Assyrian Australian Association

General information

Monday to Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday & Wednesday 9:00am to 5:00pm To increase social mobility of Assyrian/Chaldean and Syrian Community members by provision of access to support services that meet their Settlement and Social engagement needs in order for them to flourish and thrive within Australia The first Assyrians arrived in Australia in the mid 1950s and in 2005 they number close to 20,000 in Sydney, the majority of which live in Fairfield. The Australian Assyrians have a rich history spanning over 6,500 years and originate from Bet Nahrain, the land between the two rivers of Euphrates and Tigris in the Middle East. The Assyrians are indigenous to the lands of modern northern Iraq, southern Turkey and the adjoining regions of Iran and Syria. Embracing Christianity in the first century, the Assyrian nation has maintained its distinct ethnicity, language and culture through arduous times over the centuries. In Australia, four generations of Australian Assyrians have built a significant presence in the Fairfield area, whose needs range from longer-term community infrastructure building to assisting recent humanitarian and refugee arrivals Address the settlement needs of Assyrian migrant, refugee and humanitarian entrants through direct services. Develop and enhance case management of service provision to clients. Increase social, educational and support network with youth, seniors and women to reduce social, cultural and physical isolation. Lobby government agencies and mainstream service providers to implement equity strategies to enable access by Assyrians. Provide ongoing information, support, training and skills development to members of the Assyrian community in Fairfield and South Western Sydney areas. Promote the services of the Assyrian Resource Centre and provide information to the Assyrian community through Assyrian media outlets. The Assyrian Resource Centre (ARC) delivers Settlement Grant Services funded by the Department of Social Services (DSS). The aim of settlement grant services is to provide support to humanitarian entrants and other eligible migrants in their first five years of life in Australia, with a focus on fostering social and economic participation, personal well-being, independence and community connectedness. As a client, you can expect to recieve the following: Referrals to mainstream service Homework support programs Referralls to housing services Free immigration assistance, including form filling Counselling services provided by STARTTS Group information sessions Driver education classes Life skills workshops Computer training English conversation classes Sewing/craft/social groups The Assyrian Australian Association has been appointed as an approved proposing organisation (APO) for the community support program (CSP). You may contact Assyrian Resource Centre by one of the below methods: Contact Person Carmen Lazar OAM, JP Community Settlement Manager Ph: 02 9728 2594 Fax: 02 9723 0897 Email: clazar@assyrian.org.au Mailing Address: Assyrian Resource Centre PO Box 101 FAIRFIELD NSW 1860 Office Location: 7 The Crescent Fairfield New South Wales 2165 Australia