Our Support Area and Projects
Since our inception in 1974, SCF has been a trusted hub where local community groups come together to meet, collaborate, and strengthen their collective capacity.
Over the years, we have helped seed more than 30 community organisations, and we continue to support local groups through governance training, leadership development, and community organising workshops. Many community groups still call Sydney Community Forum their meeting place.
If your group is looking for a welcoming space to gather, or if you’re seeking support to grow your capacity as a community collective, we’d love to hear from you.
Voices Power Energy Literacy Training
In the last four years, in partnership with The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and energy partners, our targeted, co-designed energy-literacy program has focused on the most marginalised within those migrant communities, predominantly renters and low-income households.
Through delivery of train-the-trainer style energy literacy workshops, local community leaders are being equipped to assist their communities to enhance their knowledge, confidence and ability to take action around energy bills, use, efficiency and safety, and Australia’s energy transition.
Migrant Citizenship & Capacity Building
SCF Voices for Power project works with migrant communities to facilitate migrant community engagement & participation in climate justice & energy equity. Over the past seven years, in collaboration with Sydney Alliance and its partner organisations, we have actively engaged migrant community members, placing their lived experiences at the heart of efforts to advance energy equity. This program has a strong focus on supporting CALD community leaders and young people to step up & lead, including them having a key role in the development of local initiatives that address the impact of climate change on migrant families & communities in Sydney and programs that build resilience & facilitate inclusion & community engagement in climate justice.
Walking with First Nations People
SCF Aboriginal project works with the inner city ATSI community & ATSI Community workers to develop initiatives & programs to address needs & priority issues related to Aboriginal young people: this includes developing employment & training programs, youth justice & affordable housing & homelessness initiatives
Belonging & Employment Pathways for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Afghan Women’s Social Enterprise is a partnership with AFAIC, a grassroots Afghan Community Organisation, the social enterprise works directly with Afghan women who are from Refugee & asylum seeker background to facilitate their economic & social inclusion by teaching them sewing skills to re-purpose donated textiles into usable items that can be sold online & at local markets which will support the women to generate an income & work towards financial independence. The women also have opportunity to build on their English language skills & develop confidence in their ability to communicate effectively in English as they participate in this program.
Sector Support for the aged, frail and individuals with a disability
The CHSP Sector Support & Development Project (SSD) at SCF works with local community organisations & groups that support the elderly & frail aged people to ensure marginalised & disadvantaged community groups including CALD communities, have access to responsive, affordable & culturally safe support & care to remain at home as they age. SCF co-hosts the Migrant Healthy Ageing Expo in the Inner West & Canterbury Bankstown region and we organise & host the St George Ageing Well Expo for older people & their carers in the St George region. SCF also works closely with local community groups & services to develop responsive new initiatives that address gaps in services such as culturally & religiously appropriate food services for particular cohorts in the local ageing population.
The unemployed, homeless and individuals who are at risk of homelessness
We provide direct support to these cohorts through the wardrobe project at SCF – we play a key role in facilitating access to warm clothing, 2nd hand clothes, goods & household items by accepting donated items from the local community and acting as a distribution point for these items. We also act as a referral point for people who need support & access to welfare & community & homeless services to ensure local community members know where to go for support and can directly connect with the services that can support them.
Rights and Welfare Support for International Students
Oz International Students Hub (OISH) is a hub run for and by international students leading welcome, support, and justice initiatives in NSW. This was established during Covid-19 as a ‘home away from home,’ OISH organises campaigns, projects, and activities for a welcoming, supportive, and just international student experience in Australia. The Hub creates a community of care and support for students and links them up to broader Australian society in safe and mutually transformative way