Welcome to Canterbury Community Centre
Supporting Older People
At Canterbury City Community Centre we are committed to helping you live independently in your own home for as long as you are able.
Connecting our Community
We seek to build a strong healthy community and enhance opportunities and capacity for the individuals and families which live within it.
Skills Training & Resources
STARS delivers an exceptional program of learning and development for staff, volunteers and the Organisations which support them.
Celebrating 50 years
Canterbury City Community Centre has been serving the community for the last 50 years. Much has changed in 50 years but what has not changed, is our genuine commitment to the community we serve and our care.
Follow our 4Cs Community
🌈 Children’s Week 2026 🌍
This year’s theme celebrates every child’s right to use their own language, celebrate their culture and practise their religion.
At 4Cs, we celebrate the diversity of our community and believe every child deserves to feel welcome, valued and heard.
🎨 This year’s poster, created by 10-year-old Aurore, shares a message of kindness, respect and harmony.
Want to learn more 👉 https://childrensweek.org.au/about
We are delighted to announce that Romana Waseem is a finalist for the 2026 NSW Council of Social Service - @_ncoss_ Frontline Worker Award! 🎉
For 20 years, Romana has helped women from migrant and refugee backgrounds feel welcome, build confidence and find a sense of belonging in our local community. Having first connected with 4Cs through our Women to Work program after moving from Pakistan with her two young children, she brings personal understanding to her work supporting others as they settle into life in Australia.
Through programs such as Lakemba Ladies Lounge, Romana creates welcoming spaces where women can connect, share their skills, build friendships and access support. For many, these connections have opened doors to further study, volunteering and work.
Romana`s impact also extends to colleagues at 4Cs and other organisations. She generously shares her knowledge, helping others build trust and strengthen relationships with multicultural communities.
As Chaman Chaudary, a participant at Lakemba Ladies Lounge, shared:
“As migrants in Australia, many of us have left our families overseas. Romana makes people feel safe, valued and understood just like family. Her kindness and support have given comfort and strength to many women during difficult times, our community is truly grateful.”
Congratulations, Romana! Your warmth, leadership and dedication have helped women feel they belong, recognise their strengths and embrace new opportunities. We are proud to see your contribution to our community recognised. 💛
Every week, 72,000 people walk through the doors of a Neighbourhood or Community Centre in NSW. At 4Cs, we see the difference these places make in helping people feel connected and supported.
As our CEO, Esta Paschalidis-Chilas OAM says:
“We are a bridge to opportunity, social justice, equity and hope.”
“While the NSW government provides much needed project specific funding, we do not receive core funding that would assist our future sustainability.”
4Cs is joining our peak body, Local Community Services Association (LCSA), in calling on all parties and candidates to commit to sustainable core funding for every Neighbourhood and Community Centre in NSW.
✍️ Sign the petition: https://www.megaphone.org.au/petitions/fund-neighbourhood-and-community-centres-as-essential-social-infrastructure
Together, we can help ensure our centres remain there for the communities who need them.
It’s Anti-Poverty Week | 11–17 October 2026
At 4Cs, we believe everyone deserves access to the essentials, support when they need it and a sense of belonging.
We’re committed to supporting our local community and joining efforts to end poverty in Australia.
👉 Poverty exists. Poverty hurts. But together, we can change it.
Learn more: https://antipovertyweek.org.au/
#EndChildPoverty #AntiPovertyWeek
🌟 Mental Health Month 2026: A Little Connection Goes a Long Way
At 4Cs, we’re recognising October as Mental Health Month and celebrating the everyday connections that support our wellbeing.
A chat with a neighbour, time with a pet, joining a local group or enjoying a favourite hobby, connection looks different for everyone. Whether it’s reaching out to others or taking a quiet moment for yourself, small acts can make a difference.
This October, make time for connection in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful to you. A friendly hello, a shared cuppa or a listening ear could mean more than you know.
Find out more @wayaheadmentalhealth
#MentalHealthMonth2025 #ALittleConnectionGoesALongWay
Every community deserves a trusted place to turn.
For Dot, being part of 4Cs means practical help to stay at home and friendships made through her much-loved Friday knitting and crochet group.
“They make me feel like part of a family,” she says.
Dot’s story shows what local support and connection can mean. It’s why Canterbury City Community Centre (4Cs) is supporting Local Community Services Association’s Core Funding for Stronger Communities campaign, calling for secure, ongoing funding for Neighbourhood and Community Centres across NSW.
“Please sign the petition to help us keep assisting people like Dot. She is one person whose life we’ve had the honour to be part of and there are thousands of people like her.
We make gardens safe, take people on outings to spend time with friends, help them get to appointments, provide women’s groups for connection, and offer access to classes and courses to realise their aspirations. We support people in ways they need and value.
By signing the petition, you’ll help us secure the important core funding we need to keep responding to the needs of our ever-changing community.” - Esta, CEO, 4Cs
💜 Help ensure every community has a trusted place to turn. Sign the petition and share this post:
https://www.lcsansw.org.au/Public/Our-Work/Projects/Core_Funding_for_Stronger_Communities_Campaign.aspx
📖 Want to read more about Dot? Find her story on page 25 of our Year in Review 2025 🔗link in bio
