Everyone knows that Western Sydney is changing. The region has high population growth, is attracting major infrastructure investment, and is home to a burgeoning food and arts culture.

Another exciting major change has recently hit Western Sydney: it is now home to a brand new SIMNA Chapter – SIMNA Western Sydney (SIMNA WS).

Last year, SIMNA NSW held a breakfast workshop in Parramatta. It was the first SIMNA NSW event held outside of the Sydney CBD since breakfast workshops began more than six years ago.

Parramatta was a logical choice: the city is an employment hub for Western Sydney, and closer to home for many SIMNA NSW members. Almost a year later, and SIMNA WS has just launched. We held our first meeting at the WESTIR Ltd offices in

Western Sydney covers a large area, from the Hawkesbury and the Hills Shire in the north, Blue Mountains in the west, Camden, Campbelltown and Wollondilly in the south and Parramatta in the east. There are close to 390 charities that are concentrated in the city centres of Parramatta, Westmead, Blacktown and Penrith, with many of these organisations using (or having an interest in using) social impact measurement principles to understand the impact of their work.

There are also many professionals in the region at various government levels and in the corporate sector that would benefit from learning and connecting with this community of practice. We believe the demand for sharing and learning about social impact measurement exists and that SIMNA WS could work!

We’re looking for people to join the SIMNA WS Committee. If you’d like to actively support and foster social impact in Western Sydney, get in touch!

Christina Jarron and Amy Lawton

SIMNA WS Committee Members

August 2018