This paper describes the first stages of an innovative project, being conducted by Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Services through funding from the Department of Family and Community Services Stronger Families and Communities Strategy, aimed at addressing a range of needs of parents from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD), particularly sole parents and those on temporary protection visas, who live in the western suburbs of Sydney. The main objective is to provide access to services available to the general community; as such families are often unable for varied reasons to use such services. This will be achieved by providing a spectrum of services in co-operation with other service providers, including social, recreational activities, as well as educational and information workshops, with a focus on enhancing parenting skills. The long-term aim is to develop and strengthen the capacity of highly vulnerable CaLD communities to create a safe and supportive environment in which children are encouraged to realize their full potential. The specific communities involved include young children and their families from Afghani, Iraqi, Iranian, Sudanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Somalia, Kurdish, Khmer, Filipino, Tamil, and Sinhalese backgrounds, as well as Temporary Protection Visa holders from these and other countries. As such communities are small and emerging, and therefore, less resourced, they are generally overlooked by service providers when planning for services.

The paper will focus on the development of the service, in particular, the framework for service provision and evaluation, as well as the strategies used to engage both communities and service providers in the challenging task of working across boundaries in novel ways to meet the needs of families unable to participate in mainstream services.