Helping migrant parents settle in

Rydalmere Public School Community Hub
__Committed. Focused. Approachable __

Seethalakshmi (Seetha) Srinivasan helps migrant parents settle into a new life and education system and is a pillar of support for isolated women.

As community liaison officer at Rydalmere Public School, she coordinates various programs to make parents feel included, empowered and confident to thrive.

Seetha is an immigrant herself and can empathise with how difficult the parents can find it to start a new life in a new country with different laws, a new language and new cultural expectations.

She slowly introduces parents to Australian culture through a variety of programs. These include English classes for migrant women, bubs and books, walking groups and pathways to employment.

“Ten women found jobs through our programs,” Seetha says. “I feel proud and thankful that I can help.”

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, she has supported mothers with home-schooling and technology. One of the challenges was the cost of masks, so she organised a workshop where 30 mums learned how to make fabric masks for their families.

Seetha is delighted to be nominated as a Westfield Local Hero. “It is an acknowledgement of the importance of my work. With this nomination, I am more encouraged to do my best to enrich the lives of people in the community, especially the ones who are vulnerable.”

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. Rydalmere Public School Community Hub will use its funds to provide swimming, driving and first aid lessons to families.

For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here