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Community lunches

Community lunches will not be available until 14 January.

Frozen meals will be available to take home from 6 January.

Featured

Hot lunches at the Asylum Seekers Centre

Share a free hot lunch with the Asylum Seekers Centre.

Free hot lunches are available in Newtown on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 12:30pm and in Auburn on Wednesdays at 12:30pm.

Catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Volunteer shares free hot lunch to a person seekinga sylum
Community life

Arts and community

FREE Canvas Paint Workshop @ Auburn Centre for Community

FREE Canvas Paint Workshop @ Auburn Centre for Community for ages 6-12 years

Come join Cumberlands City Council and Barnardos Australia for a fun-filled day of creativity at the Auburn Centre for Community! This event is perfect for kids aged 6-12 years who love to paint. Our workshop will provide all the materials needed for your child to unleash their artistic talents on canvas. Let them explore their imagination and create a masterpiece to take home. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn and have fun with other young artists!

When: Mon, 6 Jan 2025 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: Auburn Centre for Community 44A Macquarie Road Auburn, NSW 214

For more information visit this LINK.

Free Homework Help

Free Homework Help

The Cumberland Multicultural Community Services (CMCS) and Merrylands Youth Centre (MYC) Homework Support program has recommenced at Merrylands Youth Centre. The homework help is for children aged 12-18 years old.

When: Every Monday from 3-6 pm at the Merrylands Youth Centre,

Where: Address, 289 Merrylands Road,Merrylands

Bookings: To register please call Erick from CMCS on 9637 7600 or Seini from MYC on 9637 1535

Sewing group at Newtown Tuesday and Fridays

Be part of a fun and creative sewing community, learn new skills and have a good time.  Bring in your mending or any sewing project you are working on. We will provide all supplies, equipment, and a supportive and friendly learning environment.

When: Every Tuesday (1:30pm-3pm) and Friday (10:30am-12:30pm)

Where: ASC Newtown

Booking: To join the sewing group please email ce.events@asylumseekerscentre.org.au

When: 10:30am – 12:30pm every Friday.

Where: ASC, 43 Bedford Street, Newtown

To join the sewing group: email ce.events@asylumseekerscentre.org.au

LGBTQIA+ Peer Group

The ASC supports a safe space for our clients who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community. The group meets regularly, providing opportunities for social connection with access to events, dinners, nights out and guest speakers.

For more information you can contact our LGBTQIA+ Community Coordinator via this email.

Addi Road Food Pantry

Visit Addi Road Food Pantry for very low cost groceries. Once you spend $5 or more, you receive free fruit, vegetables and bread.

When: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
12 noon – 4 pm and Wednesday
12 noon – 7 pm

Where: Addison Road Community Centre
142 Addison Road, Marrickville

or

When: Monday to Saturday
12 noon – 4 pm

Where: 31 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown

For more information visit this LINK.

auburn food pantry promotional poster

Auburn Food Pantry

When: Every Tuesday

Where
:  18‐24 Kerr Parade, Auburn NSW 2144

Time
: 12.30PM-2.30PM
teens with basketball

Youth Starts @ STARTTS After School Hours Program

When: Thursday evenings
Time: 5-7pm
Where: The Granville Centre, 2 Memorial Drive, Granville 
Who: Ages 12-18 years
Opportunities

Training, work and education

Hands typing on a laptop

School Student Broadband Initiative (SSBI)

The School Student Broadband Initiative is providing one year of free NBN access to eligible participants.

  • To qualify families and carers must:
  • Have a school age student at home (full or part time), enrolled in an Australian school
  • Not have an active NBN network internet service at your current residential address now or in the past 14 days
  • Live in a premise that can access the NBN network through a standard connection

Families can directly contact the National Referral Centre (1800 954 610) to check if they qualify or be referred by a participating nominating organisation.

The organisation Think + Do Tank can also provide assistance to apply. You can contact Think + Do Tank via this LINK.

 

 

See an ASC volunteer for support with applying to university.

Talk to an ASC University Advisor

Do you want to apply for University and Scholarships for 2025? If so, you can get help applying for university courses and tuition fee scholarships.

Contact us at employment@asylumseekerscentre.org.au to talk to a University Advisor at ASC.

TAFE online courses

Explore TAFE online courses. Study anywhere anytime.

TAFE Digital offers a wide range of nationally recognised, online study options, across a range of modern industries. You can study online and enjoy flexible learning to fit your lifestyle, with our online short courses, certificates, diplomas, and degrees.

More information here.

TAFE - Book to talk to a career counsellor

TAFE offers hundreds of courses to choose from. Many courses up to Cert IV may be fee-free for people seeking asylum.

TAFE NSW provides free counselling about education and careers to current and future students.

TAFE counsellors can help you to:

  • clarify your career goals;
  • find a course that meets your needs;
  • identify obstacles you may be facing – and help you to deal with them; and
  • develop skills to manage your career into the future.

Call TAFE on 131 601 (Option 5, then Option 2) to make an appointment with one of the TAFE Counsellors.

For more information click here.

Study at TAFE

Semester 1, 2025 is now open for enrolments.

TAFE offers flexible study options, industry experienced teachers and nationally recognised courses to ensure you are job-ready.

There are many courses up to Certificate IV offering government subsidies – talk to a TAFE Career Counsellor today!

