New women’s hubs initiative under State Government plan to bring services under one roof

SPECIAL “women’s hubs” will be set up in Sydney’s southwestern and western suburbs under a new State Government plan.

Fairfield Advance - Dr Eman Sharobeem is pictured in her Fairfield NSW office. Dr Eman is talking to the Fairfield Advance about female genital mutilation (FGM) in the lead-up to the state election 2015. 92 Smart Street, Fairfield NSW Australia

SPECIAL “women’s hubs” – community gathering places for women of culturally diverse backgrounds – will be set up in the southwestern suburbs under a new State Government plan.

Migrant women especially will benefit under the project announced last week during an International Women’s Day function at Mt Pritchard.

Fairfield’s community groups welcomed the news – with the proviso that money is not taken out of existing services, but used to complement them.

International Women’s Day function held at Mt Pritchard with Ministers Victor Dominello and Pru Goward.

Community Services Minister Victor Dominello pledged the hubs would be safe places for young women, particularly new migrants and refugees, to find out about services.

“This gives us an avenue where they can access education opportunities, where they can access employment opportunities, self-awareness programs and leadership programs,” he said.

“Things that empower them.”

A series of hubs are being planned across the western Sydney region, in order to co-locate existing services.

Immigrant Women’s Health Service CEO Eman Sharobeem said women, particularly disadvantaged and non-English-speaking women, needed space and resources to get ahead.

Dr Eman Sharobeem, Service Manager at the Immigrant Women's Health Service in Fairfield, speaks with a client.

“We are about empowering women, women standing up for themselves, to gain employment and contribute to the economy, and we are hoping the hubs will help do that,” Dr Sharobeem said.

“But it should be supporting existing services, not reinventing the wheel.”

Mr Dominello said they would partner with organisations that already have extensive experience.

“Ultimately this initiative is about enhancing services on the ground,” he said.

Expressions of interest will be due by April 2.

Details: crc.nsw.gov.au