We are committed to social justice principles. We recognise that Australia is a multicultural and diverse society and we promote equal participation and equitable access to services and programs.
I was privileged to attend an event hosted by IMS recently where it was obvious just how strong their ties in the community are. The team go well and truly above and beyond to make sure the local communities are well supported. We are privileged to have their deep expertise and enthusiasm in our network.
The Hon. Paul Scully MP
Wollongong and the Illawarra is a proud multi-cultural community that has benefitted and values thee waves of migrants that have chosen to live here and to make our city a fantastic place to live, work and enjoy.
The work of IMS has helped to provide support and comfort to new residents of the city and provide ongoing assistance and connection to communities. This has helped to build social cohesion and meant that people are free to celebrate their culture while sharing it with everyone who has made Wollongong home.
Francis (Htjaru) Kayphoe
As a community leader and Multicultural Health Education Officer, I have had the privilege of closely collaborating with IMS to enhance the well-being, health literacy, and integration of our community members. This has been achieved through coordinating, running, and supporting various health-related education sessions, such as antenatal classes, “Rights and Responsibilities in Healthcare,” the Flu Outreach Clinic, and the 2024 Refugee Week (Futsal World Cup). Additionally, I have highlighted the need for extra English classes for our community members, which IMS is now providing weekly.
Cr Tania Brown
The Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) has been supporting the culturally & linguistically diverse population in the Illawarra for over 40 years. I commend IMS for the assistance they provide to migrants, humanitarian entrants and refugees in our region. LMS is a valuable community partner for Council and we appreciate the active role IMS plays in multicultural water safety initiatives, community engagement, language support services and events such as Culture Mix.
The Hon. Stephen Jones MP
It has been my great privilege to work with Illawarra Multicultural Services since I was first elected to Parliament in 2010. Over the years I have personally witnessed IMS continue to grow and prosper.
The Illawarra is a proud multicultural region home to people from many backgrounds.
The Australian Government has proudly supported IMS since their opening in 1980 by the then Minister of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon. Ian Macphee AO.
Illawarra Multicultural Services remains a trusted community organisation that plays an integral role in supporting local migrants and refugees through access to quality services and programs. This includes hosting celebratory events, helping humanitarian entrants settle into Australia, providing disability support through the NDIS and advocating for better outcomes.
As a member of the Albanese Labor Government, we look forward to continuing to work together with IMS to support multicultural, migrant and refugee communities in the Illawarra.
The Hon. Anna Watson MP
Illawarra Multicultural Services plays a crucial role in supporting the multicultural community in the Illawarra by offering a variety of supports ranging from advocacy to financial assistance. These vital services are made possible through the ongoing support and funding provided by the NSW government, ensuring that diverse communities can access the resources they need to thrive.
I've had the pleasure of collaborating with Illawarra Multicultural Services (IMS) on several community projects, and my experience has been truly rewarding.
Dr Sarah Nicholson
We are proud to have worked collaboratively with IMS for over the last three years to support the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and the Refugee communities in the Illawarra via creative writing programs. These programs have included providing a twice-yearly program of writing workshops, writing competitions, presentation reading events, writing mentorship, and publications. This program provides the opportunity for the local CALD and refugee communities to work with volunteers to find their own voices, to tell their stories and to have these stories heard. Through this work we have witnessed the incredible dedication, empathy and creativity of IMS’ staff, and in return witnessed overwhelming enthusiastic engagement and appreciation from these communities.
Throughout my work experience with IMS, in collaboration & designing engagement activities of events to support the Multicultural community members, I have found IMS are focus on Multicultural community issues, Community Empowerment and Participation, having local knowledge and expertise to build up productive ways of interacting and communicating with community members and service providers to breakdown barriers and have strengthened programmes and services to those they serve, improve organisational efficiency and effectiveness as well as improve awareness about the issue one is trying to address.
As a highly multicultural comprehensive government high school, Keira High School values greatly the work done by IMS in supporting our culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, particularly families who are more recent arrivals to Australia and those of refugee backgrounds. We regularly liaise with IMS when support is needed for families, just as we work closely with the organisation in more proactive community and student support. This has been through their local assistance with the Department of Education’s Ready Arrive Work program (aimed primarily at Year 10 students of refugee background) and through some of IMS’s events that support and celebrate the creativity and resilience of our CALD communities, such as the various writing and artistic competitions they run, which greatly benefit our students. They are a constant source of advice and support for supporting families, as well as attending our Harmony Day and Cultural activities at school throughout the year,
Working with IMS has been a transformative experience for TAFE and the Illawarra community. This partnership not only enhances the educational offerings at TAFE but also directly addresses the evolving needs of local industries.
Through collaborative projects, TAFE and IMS have fostered community engagement by creating pathways for local individuals to access high-quality education and employment opportunities. The impact is palpable; students gain confidence, and the entire region benefits from a more skilled labour force.
I am excited to continue this journey with IMS and witness the lasting benefits it brings to our region.