Enrol Now

Scholarships for asylum seekers

University Humanitarian Scholarships

Limited full-fee undergraduate scholarships for people seeking asylum are available in a number of universities in NSW. Scholarship applications for the 2025 academic year will open around August -November 2024.

Current open scholarships  

 

Sydney University (USYD)

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Humanitarian Scholarships for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Arts and Social Sciences courses

Open now. Closes 7 January 2025.

 

Macquarie University 

The Asylum Seeker Sponsorship 

Undergraduate

Opens 1 Dec 2024. Closes 11 January 2025.

 

University of Wollongong

Humanitarian Scholarship

Undergraduate and Postgraduate (Coursework)

Open now. Closes 17 January 2025.

*Please note, Wollongong is outside of the Metropolitan Sydney area. 

 

Australian Catholic University

ACU Refugee Scholarship

Undergraduate

Open Now. Closes 17 January 2025.

 

University of Notre Dame

Vice Chancellor’s Humanitarian Scholarship

Undergraduate

Open application.

A young woman walks through the grounds of Macquarie University in Sydney.
Wellbeing

Exercise and Family Wellbeing

Free Counselling Sessions for Palestines aged 18 years and over.

Community Based Mental Health Program offers Free Counselling Sessions for Palestines aged 18 years and over.

Face to face and online options available. Service offered in Arabic and English.

For bookings follow this LINK.

 

Keep cool in the heat

Get tips on how to stay safe, hydrated and healthy this summer. Read through resources below:

NSW Enviro

VIC gov

 

 

FREE School Yard Games @ Auburn Centre for Community

Come join Cumberland City Council, Reclink Australia and Barnardos for a fun-filled day of outdoor activities at the Auburn Centre for Community! This event is perfect for kids aged 6-12 years looking to have a blast playing games like tag, relay races, dodge ball and more. It’s a great way to make new friends and get some exercise in the fresh air. We encourage a packed lunch for an afternoon picnic.

When: Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Where: Auburn Centre for Community, 44A Macquarie Road Auburn, NSW 2144

For more information follow this LINK.

Street Soccer

Street Soccer for 16+ all abilities

Free, inclusive social soccer in multiple locations. Get exercise, have fun and meet others.

When (Date and time)/Where:

Mondays – The Rocks – KGV Rec Centre – 2.30 – 4pm

Tuesdays – Mt Druitt – Town Centre Reserve – 1.00pm – 3.30pm – basic skill level

Thursdays – Parramatta – Robin Thomas Reserve – 3.30pm – 5.00pm

No need to register – just turn up – email ce.events@asylumseekerscentre.org.au if you have any questions. More info HERE.

Special NCIE Membership for $10

Join NCIE Fitness and get started on your health and wellness journey.

The special reduced membership rate of $10 will get you access to a full range of NCIE’s facilities, group fitness classes, all indoor training areas, outdoor training areas, the stadium and 25m heated undercover pool, one free initial personal fitness consultation and more.

Interested? Simply email ce.events@asylumseekerscentre.org.au

Free Yoga and Pilates at Andrew Boy Charlton Pool

When: 
Saturday 8am – Mat Pilates
Saturday 9am – Yoga Hatha
Sunday 9am – Yoga Hatha
Where: Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool – 1C Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW, 2000

Yoga in the Park (Free)

When: Sunday 9:30am
Where: At the corner of Lower Fort Street and George Street at Dawes Point Park, right under the Sydney Harbour Bridge in The Rocks
No registration needed
Improve your English

English language help

ASC English classes - new dates and times

Learn English at Auburn and Newtown. Classes are available for a range of learner stages including basic, beginner, upper beginner, intermediate and advanced students.

For more information and to book: Email ce.events@asylumseekerscentre.org.au

AUBURN
Where: Auburn Centre for Community, 44a Macquarie Road Auburn view on Google Maps

Beginners
When: Wednesdays, 1:00 – 3:00 PM

NEWTOWN
Where: ASC Newtown, 43 Bedford St Newtown view on Google Maps

Upper Beginner
When: Thursday 11:30 -12:30pm

Intermediate
When: Thursday 10-11:30pm

ONLINE (your teacher will send a link before each class)

Upper Beginner
When: Wednesday 6 – 7 pm

Intermediate
When: Tuesdays: 10 -11 am
When: Wednesday 11 am -12 pm

Advanced
When: Tuesday 6 – 7:30 pm
When: Wednesday 6 – 7:30 pm

English and computer classes

Drop in to Auburn Centre for Community to join a Computer class or English class run by Cumberland City Council.

Computer and English class: Wednesdays, 9:00am – 3:00pm

For more information visit this LINK.

Computer class run by Cumberland City Council

When: Wednesdays 9:30AM- 12:00PM
Where: Auburn Centre for Community, 44a Macquarie Road Auburn
To book: No booking required

English conversation class run by Cumberland City Council

When: Wednesdays, 1:00pm – 3:00pm
Where: Auburn Centre for Community, 44a Macquarie Road Auburn
To book: No booking required

TAFE English courses

Do you want to study English full-time? You may be able to study Certificate I-IV English for free at TAFE. You will need to have study rights and be on a bridging visa. Register your interest in the courses listed under ‘English for Further Study’