Parents Cafe Fairfield Inc.

The project eventually developed into a regular ‘Parents’ Café’, offering a space for parents to come together and discuss settlement issues and solutions. Coming together over a plate of food helps to connect new arrivals with other parents from the Fairfield High School who share similar experiences
from their refugee background and rich cultural heritage. The service has grown to include
information sessions on various types of occupational training, information and introduction to local services as well as a welcoming, casual atmosphere to meet people, share experiences and make friends.
Through consultations and feedback from the participants it was identified that parents were facing other issues of settlement that needed attention. The program expanded its services and established a settlement program that targeted parents and designed programs that included social inclusion and belonging, exploring Australian life styles and systems, for example health, education, the Australian law, connecting with other services and developing new skills such as English conversational classes, computer classes and trades and skills accredited TAFE courses that the parents can access.