Eat Up Australia is incredibly grateful to IMS for supporting our mission to feed hungry students. Through working together, IMS and Eat Up provide 10,000 lunches each year to students in 28 schools across the Illawarra Region.
IMS ensures the process is seamless for Eat Up and the schools it supports, making changes as needed and being willing to add extra schools and students. Their support has multiple impacts, through feeding students and also giving volunteers a sense of purpose and connection through attending sandwich making sessions.
This partnership benefits everyone—students receive the nourishment they need for learning and growth, while volunteers gain a rewarding experience. Thank you, IMS, for making a real difference in our community.
I have very much enjoyed working with IMS for the past year and a half, 2023-2024. STARTTS Wollongong was established 10 years ago, but has only launched it’s Community Development work Aug. 2023. A key part of that new expansion has been working closely in successful collaborative projects with IMS.
We have worked closely with Amro Zoabe, the Projects Coordinator, Gemma Davis, Targeted Earlier Intervention (TEI) Multicultural & Refugee Family Support Worker, Patrick Rumwagira, Bilingual Support worker, and Kim McCausland, CEO.
Each of these workers have a strong and innate understanding of the strengths and challenges of the communities that they are serving, which is very much aligned with the way that STARTTS works with former refugees, who are recovering from trauma and torture, in their settlement journey. This understanding is not always found in the refugee sector, which has meant that IMS is a stand out service amongst CALD, migrant, and refugee services in the Illawarra.
STARTTS works exclusively with former refugees, asylum seekers, and anyone with a ‘refugee-like’ experience. For this reason, we feel extra appreciative of IMS’s considerable contribution to refugee-background communities in Wollongong.
Wollongong City Libraries has enjoyed collaborating with IMS on various initiatives, including Form Filling Assistance sessions, Arabic Tech Savvy, and Multicultural Storytimes. The IMS team has been incredibly helpful and engaged, fostering strong relationships between the CALD community and the libraries. IMS has special ties with the CALD community, and we are grateful for the awareness you raise about the library's offerings. Thanks to IMS’ support, we have successfully created a welcoming and safe environment where the CALD community can connect with one another and take advantage of our free services.
IMS and WEA Illawarra have a shared a vision for person centred services and education. It’s been a pleasure partnering with IMS to ensure that the learning needs of diverse communities are met through tailored, supportive, and accessible programs that can be delivered through the NSW Government ACE Program and the ongoing support of high-quality community organisations like Illawarra Multicultural Services .
Legal Aid NSW place a high value on the partnership it shares with IMS who provide important support and programs to people newly arrived and settling in our community. IMS workers are a key stakeholder who are well placed to identify legal need and work effectively with Legal Aid to provide appropriate support to clients navigating legal issues. As well as referring clients to Legal Aid, IMS regularly invite us to talk to community groups on key topics such as housing, employment, family violence and immigration. A highlight of our work together has been the end of years tours for students of English to the court, police station, legal aid and IMS. These tours have been an innovative and fun way to overcome barriers to justice for our CALD population and demonstrate how the collaboration between our organisations benefits the community.
I volunteer weekly with IMS in the English Conversation Classes provided each Tuesday morning. As a retired teacher, doing this is a most rewarding volunteer activity. It is wonderful seeing the positive changes that we see in the people that come to our classes. The supportive and friendly environment in class allows for confidence in English to grow and friendships to develop within the group. I work with Brian, a skilled English teacher, and we are led by Sue Dignan who so effectively manages the whole program. It's a pleasure & a privilege to work alongside them both at IMS
Nafis Hyder Alam
Volunteering with Illawarra Multicultural Services has been a fulfilling journey. In my role as a Technology Assistant, I’ve developed strong communication skills and community engagement by assisting individuals with technological inquiries and device repairs. This experience has not only allowed me to apply my expertise but also to enhance my skills through accredited training in computer and phone servicing provided by IMS. Working with such a diverse community has given me the opportunity to make a real impact and further grow both personally and professionally.
It’s hard not to feel hopeless in the face of the awful things that are happening to people in areas of conflict around the world. Many IMS clients are refugees from those places, who arrive in Australia after experiencing unimaginable hardship and with many challenges ahead of them. Volunteering at IMS gives me the opportunity to touch some of those individual lives in a practical way and help to make things a little easier. I have been astounded by the enormous strength and resilience of the people I meet. It is a pleasure to work for an organisation, where everyone works together to achieve the best for people settling into our community.
Collaborative partnerships are powerful to reach multicultural communities to access health services, IMS has been intrinsic to create cultural safety to allowed ISLHD Multicultural & Refugee Services to tailor services according to the needs of individual patients. This year alone we have been able to successfully deliver cervical screening, birthing classes and child health services to Burmese, Arabic, Swahili, Karen and Chin speaking refugee communities, we couldn’t not have done this without the support and vision that IMS has in ensuring services reach vulnerable communities
Working with IMS has been a tremendous help with my students here in Shellharbour over the years.
Thank you for delivering valuable information sessions to our diverse communities and introducing them to the Australian culture and traditions. Information sessions such as: Healthy Eating, Legal Aid advice, Oral Health, Mental Health, etc. and inspiring the students to tap their creativity through poster making, writing poems and arts.
