ABOUT US
WHO WE ARE
AUSTRALIAN-GERMAN WELFARE SOCIETY of SYDNEY
At the Australian German Welfare Society (AGWS), our mission is to support Australians with a German-speaking background — especially those who migrated many years ago and now call Australia home.
Our clients are mainly elderly migrants, many of whom have built their lives and families here. As they grow older, maintaining social connections and a sense of belonging becomes increasingly important.
Through regular meetings, group activities, and social outings, we provide a warm and welcoming environment where people can come together, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company. These gatherings help foster trust, friendship, and mutual support — and play a vital role in reducing loneliness and isolation, challenges that too often accompany old age.
At AGWS, community and companionship are at the heart of everything we do. Together, we help ensure that no one feels alone.
Our clients are mainly elderly migrants, many of whom have built their lives and families here. As they grow older, maintaining social connections and a sense of belonging becomes increasingly important.
Through regular meetings, group activities, and social outings, we provide a warm and welcoming environment where people can come together, share stories, and enjoy each other’s company. These gatherings help foster trust, friendship, and mutual support — and play a vital role in reducing loneliness and isolation, challenges that too often accompany old age.
At AGWS, community and companionship are at the heart of everything we do. Together, we help ensure that no one feels alone.
Our History
The story of the Australian German Welfare Society (AGWS) goes back to the early 1950s, when post-war migration from Germany to Australia was at its peak. In 1952, Dr. Heinz Hess, the first German Ambassador to arrive in Australia after the Second World War, landed in Sydney with his wife Johanna. During their time in Australia, around 50,000 Germans immigrated here — many of them young men and their families, recruited by Australian immigration officers to work on major projects such as the Warragamba Dam and Port Kembla.
At that time, new immigrants were not eligible for government social services during their first five years in Australia. When accidents or deaths occurred, families were often left without any financial or social support — and help was urgently needed. In response, Johanna Hess gathered a group of dedicated women in 1953 and founded the Australian-German Relief Society to assist those in need. The initiative began in Sydney and soon expanded to Melbourne.
At that time, new immigrants were not eligible for government social services during their first five years in Australia. When accidents or deaths occurred, families were often left without any financial or social support — and help was urgently needed. In response, Johanna Hess gathered a group of dedicated women in 1953 and founded the Australian-German Relief Society to assist those in need. The initiative began in Sydney and soon expanded to Melbourne.
The Society’s first president in Sydney was Maria von Hein, who was succeeded a year later by Irmhild Beinssen. Under Frau Beinssen’s leadership, the Society became a well-established organisation, offering financial and social assistance to German immigrants and working closely with the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS). She led the Society for more than 20 years, guiding it with compassion and dedication.
The organisation, now known as the Australian German Welfare Society (AGWS), received early financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany. Thanks to the generosity of Hedwig Zaky, a close friend of Irmhild Beinssen who bequeathed her house to the Society, AGWS was able to secure permanent premises. These serve as the organisation’s home base, providing space for meetings, social gatherings, and a source of income through the rental of the upper-floor rooms. Today, although no longer funded by the German government, the AGWS continues its important work thanks to bequests, donations, and ongoing fundraising efforts by its committee and supporters.
Through the decades, the spirit of compassion and community established by Johanna Hess and her circle of dedicated women continues to guide the AGWS — supporting Australians of German-speaking background and keeping their sense of belonging alive.
Through the decades, the spirit of compassion and community established by Johanna Hess and her circle of dedicated women continues to guide the AGWS — supporting Australians of German-speaking background and keeping their sense of belonging alive.