When the winners of the 2025 Community Achievement Awards were announced on Saturday 29 November, Sister Mona Mohamed stood proudly among the finalists, appropriately nominated for the “Local Legend” category.
Sister Mona is the Founder and Chief Executive of Community Support Services Inc. (CSSI) and for the past eight years, she has devoted much of her time building pathways to independence for marginalised families across Western Sydney.
Through CSSI, she oversees more than 25 programs each year, supporting over 13,000 people with education, employment and wellbeing initiatives.
Her work ranges from food security and emergency relief to women’s empowerment, youth support and skills training.
CSSI headquarters in Bankstown – just a stone’s throw from the local railway station – is always a hive of activity.
During the pandemic, Mona’s Village Pantry redistributed an extraordinary 265,000kg of food to 50,000 individuals.
Meanwhile, the Sew Good Program continues to grow, teaching women to repurpose clothing, build confidence and gain employable skills.
Since AMUST’s last visit in mid-2024, CSSI has added a major upgrade: an impressive, commercial-grade kitchen where volunteers prepare wholesome, healthy meals for people experiencing homelessness.
The kitchen hums throughout the week, reinforcing the “village” atmosphere that CSSI has become known for.
For Mona, this latest award nomination is about responsibility, not recognition.
“It’s very humbling,” she told AMUST.
“Yes, community awards add credibility to what CSSI does and what we stand for, but I’m not in it for the limelight.”
“What I do is for the sake of Allah and for the people who walk through our doors needing support.”
A mother of six, the former teacher brings to her work a deep sense of empathy and grit.
Her own journey through trauma and mental health challenges shaped her understanding of what true wraparound support looks like.
That insight has helped transform CSSI over the past seven years into a safe landing place for thousands across Canterbury-Bankstown – women rebuilding their lives, seniors battling isolation, refugees finding their feet, people with disabilities seeking connection, men facing homelessness….and more.
“Our job is to give everyone the chance to thrive, not just survive,” Mona says.
Mona (left) pictured with Princess R. Lakshman a wellness professional, writer and regular AMUST contributor.
“When people come to CSSI, they’re joining a community; they’re not alone.”
Her leadership remains anchored in service and in the belief that practical tools and opportunities can change lives.
“Whether it’s through sewing, food relief, training programs or casework, we’re opening doors to independence – and that’s the heart of our work.”
As the 2025 Community Achievement Awards celebrate those making a difference across NSW and the ACT, Mona’s nomination stands as recognition of a woman whose “village” has become a lifeline for many.
“Join a village or grow your own,” she often says. “But whatever you do, don’t be alone.”
CSSI’s Village Pantry has been a phenomenal initiative over the years, feeding over 50,000 during the pandemic alone.
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