambling harm within Fairfield.

Routines are a great starting point in instilling for young children.  

Some benefits of routines: 

• Provides children with a plan 
• Time and place for experiences 
• Active citizen of the community I.e. respect and morals 
• Responsibilities I.e. pack away and cleaning after play and belongings 
• Actively prepares children for school. 
• Hygiene practices I.e. hand washing, nose blowing etc.  
• Recycling and gardening 
• Prepares for childhood – adulthood. Even as adults we have routines to make our life simpler 

At CORE Community Services Preschool we have daily routines, we adopt these in our learning to prepare our children to be “big school” ready by the time they are finished with Preschool. This is a continual practice that starts from day 1 with our Preschool. 

Did you know that a sleep routine helps strengthens your child’s immunity, brain development (cognitive and motor skills) also improvement of moods? (Raising children, 2018)  

Read more on https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/sleep/understanding-sleep/preschooler-sleep

What is respite care?

Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers. It can be arranged for just an afternoon or for several days or weeks. Care can be provided at home, in a healthcare facility, or at an adult day center

What can CORE Community Services do for me, as a primary caregiver?

We can discuss with your options with you. Understand your circumstances and work with your budget. Under the government’s CHSP and My Aged Care Home Care Packages, we are able to deliver respite as part of these programs. Whether you would like a few hours a week to get your personal errands done, or need to recharge, we can assist with your needs.

We understand that respite may be difficult for both the recipient of care and/or care giver, we have an open discussion with you about the options available to you and our clients to allow flexibility.

How do I access Respite Care?

Contact us on (02) 8717 1500 or email infoadc@corecs.org.au