IMS really DID make Shellharbour students feel that they belong to the Australian community and at the same time keeping their culture and tradition while making Australia their new home.
Thanks Amro and IMS!
WIEC and IMS have worked in a collaborative and productive partnership for many years, together and as part of the Illawarra Refugees Issues Forum (IRIF) network of service providers to newly arrived CALD migrants and families from refugee backgrounds. They have supported our students and families through the provision of customised services and enrichment opportunities, and we are very grateful for their support.
Collaborating with IMS has strengthened the ties between our school, families, and the broader community. IMS serves as a vital bridge that fosters a sense of belonging. This partnership enriches educational opportunities for our students while cultivating a supportive network that unites all stakeholders, creating a more connected and engaged community.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with IMS, particularly with Amro, who has consistently been reliable, deeply engaged with multicultural communities, and passionate about the work that IMS does in the community. Their partnership brings immense value to the community by fostering inclusion and supporting diverse groups.
IMS has consistently been very generous in their partnering with STARTTS Wollongong and this has translated into direct and tangible benefits to community members. This has included them providing free use of their meeting room for us to run groups such as:
*3 Days of FICT (Families in Cultural Transition) Facilitator Training (2023) for 7 Wollongong trainees
*A 10 week Karenni FICT group for new arrivals (2023-2024), to support them in their adjustment to life in Australia, 14 participants
*Sector strengthening events, such as DAFVRNS (Domestic and Family Violence Refugee Network Support), and Better Together, a speed-dating event for services to get to know each other to improve trust and encourage more collaboration
Other examples of impactful partnering with IMS are:
*A weekly Youth Group for new arrival refugee-background high school students at the Intensive English Centre, Warrawong (2024), averaging an attendance of 25
*2 Youth Camps for refugee-background high school students (2024), with 18 students on the first camp, and 29 on the second
*A Vertical Garden and Cultural Meeting Space for former refugees from Myanmar, which is also a soft-entry DV project. 55 people attended the launch party from the Zomi and Karenni communities
*An annual Wollongong World Cup Soccer Competition and Referee Training (2024), with 4 cities participating over 3 days – Coffs Harbour, Newcastle, Wollongong, and Sydney, approx. 300-400 participants
STARTTS especially acknowledged IMS’s important ongoing contributions by awarding Amro Zoabe for the 2024 NSW Youth Humanitarian Award.
My placement at IMS has been a rewarding experience. The team trusted me fully with the work I was completing, was accommodating to my student needs, and was supportive at every step. The variety of programs and services that IMS runs are engaging, and the team strives to advocate for the needs of its clients. Their heart is in their work, and their work ethic reflects that.
My time at Illawarra Multicultural Services in Wollongong has been a truly transformative experience, particularly through my involvement in the Women's Creative Arts Expression Program. This initiative has been a highlight of my placement, allowing me to connect with a diverse group of inspiring women while exploring our creativity together.
Participating in this program has not only enhanced my artistic skills but has also deepened my understanding of how Art can be a useful tool in Public Health, in raising awareness about sensitive topics such as domestic violence. This program has also enhanced my understanding of the rich multicultural tapestry of our community. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to and grow within such a vibrant and supportive atmosphere. Thank you, Illawarra Multicultural Services, for this incredible journey.
- NDIS Support Coordination
IMS staff supports people with disability to ensure everyone has choices and control over the plan and NDIS funded supports and services. IMS staff work towards developing skills and knowledge of people with a disability and that of their family, to enable them to coordinate as much of their NDIS supports. IMS is a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider. The NDIS is designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time. To find out more click here.
Multicultural Supported Playgroups provide an opportunity for local parents / carers and children aged 0 – 5 years to meet, socialise, play and learn in a semi-structured positive environment. It aims to empower parents / carers to teach and connect with their children through play, while also enhancing school readiness. Multicultural Supported Playgroups aim to create an informal parental support network, strengthen community connections, deliver useful parenting information and refer families to other support services when required.
Multicultural Supported Playgroups aim to encourage attendance of parents and children from newly arrived migrant and refugee communities, who may not otherwise attend a playgroup.
To find out more please contact IMS Playgroups Coordinator on 02 4229 6855, or visit the Multicultural Supported Playgroups page.
One of the most rewarding ways to contribute to the community is through volunteering!
IMS runs a variety of programs that provide opportunities for members of the general community to volunteer and support emerging communities. These programs range from art workshops, specialised tutoring, and mentoring. Consider getting involved with IMS to make a positive change in the lives of many people and to develop your professional and interpersonal skills. To find out more about how to volunteer with us click here.
WHAT WE DO
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IMS Wollongong Office
Level 1, 67-69 Market Street
Wollongong NSW 2500
Phone: +61 2 4229 6855
Fax: +61 2 4226 3634
Monday to Friday 9am – 4.30pm
IMS CSP Office
Level 1, Shop 8, 171-179 Queen street, Campbelltown 2560
Phone: +61 2 8103 3114
Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm