Western Sydney Community Forum

08/10/2026

Western Sydney Community Forum, in partnership with the University of New South Wales (UNSW), invites you to join us for our Social Impact Measurement Training & Report Launch: Measuring What Matters in Western Sydney.

The event will launch a new research report, Delivering Impact Under Pressure: Funding, Reporting and Community Outcomes in Western Sydney, exploring how place-based organisations contribute to community wellbeing, the challenges they face in funding and reporting, and opportunities to improve how community outcomes are measured and communicated.

Following the report launch, Dr Jack Noone from UNSW's Centre for Social Impact will lead a practical 90-minute training workshop on measuring and demonstrating community outcomes.

The workshop will explore how organisations can move beyond counting activities and outputs to identify meaningful outcomes, develop measurement frameworks, collect and use data, and demonstrate their impact to funders and other stakeholders.

Event details:
Date: Monday 2 November 2026
Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, followed by lunch
Location: Level 5, 6 Hassall Street, Parramatta
Cost: Free, including a light lunch

The event is open to community leaders, not-for-profit organisations, place-based services, funders and policymakers across Greater Western Sydney.
Places are limited. Register now to secure your spot.

https://events.humanitix.com/social-impact-measurement-training-and-report-launch-measuring-what-matters-in-western-sydney?mc_cid=e4f4615843&mc_eid=UNIQID

07/10/2026

Western Sydney Community Forum, in partnership with Western Sydney University, recently brought together community sector workers for an intergenerational consultation exploring how knowledge and experience in community development, advocacy and social action can be shared across generations.

The consultation forms part of a research partnership looking at how different generations of community sector workers can learn from one another, and how both face-to-face and online opportunities could support greater intergenerational knowledge sharing across the sector.

The discussion explored how community development and advocacy have changed over time, the challenges facing organisations in the current funding environment, and the importance of retaining the knowledge and experience built across decades of community sector work.

Participants shared their thoughts on the proposed project, including what intergenerational learning could look like in practice, what resources and opportunities would be useful, and how the project could support workers and organisations into the future.

A key aspect of the conversation was recognising that intergenerational learning goes both ways. It is an opportunity to retain and share longstanding knowledge and experience, while also creating space for newer generations of workers to contribute their own perspectives, experiences and skills.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed to the conversation. Your insights will help shape the next stages of this research partnership and ensure the project reflects the experiences and needs of community sector workers across Greater Western Sydney.

Visit the Western Sydney Community Forum website or join our mailing list to keep up with the project and our broader work.

28/09/2026

The is seeking feedback from community members and stakeholders on its Draft Community Infrastructure Strategy 2026.

The strategy outlines key priorities and actions for community infrastructure across the local government area and will help inform future planning, advocacy, and investment.

To learn more about the strategy and find out how to make a submission, please visit the link below:

https://participate.cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au/community-infrastructure-strategy

Submissions close 20 October.

City of Parramatta Council is exhibiting the Draft Community Infrastructure Strategy 2026-2046 (CIS), a long-term plan for new and upgraded infrastructure, and you can have your say. Community infrastructure refers to our shared facilities and spaces, such as parks, libraries, community hubs, and aq...

25/09/2026

Earlier this week, Western Sydney Community Forum was proud to partner with NSW Council of Social Service - NCOSS to host representatives from NSW Treasury and The Cabinet Office NSW as they visited several local place-based community services in Southwest Sydney.

Starting at Ashcroft Public School, the day began with a visit to Mirrung - a validated, place-based model integrating health, social services, early childhood supports, and community connection into everyday school life. The innovative School Gateway Project demonstrated the impact of well-targeted coordination funding and highlighted how meaningful a school-based integrative hub can be for developmentally vulnerable children living in areas with concentrated disadvantage.

Following this, the delegation was welcomed at Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council with a smoking ceremony and tour of the main offices. Chief Executive Officer Dr Melissa Williams and the team at Gandangara shared Gandangara’s whole-of-life 'One Gandangara' framework which brings together their different services under a shared strategic vision, Healthy Country and Healthy People – Connect, Belong and Thrive. Throughout the visit, Gandangara underscored the importance of working towards a sustainable future, and the need for place-based, culturally safe and community-led responses which strengthen connection, belonging, wellbeing, self-determination and long-term opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders across the region.

