IWWA was founded in 2000 by a group of dedicated Muslim sisters committed to providing efficient, professional and effective services for Muslim women of Sydney in general and particularly of Canterbury / Bankstown local government areas.
It was founded to cater for the growing population of Muslim women in these areas who are from various cultural backgrounds and who are disadvantaged due to the lack of social support networks, low socio-economic circumstances, aswell as language and culture barriers which affect access to mainstream services.
In 2000 IWWA conducted a survey to assess the needs of the women in the Muslim community. This survey showed that there was a need for more Islamic education classes for non-Arabic speaking women (many of them converts) and their children and also activities to build strong social support networks amongst the Muslim families in the community. It is a policy of the Association to re-assess the community's needs from time to time and endeavour to provide appropriate programs and projects.
Initially IWWA's Centre premises in Lakemba was rented but through the generous donations of the Muslim community and fundraising efforts, IWWA was able to put a deposit on the property when it came up for sale in 2003 and gain an interest free loan to buy the premises.
IWWA's premises and all of its equipment is WAQF, that is, it belongs to the Muslim community. If ever IWWA dissolved, the premises and all of its equipment would be handed over to a responsible Islamic organisation.
On the 3rd April 2001 the Association became incorporated with the name "Islamic Women's Welfare Association Inc."
iwwa1@bigpond.com.au
