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SydWest welcomes budget investments but warns equity gaps remain (Talent/Expert Alert = Elfa Moraitakis)

SydWest Multicultural Services

Key Facts:

• $308.6 million investment over five years for domestic, family and sexual violence response programmes
• Over £80 million allocated for migrant skills recognition and migration pathways, despite 3.6% decrease in overall multicultural affairs spending
• $3.7 billion budgeted for aged care support, though concerns remain about access and waiting lists exceeding 200,000 people
• Implementation challenges identified in NDIS reforms, particularly affecting multicultural communities
• Growing systemic barriers noted across multiple sectors including aged care, disability services and women's safety programmes, especially impacting marginalised communities

SydWest welcomes targeted investments in the Federal Budget, particularly in women’s safety and workforce participation, while warning that without stronger implementation many communities risk being left behind.

The organisation welcomes the Government’s $308.6 million commitment over five years to strengthen responses to domestic, family, and sexual violence. “This investment recognises the urgency and scale of the issue, and the importance of supporting women and children leaving unsafe relationships,” SydWest CEO Elfa Moraitakis said.

SydWest also welcomes more than $80 million in funding for migrant skills recognition and skilled migration pathways, noting the role migrants play in addressing workforce shortages. However, the organisation expressed concern that overall spending on multicultural affairs and citizenship will decline to $301.1 million, a 3.6% decrease that does not reflect the contribution of migrants to Australia’s economy.

Across the broader system, SydWest said key challenges remain ensuring that investment translates into equitable access, particularly for diverse and marginalised communities. Concerns are especially acute in aged care. While the Budget includes $3.7 billion to support older Australians, including fully funded personal care, dementia support and expanded residential capacity, significant uncertainty remains around access. More than 200,000 older Australians are currently waiting for a Support at Home package or assessment, with no clear timeline for addressing the backlog. “For multicultural communities, longstanding barriers such as language and system complexity make this uncertainty even more acute,” Ms Moraitakis said. “Showering being free does not matter if care itself is not guaranteed. Too many older Australians are waiting without certainty and that is an equity failure.”

Similar risks were identified in reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). While SydWest supports long-term sustainability, it says tighter access without operational alternative supports could result in service gaps, particularly for multicultural communities facing barriers. “We support reform, but if equity is not built into implementation, systems will work well for some and leave others behind,” Ms Moraitakis said.

SydWest said patterns are emerging across aged care, disability, migration, and women’s safety: rising demand, tightening systems and growing barriers for those least able to navigate complexity. “If we are serious about building a fair and inclusive Australia, our systems must work for everyone, not just those best placed to access them,” Ms Moraitakis said.

About us:

SydWest Multicultural Services is a leading Western Sydney community services organisation delivering programs that support seniors, disability participants, women, youth, families and multicultural communities to thrive. Through partnerships, advocacy and place‑based initiatives, SydWest works to create more belonged communities.

Contact details:

Peter Skarparis

Head of Marketing & Communications

SydWest Multicultural Services

Phone: 0434403273

Email: [email protected]