A unique support group is giving newly arrived refugee women a relaxed space to develop social networks and become more engaged with their new communities.

Majed Al Zanad was four years into a medical degree when the war in Syria forced him to abandon his studies. Like many refugees, he is now facing the challenging process of getting his past experience recognised so he can resume his medical studies in Australia.

Settlement Services International (SSI) is taking part in the iconic City2Surf running event, with dozens of staff, volunteers and supporters joining the cause to support refugees and people seeking asylum in NSW.

Since arriving in Australia with his wife and son less than 12 months ago, Maxeem Georges has begun studying a master’s degree in finance and started working for a large insurance company in Sydney.

A talented restaurateur seeking asylum in Australia has brought a taste of Iran to Sydney’s north west with the recent opening of his own business, Shahrood Restaurant.

From the outside, Aroos Hair and Beauty looks like any other business trading on Pitt Street, outside Merrylands train station. However, inside, a determined mother and daughter are working tirelessly towards a shared dream: having their own business, and their lives, firmly set up in Australia. SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative is supporting them on this journey.

People volunteer for many reasons: altruism, corporate social responsibility, free time. For Naila Yousid, her experience resettling in Australia as a refugee prompted her to become a volunteer.

Twenty-five-year old refugee Ranita Dasho has one goal for life in Australia: to give back. After less than a year in the country, she’s already turning that aspiration into action.

Karim* arrived in Australia in 2012 to seek asylum when it became unsafe for him to stay in Iran. An electrical engineer by trade and with a wealth of experience, he owned and operated his own business in his home town of Shiraz, Iran.

The rain did not dampen a warm welcome yesterday for the newly arrived Kaky family from Iraq, by the Federal Minister for Social Services Hon Christian Porter MP, and the NSW Premier Hon Mike Baird at NSW Parliament House today. 

Peter Rose’s experience volunteering with SSI has shown him many of the challenges that refugees and people seeking asylum face as they try to join the workforce in Australia.  Mr Rose said that an obvious reason was their lack of English, but there are others that are not as apparent.

Rediscovering his passion for competitive sport has put a smile back on the face of one young wrestler as he awaits the outcome of his refugee application. Yaser has been wrestling for 10 years, but said he had a tough time finding somewhere to continue his training when he first came to Australia to seek asylum from Iraq in 2013.

Refugees and people seeking asylum could soon benefit from a smartphone app that helps to create goals and achievement pathways, thanks to the joint efforts of developers, refugees, the start-up community, and SS!.

A special event at Settlement Services International’s Bankstown offices in November helped support the efforts of the citizens coalition Sydney Alliance to 'Change the Conversation' about asylum seekers.

Through a partnership with Legal Aid NSW, SSI is helping to introduce the subject of family safety and law to newly arrived refugees and migrants through a series of specially designed information sessions across western Sydney. All newly arrived people supported by SSI already take part in orientation sessions that include information on housing, budgeting, transport, caring for children and family and domestic violence; However SSI case managers identified the need to deliver family related information in a more focused way.

SSI celebrated International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) today, December 3, with an event at its Bankstown office, featuring Ability Links NSW ambassador Nick Gleeson. IDPwD promotes an understanding of people with disability and encourages support for their dignity, rights and wellbeing.

Michelle Naike is a seasoned globetrotter, having lived in Afghanistan, London and Australia for decades at a time. But when it came to wearing the chef’s hat at Community Kitchen, Michelle said cooking delicious Afghani fare was just too good to pass up.

Some of you may have heard about Maria Sorki, an SSI Ignite Small Business Start-ups client, who fled persecution in Iran and came to Australia as a refugee. Maria made a documentary film about the ancient religious minority, the Zoroastrians in Iran and it was the reaction to this film which meant she had to leave.

SSI Case Manager Sanj Virk volunteered her time and skill at cooking traditional Indian cuisine at SSI’s Community Kitchen Diwaili celebration, recently. Sanj said Diwaili, or Deepavali, was to India what Christmas is to Australia.

An evaluation report of SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative has found that, with the right support, Australia’s refugees have significant entrepreneurial potential and the ability to contribute to the economy.