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About Us | Indian Support Center Australia

Indian sub-continent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) migration to Australia started in the late sixties with professionals such as doctors, teachers and engineers being the first skilled migrants to arrive in Australia.

Over the last couple of decades, the number of Indian sub-continent Australians has increased manifold, and it is estimated that about 5,00,000 people of Indian sub-continent origin now call Australia their home.

It is estimated that two-thirds or about 300,000 Indian sub-continent people live in New South Wales, with a sizable presence in Western Sydney and its surrounding suburbs. Consequently, with the growing numbers, the community issues have become more complex.

Efforts have been made by several Indian subcontinent organisations in NSW for over five decades to create institutions to address such issues.

While several organisations provided the community with a lot of support, the outcome was far from satisfactory. Therefore, a strong need was felt to create a physical office that would act as a focal point of contact, and the proposed services could be delivered from such a location.

A formal decision was made to make the Center an independent organisation and create a separate identity.

Thanks to the NSW Government, a funding proposal was approved, and a formal launch of the Center took place on 13th March 2015 through a brief launch function at the Allan Ezzy Centre in Pemulwuy, NSW.

Minister Victor Dominello, the then Minister for Citizenship and Communities, launched the Center, and the grant cheque was presented by Mr Andrew Rohan, the then Member of the NSW Parliament from Smithfield.

The Indian sub-continent community is grateful to the NSW Government for supporting the community in this strategic project that is expected to have a long-lasting impact on the Indian sub-continent community of NSW.

It was perceived that such an organisation would be ideal for providing services to all people of Indian subcontinent origin. Keeping these above issues in mind, the Indian Support Center was conceptualised and was born in March 2015.

Our Mission

The Mission of the Indian Support Center is to ensure that every single issue, with a primary focus on Harm Prevention in day-to-day life, facing the Indian subcontinent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan) migrants settling/settled in Australia is addressed in the best possible manner and results in a positive transformation in their lives.

Our Vision

The VISION of the Indian Support Center is to transform the lives of people from the Indian sub-continent (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) setting in Australia by making a valuable contribution to their adopted country and live a happy life.

Core Values

Compassion and safety

Respond to people facing family crisis, violence, trauma, isolation or disadvantage with care, practical help and a focus on immediate and long-term safety.

Dignity and respect

Treat each person as an individual, protect confidentiality and support informed choices without judgement.

Cultural responsiveness and inclusion

Provide support that recognises language, culture, family relationships and the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Prevention and early intervention

Act before harm escalates through education, awareness, respectful relationships, digital safety and early connection to appropriate services.

Empowerment and independence

Build people's confidence, knowledge and practical capability so they can settle, work, use digital and health systems, participate in community life and pursue personal goals.

Accessibility and practical service

Make help easier to reach through one-to-one guidance, referrals, workshops and affordable community services.

Collaboration and accountability

Work with government, law enforcement, charities, professionals, community associations and families, while maintaining responsible governance and service quality.

Objectives

ISC’s key objectives are as follows.

  • Provide timely, culturally responsive support to individuals and families experiencing emotional distress, family conflict or crisis.
  • Prevent and respond to domestic and family violence, self-harm, substance misuse, gambling-related harm and suicidal behaviour, with particular attention to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
  • Support people affected by domestic violence through counselling, trauma-informed assistance, ADVO-related liaison, guidance on legal and service pathways, language support, emergency accommodation referrals and longer-term planning.
  • Help reconnect affected people with overseas family members and, where relevant, appropriate legal professionals or government agencies in Australia and overseas.
  • Assist new migrants and international students with local orientation, settlement, community integration and referral to suitable education and support services.
  • Improve employment outcomes through job counselling, resume and cover-letter support, interview preparation, workshops, work experience, referrals and career pathway assistance.
  • Increase digital inclusion through digital literacy, digital health literacy and cyber security awareness, especially for seniors and other disadvantaged groups.
  • Promote independence and wellbeing for seniors and people with disabilities through social support, personalised assistance and NDIS services.
  • Support international students and make them Job Ready through ISC’s internship program.
  • Strengthen the wider community through accessible Notary Public and Justice of the Peace services, affordable community printing, cultural activities and collaboration with other charitable organisations.
  • Maintain sound governance, including operating a public fund in accordance with ISC’s Constitution.