Resourceful Australian Indian Network Inc. (RAIN) was incorporated in 2006 by three women whose main aim was to specifically address the needs of lonely, socially isolated senior members of the Indian community. RAIN celebrated 10 years in 2016 with its members grown from 3 to 300. RAIN is professionally managed by Executive and Management Committees comprising professional members with a variety
of skills and backgrounds, who work tirelessly and on a voluntary basis to enrich the lives of the seniors. They are passionate in their commitment to serve the elderly and provide the best possible social support to all members of the Indian community. The Committees also reflect the diversity of the Indian community with members belonging to Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil and Punjabi speaking backgrounds. With the grants from the Government and generosity of its members and the wider community, it has arranged various activities and outing for its senior members. It has played a very important role in creating awareness of this growing segment in the broader community and its needs including issues related to Aged care. Every Thursday, RAIN organises social activities for the elderly Indian Sub-Continent members from 12.30 to 3.00pm at the Senior Citizens’ Centre, Hurstville. An average of 50 - 60 members attend these sessions on a weekly basis. Yoga, Ayurvedic diet, spiritual discourses and discussions are held regularly. In addition, day outings and picnics are arranged on a regular basis. RAIN seniors offer support to new young migrants to assimilate in the local Australian community. RAIN has now launched a community kitchen. This is to evolve to a social enterprise system and to teach the younger generation to cook traditional Indian healthy vegetarian dishes so age old traditional recipes are not lost with time. This project will enable to build a support system to increase confidence for our seniors and also encourages collaboration, commitment and networking for our volunteers
