Making a difference,

community first

Making  a positive impact by creating and delivering initiatives that support and connect communities.

Years of operation

20+

500+

Tender Funerals

Projects

Across Illawarra & NSW

$100k+

Provided to artists in the region

$1 million

in No Interest Loans facilitated yearly

News and Events

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What We Do Together

No Interest Loans

Southern NILs provides zero-interest loans to low-income earners in the Illawarra — operating since 2005 and funded by NSW Fair Trading and the Department of Social Services via Good Shepherd.

Tender Funerals

Tender Funerals is a not-for-profit funeral service that ensures that those experiencing financial hardship/distress are able to access personalised, meaningful and affordable funerals.

Lantern Parade

Each year, Port Kembla Primary School students and community members carry hand-crafted lanterns through the streets in a magical lit-up procession. As part of this Free Lantern Making Workshops are held.

Jam N Bread

.A vibrant multicultural gathering where 50–100 community members come together to jam, bake bread, and share culture. Created to welcome new immigrants and refugees to the Illawarra since 2013.

Culture  Bank

A simple and powerful way to invest in the cultural life of the region. Supporting local artists, musicians, writers and film makers through funding and support programs

Men’s    Group

A regular peer support and social connection group for men in the Port Kembla community — a safe, welcoming space to connect, share, and support one another.

Sing & Grow

Delivered by musical therapists, this program focuses on strengthening family relationships, building capacity in parents to support their children’s development in the early years of life.

Sewing Group

A skills-focused sewing group built around zero-waste principles, bringing people together to learn, create, and reduce textile waste in the community

We are a charity and a not-for-profit organisation based in Port Kembla.

Make a difference in your community by becoming a volunteer or donating to one of our projects.

Local, Regional, and National Projects.

Funders

  • Regional NSW

    Funder for Tender Funerals Renovation

    website

  • Port Kembla Community Investment Fund

    Funders for Tender Funerals renovation

    website

  • Fair Trading NSW

    Funder for NILs

    website

  • Good Shepard

    Funder for NILs

    website

  • Planning Industry and Environment

    Funders

    website

  • Communities and Justice NSW

    Funder for Community Development

    website

  • Multicultural NSW

    Contributors for Jam n Bread

    website

  • Wollongong Council

    Funding Hall Refurbishment

    website

  • Culture Bank Members

    Individual donations through memberships

    website
find out more

Find out more about us!

Supporters and Partners

Our Community Project acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which our company is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present. [Organisation] is committed to honouring Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society.

Aunty Lorraine and Aunty Narelle from Coomaditchie United Aboriginal Corporation were engaged last year by Wollongong City Council to upgrade the artwork on the Welcome Totems at the entrance to the Community Centre.