SydWest Backswing’s project launch

SydWest Backswing is a program designed to support people living with disability from culturally diverse backgrounds to develop employment skills and gain hands on work experience.

Project initiatives are led by program participants and managed from conceptideation to execution. #cleaningingforcommunity is one such project pioneered by our program participants, with a demonstration launch taking place this Friday, 10 December at Dawson Mall.

We welcome Ed Husic MP, Federal Member for Chifley, who will be speaking at our event in support of our voluntary program participants and presenting them with their certificates of completion.

“As a community, we can only thrive when everyone is able to achieve their potential and make a valuable contribution. Backswing is a unique program, which has opened doors for people living with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. I’m proud to support this program and congratulate all of the participants involved in the Cleaning for Community day” said Ed Husic MP.

Over the last 18 weeks, program participants in both Mt Druitt and Blacktown undertook training in areas such as sales and marketing, project management, customer service, communication skills and financial as well as digital literacy.

Ante Maricic, program trainer stated that the aim of the program design was to not only increase their knowledge in these fields, but to build their capacity to harness this knowledge to their advantage when seeking employment.

‘This was evidenced in the fact that two participants from the Mt Druitt cohort obtained employment during their time participating in the Backswing program. And two more have been successful in securing latter stage job interviews.’

SydWest Backswing will continue in 2022 and hope to empower more individuals to take their next step into employment. SydWest Multicultural Services offer home care and disability services, family and youth services, employment and housing supports in Western Sydney. If you need access to community support services, contact 02 9621 6633.