Lending a hand to thrive: supporting multicultural families

This year’s National Families Week theme — Lending a hand to thrive: supporting each other — is perfectly captured in the work of Intereach’s multicultural services staff. 

As one of nine Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program team members, Sammi Fox is making a difference to the lives of newly arrived families by giving them the tools they need to make their new country a place they can call home. 

With a passion to help multicultural families overcome barriers, Sammi’s work is driven by her deep commitment to cultural understanding and community integration.  

“I’ve been working in settlement services for several years now, and I truly believe in the SETS model,” she said.  

“It’s not just about helping individuals — it’s about supporting entire families to settle, thrive, and become part of the wider community. I love seeing people gain confidence, find jobs, and feel like they belong.” 

Sammi understands the migrant journey not just through her work, but through lived experience.  

Originally from Casablanca, Morocco, she was raised in a close-knit family that valued education, hard work, and strong community bonds.  

Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature, Science, and Humanities from Hassan University and fluent in Moroccan Arabic and French, Sammi’s future looked bright, but nothing could fully prepare her for the leap of faith she took in 2006, when she moved to Australia with her husband. 

Settling on a rural farm 30km from Swan Hill, Sammi found herself isolated and starting from scratch — with little English, no transport, and no connection to the local community.  

“Travelling halfway around the world and starting from scratch was one of the biggest challenges of my life,” she said.  

“But I quickly learned that the key to settling well is connection. Supporting my children in school and community activities helped me build relationships and that’s where everything started to change.” 

A Helping Hand  

Sammi didn’t just stop at finding her own path — she made it her mission to help others.  

With further qualifications in welfare and community services, she joined Intereach’s Settlement Engagement and Transition Support (SETS) program, where she now supports newly arrived migrants and refugees to build a life in the Swan Hill region. 

Her role is all about lending a hand so others can thrive — whether that’s helping families navigate housing, education, employment, health, or local services.

The program offers workshops on everything from fire safety to Aussie slang, as well as creating opportunities for social connection and cultural exchange.  

“We do whatever we can to help people feel informed and included,” Sammi said.  

“When families feel supported, they’re more likely to stay, participate, and thrive.” 

Building futures for families 

What brings Sammi the most joy is seeing families grow in confidence and independence. 

“I remember thinking learning about Australian workplace culture was pointless — now, I’m the one delivering those workshops,” she laughs.  

“It’s so rewarding to see people take those first steps towards building a future.” 

Her message for new families is one of encouragement. 

“No matter what challenges you face, it does get easier — and there are people here who want to help you succeed,” she said. 

“Don’t be afraid to reach out. We all need a hand sometimes.” 

For more information about SETS, click here.

“By supporting and valuing our families, we are creating stronger more connected communities, which is at the heart of Intereach.” 

If you, or someone you know, needs support, please contact the Intereach team on 1300 488 226, or go to www.intereach.com.au