From one suitcase to a thriving community—the Zimbabwean Association in Australia (ZIMAA) has stood with Zimbabweans in NSW for 21 years, with aims to grow alongside your dreams and milestones.
We’re not just about where we’ve come from—we’re focused on where we’re going.
Because survival isn’t enough. We want connection, belonging, and thriving. A wealth that lasts.
Now, we’re building a hub for support, growth, and celebration—and becoming the peak body that sources funding to power community-led change. Be a part of the change.
Together, we go further—refining what’s possible.
The Zimbabwean Association in Australia (ZIMAA) was established in 2004, born from a simple but powerful understanding: no one builds a life alone.
For many Zimbabweans arriving in New South Wales, the journey came with both hope and hardship—distance from family, cultural dislocation, and the challenge of starting again in an unfamiliar place. ZIMAA emerged as a community-led response to these realities. It began with people showing up for one another: sharing information, offering comfort, celebrating familiar traditions, and recreating a sense of home far from home.
From those early beginnings, ZIMAA has grown into a trusted and enduring community organisation grounded in the values of Ubuntu / Chivanhu / Bantuism — I am because we are. These principles continue to guide everything we do.
Today, ZIMAA is more than an association. It is a living, breathing community where culture is preserved, wellbeing is nurtured, and belonging is intentionally created. We believe every person carries a story worth hearing, and that strong communities are built when people feel seen, supported, and connected.
Over the years, ZIMAA has created spaces that strengthen identity and bring people together across generations. Through our Zimbabwe Language School, delivered in partnership with Langdentity Language School, children and adults learn Shona and Ndebele, ensuring that language, heritage, and cultural pride are passed on to future generations.
Sport has also been a powerful connector within our community. Through our soccer club, the Sydney Zambezi Football Alliance, ZIMAA has participated every year in Zimbabwean soccer tournaments across Australia. We also proudly take part in the Africa Cup NSW, using sport as a tool for physical wellbeing, youth engagement, and cultural representation.
Care and compassion sit at the heart of who we are. Our women-led initiatives provide culturally grounded support during times of bereavement—offering comfort, presence, and solidarity when community members are at their most vulnerable. These acts of care reflect deeply held cultural values of collective healing and shared responsibility.
Celebration is equally important. Each year, ZIMAA hosts its Annual Dinner Gala, our flagship event that brings together community members, partners, and supporters. The Gala is a moment to honour service, celebrate achievement, strengthen relationships, and raise funds to sustain our programs.
Across two decades, ZIMAA has continued to evolve while remaining anchored in its founding purpose: reducing isolation, strengthening cultural identity, and supporting Zimbabweans to thrive in Australia. We are building roots for the next generation, bridges between cultures, and pathways toward collective wellbeing.
Whether you are newly arrived, seeking connection, celebrating milestones, navigating life’s harder seasons, or looking for ways to give back, ZIMAA is your home away from home.
Here, every story matters.
Here, we listen.
Here, we rise—together.
Whether you’re new to NSW or a longtime local, it can be hard to find the right support, the right connections, or even just a sense of belonging. ZIMAA (Zimbabwean Association of New South Wales) is here to change that for you.
We’re not just an organisation. We’re a movement built around your needs.
We’re going into the community to listen first, then lead.
Through our new campaign Your ZIMAA, Your Voice, we’re hitting the ground to hear what matters to you most:
Finance? Mental health? Relationships? Parenting? Home ownership? Business growth?
We’re not guessing. We’re asking.
And then, we’re turning what we hear into real action:
targeted workshops, masterclasses, and community events, all built from your voice. These will be free or subsidised for ZIMAA members, and accessible to the wider community at a cost.
This isn’t about ticking boxes — this is about real, measurable change in your life.
ZIMAA is a membership-based community, which means when you join, you don’t just belong, you benefit.
We offer different levels of membership, but our Platinum Membership is where real value lives:
Join ZIMAA Platinum Membership here and become part of a growing, vibrant movement that’s building for you, with you, and because of you.
ZIMAA is a registered not-for-profit, volunteer-powered organisation serving over 6,000 Zimbabweans in NSW. For over 21 years, we’ve walked with our people through the joys, struggles, and transitions of life in Australia.
We are:
No matter where you are on your journey ZIMAA is your home away from home.
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
