Connect
Grow relationships. Meet new women. Make new friends. SWIC has been supporting women new to Sydney for over two decades.
Welcoming women from all over the world
Whether you are coming to Sydney to live for the first time, or returning after an absence, relocating can be a lonely and challenging time. At Sydney Women’s International Club we would like to extend a warm welcome to new members, with the offer of friendship, support, cultural exchange and activities encompassing the very best of what Sydney has to offer.
SWIC is affiliated with other international women’s associations and is non-political, non-religious, non-commercial and welcomes women of all nationalities, including Australians.
We acknowledge and respect the cultures represented among our SWIC membership and within the greater community.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and recognise their connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
What members say about SWIC
“I Love SWIC!”
“I came to live in Sydney in September 2012, having been widowed in February of that year. Other than my daughter and her family, who already lived here, I had no contacts at all. SWIC has been my lifeline and the prime mover in helping me make a fresh start in this beautiful city.”
“I’m very happy to have found SWIC”
“For me, it is a great chance to learn about Sydney and explore different parts of the city, to find friends, to see how people live here. The women at SWIC are open minded, warm-hearted and interested in ‘newcomers’. That’s what I need, when I’m 15,000 kms from home and do not know anyone. It has been a great chance, too, to enlarge my knowledge of the English language.”
“It’s not easy to return to your homeland after 25 years overseas as an expat”
“It’s actually more challenging than starting again in a completely new country! When my husband and I returned to Sydney to retire in 2005 we found the usual fuss made on our short vacations was missing. Then I was introduced to SWIC and it was like stepping into a warm bath. I met friendly women of many nationalities, both expats and immigrants, returned expats like myself and Sydney women who were interested in more than which school you went to. I have made lifelong friendships through SWIC and have rediscovered Sydney.”
“It was the right decision to join SWIC”
“I emigrated from Macedonian in 1989 to the USA and then moved to Sydney in 2003. Sydney became my permanent residence, and I always like to meet friends who have lived in different countries with similar life experiences. My Uzbekistan friend told me about SWIC. She said, “Sonja it will be good for you to meet other women who have lived in different parts of the world”. So I became a SWIC member in August 2012. I have not regretted it. Now that I’m busy with work and do not have time for the weekly SWIC events, I am pleased to be able to attend some of the evening groups.”
Activities
With some 28 different activities and interest groups getting together weekly or monthly, there is always something to do and people to connect with.
Events
Attend special events. SWIC organises trips to the theatre, art exhibitions, shows and more, enabling a diverse and rich life with like-minded people.