Events

CASS Marks 45 Years of Community Service

CASS celebrated its 45^th anniversary at the Canterbury League Club on 8 March 2026, marking over four decades of dedicated service to multicultural communities. Founded in 1981 by a group of passionate individuals, CASS has grown into a leading community services provider supporting families across Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.

More than 220 guests attended the milestone event. The Hon Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW attended as the guest-of-honour. Special guests included The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship; The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Social Services, was represented by Ms Ash Ambihaipahar MP, Federal Member for Barton; Ms Sally Sitou MP, Federal Member for Reid; The Hon Steve Kamper MP, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, was represented by The Hon Sophie Cotsis MP, NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, and Minister for Work Health and Safety; Mr Jason Li MP, State Member for Strathfield; Ms Kellie Sloane MP, State Opposition Leader, was represented by Mr Mark Coure MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism; Mr Alister Henskens MP, Shadow Special Minister of State, and Shadow Minister for Government Accountability; Mr Matt Cross MP, State Member for Davidson; Mr Mark Hodges MP, State Member for Castle Hill; The Hon. Damien Tudehope MLC, Shadow Minister for Youth Justice; Ms Jenny Leong MP, State Member for Newtown; Clr Bilal El-Hayek, Mayor of Canterbury Bankstown Council; Clr Michael Megna, Mayor of Canada Bay Council; as well as Councillors of several other local Councils; Multicultural NSW Chair, Mr Simon Chan AM. The celebration also welcomed numerous government department officials, community leaders, CASS partners, volunteers, and staff members.

45 Years of Community Impact

Professor Stephen Li AM, Chairperson of CASS, acknowledged the organisation’s achievements:

“Each week, we proudly support more than 8,500 families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Singaporean, Pilipino and many others. Through a comprehensive range of services, from early childhood education and disability support to settlement services, residential care, and home-aged care, we are committed to enhancing social inclusion and community wellbeing. None of our progress over the past 45 years would have been possible without the dedication of our more than 850 staff members and over 450 active volunteers, whose passion drives our mission forward.”

During the celebration, CASS recognised long-serving staff members and volunteers from multicultural backgrounds who have contributed 20 years or more to the organisation, presenting them with the CASS Service Award in honour of their commitment.

Supporting Communities to Thrive

The Guest of Honour, The Hon Chris Minns MP, Premier of NSW, praised CASS as a trusted and leading provider of community services, highlighting its essential role in supporting multicultural communities and responding to their evolving needs.

The Hon Tony Burke MP, Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration and Citizenship, acknowledged the leadership of CASS in delivering a wide range of programs and promoting community resilience.

Mr Mark Coure MP, NSW Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism, represented Ms Kellie Sloane MP, State Opposition Leader, in congratulating CASS on its success and sharing her video message, which expressed admiration for the organisation’s positive impact on the community.

Throughout their speeches, other guests reflected on years of collaboration with CASS, highlighting the organisation’s contribution to the community.

45^th Anniversary Video Launch

The event then featured the launch of a commemorative 45^th Anniversary video, available in six languages, showcasing the humble beginnings of CASS and recent developments in new service areas. The organisation reaffirmed its ongoing commitment responding to community needs with compassion and excellence.

The celebration concluded with multicultural performances that reflected the rich diversity of the communities CASS serves, followed by a birthday cake cutting to mark this significant milestone.