The visit concluded at Fair Foundations, with Chief Executive Officer of Fair Foundations, Dr Pandora Patterson, and Chief Executive Officer of Parks Community Network Inc, Tairyn Vergara, coming together to discuss the critical role of local, trusted, place-based community organisations in supporting people in culturally diverse and disadvantaged communities to access services, build capability and strengthen social connection. Together, the group explored how neighbourhood and community centres form essential social infrastructure for prevention, early intervention, digital inclusion, social connection, service navigation and maximising the reach and impact of government investment.

These visits are a powerful opportunity to deepen relationships between the NSW Government's central agencies and the community service sector and share the significant impact of these services for the people they support. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the services who kindly took the time to share their work with us, the representatives who attended from Treasury and the Cabinet Office, and to NCOSS for inviting Western Sydney Community Forum to partner on this new initiative. We hope it will be just the first of many visits of this kind.

24/09/2026

Western Sydney University has partnered with Australia Nepal Public Link-ANPL to present the South Asian Su***de Prevention Summit 2026, to be held on 12 October 2026.

The Summit will bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community advocates to explore the latest evidence and approaches to su***de prevention and the promotion of mental wellbeing within the South Asian diaspora in Australia.

For more information, please refer to the flyer below. To register for the event, follow the link provided below:

Bringing together researchers, practitioners and advocates to advance su***de prevention and mental wellbeing in South Asian communities.

23/09/2026

Western Sydney Community Forum was delighted to welcome a Japanese delegation researching aged care in multicultural societies.

Our discussion focused on culturally responsive aged care, supporting diverse communities, and recognising the important contributions of migrant workers across community and residential care settings. These international exchanges help strengthen understanding and inspire new approaches to creating inclusive and culturally competent aged care services.

A special thank you to Western Sydney University - School of Social Sciences, for facilitating this valuable opportunity for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

16/09/2026

This is the last week to register for Anny Druett’s intensive program, Pearl's Plan. Anny is an Aboriginal cross-cultural coach, facilitator and trainer with over 40 years applied experience in community development, who created this program to support mainstream community sector workers to build genuine connections with Aboriginal families and communities.

Registrations close on Monday 21 September. Only limited places are available across the cohort, kept deliberately small so Anny can give real, personalised attention in the live webinars. If your organisation has been meaning to join, including as a team, this is the moment.

Click the link below to register for the program or to find out more:
https://www.pearlsplan.com.au/

Many mainstream community sector workers are working hard at this, yet often in isolation, unsure what good practice looks like and without access to what others in similar roles are learning.

15/09/2026

On 13 October, Western Sydney Community Forum and Mental Health Coordinating Council are partnering to deliver a special Meet Your Neighbour sector networking event in Western Sydney. The event brings together the local mental health and broader community services workforce to connect and explore how to better support people living with mental health and co-occurring challenges.

Through networking, shared learning and conversation, we will explore what is working well across mental health and community services in the region, current challenges, and opportunities for more connected, person-centred support.

Hear from lived experience workers and sector experts in a panel discussion exploring local issues and priorities for people living with mental health challenges and co-occurring needs. You will also have the opportunity to contribute your own experiences and ideas to the conversation.

Register now >>> https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/meet-your-neighbour-western-sydney-2026-tickets-1999001252558?aff=oddtdtcreator

11/09/2026

Today is R U OK? Day

A reminder to check in, listen, and support those around you. A simple conversation could change a life, and sometimes, all it takes is asking, “Are you OK?”

10/09/2026

Working hard to connect with Aboriginal communities, but not sure if you're doing it right?

You're not the only one. Pearl's Plan is a nine-week coaching program built from real Aboriginal practice. Created and led by Aboriginal cross-cultural coach, facilitator and trainer, Anny Druett, Pearl’s Plan will give the sector a shared framework and resource, built together.

Open now for individuals and teams. With only two weeks left to register, click below to find out more.
https://www.pearlsplan.com.au/

Many mainstream community sector workers are working hard at this, yet often in isolation, unsure what good practice looks like and without access to what others in similar roles are learning.