For Equality of life

In the year 2000, SSI then called the New South Wales Migrant Resource Centre Association was established as a provider of refugee resettlement services by its members 11, multicultural and migrant resource centres. Our aim is to empower individuals, children, families and communities from diverse backgrounds and identities to fully participate in the economic, social, civic and diverse cultural life of Australia, creating a more equitable, resilient, enriched and inclusive society. Our predominantly bilingual and cross cultural workforce consists of more than 1000 staff and 140 volunteers speaking more than 100 languages between them.Today were in the top 0.4% of charities in the country. So we’ve gone from a flagship programme of refugee resettlement to now providing a range of services across disability employment and child and family programmes, to vulnerable Australians irrelevant visa type. Our vision and mission and purpose is really around to helping people meet their full potential.In 2013, SSI moved its head office to Ashfield to accommodate a growing workforce and service delivery portfolio. We are now based in communities across New South Wales, including four Sydney based offices and regional hubs. Most recently in 2018, we opened our Melbourne office and expanded into Queensland. These new locations have enabled us to work with communities at a grassroots level to ensure we’re meeting the unique needs of our clients across the Eastern Seaboard. Let’s go back to where it all started.(2000) When it started, it was very small organisation with a very big vision.After several years of successful service delivery, New South Wales Migrant Resource Centre Association rebranded as Settlement Services International, or SSI in 2005.A pivot on defining moment for SSI was when we managed to bring together 22 organisations in one consortium to provide settlement services to newly arrived refugees. When we received the phone call from the funder saying we were successful. It was an extraordinary feeling.SSI is constantly in touch with larger sectors of the community that want to welcome refugees, people seeking asylum and other migrants as equals. So we instigate many more unique self funded initiatives such as Ignite Small Business Startups, Work and Stay, our Arts and Culture program and our Diversity Training program.Without them, I wouldn’t be on the pathway towards obtaining my own financial independence and success.SSI has opened many doors for me throughout my journey in Australia throughout my career. In 2013, SSI launches the Multicultural Child and Family Program for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in New South Wales. In a single year, we support over 14,600 people with disability and their family members and carers. In 2020 SSI expanded our Disability Services further with the award of the Local Area Coordination Services for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The New South Wales Settlement Partnership (NSP) consortium is established. The partnership now delivers the new Settlement Services Program to new migrants, humanitarian entrants and refugees.SSI believed in my skills and they gave me the support and the help that I need.SSI diversifies into employment services offering wrap around tailored support to individuals seeking employment. In a single year, we support more than 18,150 people to secure employment through our programmes. (2018) SSI expands and opens five new offices and amplifies our reach across the Eastern Seaboard, increasing our staff to more than 1000. Like the rest of the world SSI plunges into dealing with the unprecedented conditions created by the COVID 19 pandemic, including the closure of our international borders to humanitarian refugees. We rolled out our Multicultural Foster Care Program in Victoria. SSI celebrates its 20th anniversary. While it may not have been the celebration we planned, we continued to do what SSI was established to do, namely helping individuals, children, families and communities from diverse backgrounds and identities to realise their full potential. (2021) SSI swiftly ramps up in resourcing to accommodate an influx of refugees from Afghanistan following the fall of Kabul, and staff across SSI pivot from their day to day activities to engage in advocacy on behalf of the Afghan community to drive fundraising efforts and to support the diaspora. We welcome two new Victorian based employment programs to help people navigate employment and training services and become job ready. Reconciliation Australia endorses our Reconciliation Action Plan at the innovate level. Australia also sees an influx of Ukrainian refugees impacted by the invasion of Ukraine. SSI provides 3256 individuals with support around orientation and transitioning from newly arrived status to settlement. And we expand our membership footprint through the addition of four new member organisations that the pandemic creates a business and service delivery environment with new and unpredictable challenges. It also provides SSI with exciting opportunities. A new refreshed brand that brings us closer together new client focused purpose driven strategies, technologies and services defined by the strengths and needs of people from diverse backgrounds and identities. And new partnerships to help us drive change and create impact are just some of the exciting initiatives in store for SSI. Our future looks bright indeed.The key to society successes he’s absolutely its staff, its people, absolute gratitude and appreciation for myself, the board and all the team at SSI.