Catholic Care Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains (WSBM) has welcomed a renewed five-year partnership with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) to expand its Families Together program, aimed at keeping vulnerable children safely at home.
The organisation has been selected to continue delivering the program across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, with a focus on early intervention, practical support and strengthening family relationships.
The initiative forms part of the NSW Government’s redesigned family preservation system, which aims to improve outcomes for children by supporting families earlier and keeping children safely at home wherever possible, according to the Department of Communities and Justice.
Catholic Care WSBM Managing Director Helen Emmerson said the renewed partnership responds to growing demand across one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most diverse regions.
“Our Families Together program reflects a shared commitment between Catholic Care WSBM and DCJ to place children’s wellbeing at the centre, while recognising the dignity and potential of every family,” Ms Emmerson said.
“Keeping families together safely has been our focus for the last few years, and I am pleased to expand our services to the many people who require our help.
“Last year alone, we supported more than 510 clients across our family services, most from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and First Nations families.”
Western Sydney continues to experience rapid population growth and increasing social complexity, with community organisations reporting rising demand for early-intervention support as families face cost-of-living pressures, housing stress and other challenges.
Catholic Care WSBM is one of several Catholic agencies partnering with the New South Wales Government under the family preservation model.
Other providers include CatholicCare Broken Bay, CatholicCare Wollongong and MacKillop Family Services, delivering supports across the state, such as intensive in-home assistance and therapeutic interventions for families with complex needs.
The Families Together program provides tailored, strengths-based support designed to address immediate concerns while building long-term stability, including parenting support, connection to services and assistance navigating complex systems.
Fr Fernando Montano, episcopal vicar for social services at the Diocese of Parramatta, said the program reflects the church’s mission to accompany families in times of difficulty.
“In Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, we see both incredible strength and real need within families,” Fr Montano said.
“This program reflects the church’s ongoing commitment to accompanying people in those moments of difficulty, and to ensuring that families are supported to grow in safety, dignity and hope.”
The renewed partnership will allow Catholic Care WSBM to expand its services over the next five years, supporting more families to remain safely together and reducing the need for children to enter out-of-home care.
