840
Inbound calls to our service.
SWDA
Empowering communitiesacross Victoria
What We Do
20+ integrated programs supporting African Australian families.
Person-centred, trauma-informed and culturally responsive support across Victoria.
What We Do
SWDA promotes positive change and social cohesion through more than 20 integrated programs for Somali, Djibouti, Ethiopian, Kenyan, Sudanese and South Sudanese communities from refugee and migrant backgrounds — settlement and employment support for African Australian jobseekers, the Educational Support Homework Club for primary and secondary school children (since 2007), mental health and wellbeing services, domestic and family violence response, health advice and information for the Somali Australian community, emergency food relief, housing advocacy, and community festivals and events — all delivered through a person-centred, trauma-informed and culturally responsive model.
Our ProgramsWomen Empowerment
At the core of Somali Women's Development Association Inc. (SWDA) is a commitment to empowering girls and women through leadership and advocacy. We focus on helping them understand and exercise their rights, both locally and globally, enabling them to become leaders in society.
SWDA is dedicated to ensuring that girls and women from Somali Australian and underprivileged backgrounds gain a respected and productive role in society. We provide opportunities for them to build dignity and confidence through education and employment, helping them overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.
Our organisation tirelessly supports those affected by domestic violence, raises awareness about healthcare services, and conducts workshops that educate girls and women about the importance of education and job opportunities. Through these efforts, we empower them to lead successful, independent lives.
Since our founding in May 2004, we have successfully delivered numerous projects that have positively impacted thousands of disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals from African Australian backgrounds. We specialise in providing support services for Victorian women and their children of Horn of African descent who are experiencing or at risk of family violence.
Understanding Family Violence
We provide specialist support services for Victorian Horn of African women and their children in Victoria who are experiencing or afraid of family violence.
Family violence is any threatening, coercive, dominating, or abusive behaviour that occurs between people in a family, domestic or intimate relationship, or former intimate relationship, that causes the person experiencing the behaviour to feel fear. Violence isn't just physical — emotional and psychological abuse can be just as damaging. Early signs of abuse or 'red flags' are an indication that a relationship has become unhealthy and could escalate into family violence.
If you or someone you know needs support, call SWDA on (03) 8596 7651 or 0432 231 141, or email admin@swdai.org.au. In an emergency, always call 000.
How SWDA Helped — 2019 to 2021
329
Beds provided in secure / safe accommodation.
129
Women supported in court and through other culturally appropriate approaches.
Support Our Family Violence Response
If you would like to assist Somali Women Development Association Inc. with a donation, you can use Donor Box or make a deposit to:
- Account name
- Somali Women Development Association Inc.
- BSB
- 063 132
- Account Number
- 1078 1447
- PayID
- 0432 231 141
Reference: Department of Health and Human Services — family violence response during coronavirus (COVID-19).
Family Violence — Video Resources
Watch and share these short videos to better understand family violence in Australia and the supports available.
How We Help
Our programs provide individuals and families from Somali, Djibouti, Ethiopian, Kenyan, Sudanese and South Sudanese refugee and migrant backgrounds with the essential support they need to build self-confidence, stability and lasting networks. Services are delivered free of charge in English, Somali, Arabic, Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromo, Swahili, Dinka and Nuer — referrals welcome from all sources, including self-referral.
Make a DifferencePartnerships
Partner with SWDA to create pathways in employment, education and community wellbeing.
SWDA builds practical, long-term partnerships with employers, government, philanthropy, corporate organisations and community services to deliver outcomes that are trusted, measurable and community-led.
Employer Partnerships
SWDA prepares African Australian jobseekers to enter the workforce with the right certifications, skills and confidence — and we match them to employers who are ready to hire. Our candidates come to you job-ready, pre-screened and supported.
Whether you are recruiting in security, disability support, aged care, logistics, hospitality, administration or community services, SWDA’s Employment Brokers can find, prepare and place the right candidate for your role.
Become an Employer PartnerGovernment & Philanthropic Partnerships
Supporting impactful programs that create real pathways in education, employment and community participation.
For over 21 years, SWDA has delivered on the ground what policy promises on paper — employment pathways, education support, housing advocacy, family violence response and community wellbeing for African Victorian families who face the greatest barriers to participation.
A partnership with SWDA is an investment in outcomes that are measurable, sustainable and community-owned. Whether through program co-funding, grant support or strategic collaboration, your investment reaches the families and individuals who need it most — and stays in the community long after the funding period ends.
Discuss a PartnershipCorporate Partnerships
SWDA offers corporate partners a genuine and meaningful way to embed social impact into their business — not through a donation form but through a real relationship.
Sponsor the Homework Club. Fund a cohort of jobseekers through the Employment Brokers Program. Provide in-kind professional services in legal, financial, IT or health. Send your team to volunteer at our Kensington or Flemington offices.
SWDA will work with you to design a partnership that aligns with your corporate social responsibility commitments and delivers outcomes you can report on with pride.
Partner with SWDACommunity Organisation Partnerships
SWDA actively builds referral and collaboration partnerships with neighbourhood houses, community health services, legal aid providers, settlement agencies, schools, early childhood services and other community organisations across Melbourne’s inner north-west and broader Victoria.
If your organisation serves Somali, Ethiopian, Eritrean, Djiboutian, Kenyan, Sudanese or South Sudanese community members — or any African Australian family — we want to know you. Warm referrals flow both ways, and together we achieve outcomes neither of us can achieve alone.
Connect with SWDAWhy Partner with SWDA?
For more than two decades, SWDA has delivered culturally responsive programs grounded in trust, lived experience and practical results for families across Victoria.
Employment Brokers Workshops
Jobseeker workshops that build confidence and readiness.
The Employment Brokers Workshops were highly successful, with positive feedback from jobseekers who attended. Participants highlighted that the workshops provided valuable information, practical support and increased confidence in their employment journey.
Employment Brokers Workshops — Jobseeker Feedback
Jobseeker 1: Suleiman
“The workshop was very helpful and gave me a better understanding of how to prepare for employment. I learned how to improve my resume, prepare for interviews, and present my skills and experience with more confidence. The support and advice provided were very valuable.”
Jobseeker 2: Naima
“I really appreciated the opportunity to attend this workshop. The information shared was practical and easy to understand. I gained more knowledge about employment pathways, workplace expectations, and the steps I need to take to achieve my career goals.”
Jobseeker 3: Abdullahi
“This workshop helped me build my confidence and motivated me to continue looking for work. The facilitator understood the challenges faced by jobseekers and provided culturally appropriate advice and encouragement. I feel more prepared for future job opportunities.”
Jobseeker 4: Emmanual
“The workshop was a great experience. I learned about available employment support services, training opportunities, and ways to improve my job readiness. I feel more confident and supported in my employment journey after attending.”
Overall, the workshops created a supportive environment where jobseekers gained practical skills, increased confidence and received guidance to improve their readiness for employment opportunities.