Safe, Healthy and Empowered Relationships (SHER) is a Domestic and Family Violence behaviour intervention program for men who speak Dari and are living in Logan, Ipswich, Brisbane, Gold Coast or Moreton Bay.

The goal of this program is to increase safety for women and children by providing men an opportunity to take accountability for their actions recognising the harm their violence and behaviour choices are having on family.

This program helps you:

• Build effective ways to handle difficult situations without conflict
• Take responsibility for your actions and impact on others
• Build healthy family relationships as a father and husband

This program is for men who:

• come from an Afghan Dari speaking background living in Logan, Ipswich, Brisbane, Ipswich, Gold Coast, or Moreton Bay
• are concerned about how their behaviour affects their family
• are ready to make positive changes in their relationships

The SHER program can help to:

• Understand the difference between unhealthy and healthy relationships
• Build new ways to handle difficult situations
• Take accountability for your actions to build a safer home for your family
• Build better connections with those you care about

Individual support phase

• One-hour weekly sessions
• Private discussions with a skilled in-language facilitator
• Opportunity to discuss your specific situation
• Prepare for group work in a comfortable, private setting
• Explore new perspectives on family relationships
• Build strategies for creating a safer home environment

Group program phase (16 weeks)

• Weekly sessions
• Closed group format (same participants throughout the program)
• Learn from and support other men in similar situations
• Develop practical skills for positive change

Sessions take place every Thursday evening for 16 weeks, 6 – 8pm commencing April 2025
Gould Adams Community Centre, 558-662 Kingston Road, Kingston

If you or someone is in immediate danger, please call Triple Zero (000) for emergency services.

If you are subjected to or impacted by sexual violence, know someone who is, or are triggered by this content and would like to access support, please contact:

• 1800 RESPECT – Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website for confidential domestic, family and sexual violence counselling information and support services
• DV Connect – Call 1800 811 811 for immediate support with crisis transport and accommodation in QLD
• Lifeline – Call 13 11 14
• 99 Steps – 07 3412 8282 or 99steps@ssi.org.au for women from CALD backgrounds living in Logan/Beenleigh experiencing DFV. Support includes information, advise, case work support and referral

There is a critical need for improved service navigation to support better primary healthcare outcomes for CALD, refugee, and homeless communities.

Individuals from CALD and refugee backgrounds often face barriers to accessing healthcare such as a lack of culturally appropriate services, poor health literacy, and challenges related to communication, making it difficult to access and navigate their understanding of healthcare. Similarly, individuals experiencing homelessness often face stigma, mental health challenges, and financial barriers to access the healthcare services they need.

With the right care, coordination and support, people can better navigate healthcare systems by gaining the tools and skills to overcome the challenges they currently face.

The South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN) has commissioned SSI to establish and deliver a Service Navigation Support Service within the South Western Sydney (SWS) region.

The service supports individuals from CALD and refugee populations, and those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to overcome barriers and challenges to accessing primary healthcare by connecting them with appropriate healthcare services.

People who are eligible for the service include those who:

• meet the specified demographic requirements
• are residents of the South Western Sydney (SWS) region
• are willing to engage in the services offered and participate in the intake process
• provide any necessary documentation or information required for eligibility.

People who are not Australian citizens are also eligible for the service, provided they currently reside within the SWSPHN region. This includes permanent residents and those on temporary visas.

Referrals may be ineligible, if:

• Individuals are receiving other care coordination or navigation services with supplementary services support, or duplicated services.
• Treatment is covered by any other MBS items.
• The service in need requires emergency treatment.
• The individual is seeking support with emergency accommodation.

Eligible participants receive:

We’d love to work with your organisation. Partner with us to bring your expertise to those who need it most.

Whether you’re a community health centre, GP clinic experienced with homeless populations, CALD and refugee community organisation, multicultural group, faith leader, or specialist service provider, we invite you to join us on this initiative.

• Co-host information sessions within your community
• Address the multifaceted needs of individuals and families within the target populations by facilitating smooth client transfers and referrals
• Provide your expertise to contribute to a robust referral network to ensure clients can access holistic support – from a range of services, including:
  • CALD and refugee organisations
  • Refugee and asylum seeker support services
  • Homelessness support and services
  • Community health providers and GPs
  • Community and faith groups

Contact us at clientservices@ssi.org.au for more information.

We’re offering paid traineeships at the Light Horse Logistics Hub in Western Sydney, a major project that provides real hands-on experience.

This is an opportunity to get a paid start in a career in construction, gain local experience, and develop valuable skills.

• Locals near the Light Horse Logistics Hub in Eastern Creek who can commute on weekdays
• Culturally diverse individuals, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, women, and those needing job support
• People aged 16+ years and eligible to work in Australia
• Those eager to learn new skills in construction and able to commit to at least six months of ongoing work

• Barbeque event for  shortlisted candidates will be held at Eastern Creek on 5 December 2024
• Successful candidates will be announced during third week of December 2024
• Training begins in January 2025
• Applications for Eastern Creek are now closed.