IWE – Migrant & Refugee Settlement – CMRC | Community Migrant Resource Centre

INDIAN WOMEN EMPOWER (IWE)

Established by CMRC, IWE supports Indian and Subcontinent women in their settlement in Australia, and addresses key issues including relationships, domestic violence, and employment challenges by providing education, awareness, and guidance.

About IWE

Indian Women Empower (IWE) was established by Community Migrant Resource Centre to address the challenges facing Indian and Subcontinent women in their settlement in Australia. We are a group of like-minded women aiming to address and support women going through relationship issues, domestic violence, employment challenges by providing education, awareness, and guidance for those who seek help to lead a fuller life through life skills, confidence building and skill development.

IWE was formally launched on 6th March 2020 in Parramatta at the Old Government House which also coincided with International Women’s Day and NSW Women’s week. The launch was attended by over 200 people and was a huge success.

At the end of June 2019, 660,350 Indian-born people were living in Australia, more than twice the number (307,590) on 30 June 2009. This makes the Indian-born population the third largest migrant community in Australia after the United Kingdom and China, equivalent to 8.8 per cent of Australia’s overseas-born population and 2.6 per cent of Australia’s total population. 1 Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Migration Australia.

Australian 2016 census shows that Indian migrant population increased significantly to 1.9 % (455,389) of the total population of 24.4 million in Australia.

With large increase of Indian migrants settling in Australia, IWE aims at understanding, exploring, and providing support through a Culture of Sisterhood & services.

Who We Are, Our Vision & Aims

IWE ‘s strategic vision seeks to inspire & empower all Indian women including Business Owners, Professionals, housewives and others to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time namely, Domestic & Family Violence and unemployment, underemployment or the ability to gain meaningful employment & to create strong vibrant women and families by reducing familial inequality and strengthening relationships within the family.

IWE was established by the CMRC to address the complex relational and multifaceted nature of issues facing Indian women in their settlement in Australia.

Indian Women Empower IWE is a not-for-profit group of dedicated and committed women seeking to provide employment pathways and domestic violence services to vulnerable women from the Indian diaspora.

IWE aims to provide a national protection platform for Indian women on safety, security and employment issues impacting them.

It seeks to address, safety, unequal relationships, hidden abuse in relationships, employment barriers, self-care, confidence building, mentoring and capacity building along with a strong community voice.

It aims to provide a platform to coach women towards building confidence, self-esteem and develop skills (Communication skills, Job readiness, Grooming)

It aims to provide an opportunity for Indian Women to seek employment opportunities from peers, networks and those that are well-placed.

It seeks to mentor and encourage vulnerable women to come out of the confines of their home and help develop a Sense of Purpose & Belonging.

It aims to provide a platform for Indian Women to act as a collective and to develop a culture of sisterhood.

Who For?

Indian Women from these backgrounds:

Business Professionals
Entrepreneurs
Educationists
Change makers / housewives
Leaders
Champions
Mentors
Jobseekers

Dowry Abuse Project

CMRC IWE hosted the screening of two short films on Domestic Violence and Dowry Abuse presented and directed by Pankaj Upadhayay and Taufeeq Ahmed Sheikh for NSW Police at Event Cinemas Castle Hills & Event Cinemas Top Ryde followed by Panel discussions by experts.

Let’s Start a Conversation: Breaking the Silence

Empowering Women & Building Healthy Relationships
The Macarthur Region witnessed the beginning of an important movement with the “Let’s Start a Conversation: Breaking the Silence” event—an initiative focused on empowering women and fostering healthy relationships. This marks the first of many such events in the region, aimed at creating safe spaces for dialogue and support for domestic and family violence survivors.

Global Empower Her: A Transformative Collaboration

The Global Empower Her event, hosted by the Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC) under the Indian Women’s Empower (IWE) initiative, has led to a groundbreaking collaboration with the Women’s State Commission, Haryana, reinforcing efforts to combat domestic violence. This partnership between two organisations and between two countries symbolizes a shared vision of empowering women by providing legal and emotional support to those in need. Through global connections and collective action, IWE and CMRC are working to create a safer, more equitable future where every woman has the strength and resources to rebuild her life.

INDIAN WOMEN EMPOWER (IWE)

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