The new CEO of SCARF,Pippa Rendel (right), with outgoing Executive Officer Sherryl Reddy

Jamberoo’s Pippa Rendel has been made CEO of a community organisation founded to help refugees settle in the Illawarra.

SCARF stands for Strategic Community Assistance for Refugee Families. It has a 14 year track record of providing support to refugee entrants by creating connections that build a sense of belonging, promote social and economic inclusion, and empower individuals and families to lead independent lives.

SCARF services include befriending; education and tutoring programs for primary, secondary and tertiary students; continuous learning activities for adults(eg. citizenship studies,
job readiness support, CV-writing/interview skills); a learner driver mentor program; youth leadership initiatives; and social inclusion events.

Importantly, SCARF provides support for people with a refugee background long after the 18 months of government support ends.

Ms Rendel worked with SCARF for eight months as a Program Manager before being chosen for the new CEO role.

The daughter of prominent Kiama citizens, Sandy and Diane Rendel, Ms Rendel  returned from London to Jamberoo in 2015 to start a family with husband Guy.

As part of the Rutledge family, she is a 6th generation Jamberoo resident.

With a background in communications and social research, Ms Rendel has a strong track record in delivering social change programs and services.

Pippa Rendel and Sherryl Reddy enjoying an afternoon of word games and English conversation between people from refugee and non refugees backgrounds

“As a volunteer-powered organisation, SCARF is quite unique in its approach to welcoming refugee entrants and establishing friendships between people from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds as a foundation for successful settlement,” she says..

“I’m really looking forward to working together with the SCARF community – made up of so many inspiring people from refugee backgrounds, more than 250 dedicated volunteers, and a whole host of fabulous partners and supporters – as we continue SCARF’s mission of creating connections that celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and strengthen community.”

Find out more about SCARF at www.scarfsupport.org.au

Support SCARF’s art exhibition

SCARF’s long-standing charity art exhibition, know formerly as Art4Refugees, continues in 2019 under the new name of Hand in Hand.

The exhibition is a celebration of community, art and culture and is the organisation’s major annual fundraiser.

Emerging and established artists generously donate original works for sale.

The Opening Night on Friday 22 March is a ticketed event and will include an auction of three artworks by artists originally from Myanmar, Syria and Iran.

Details: 20–24 March,  Project Contemporary Artspace, 255 Keira Street, Wollongong. Tickets for the opening night from www.scarfhandinhand.org.au