Bert Oldfield Primary School, Seven Hills, hosted a colourful Diwali 2016 Cultural Exchange on November 5. The event was a collaboration between SydWest Multicultural Services, Community Hubs in the Blacktown local government area and local businesses and community organisations.

Culinary duo Sharon and Carol Salloum returned to SSI Community Kitchen last week to cook a Syrian-inspired barbecue lunch. The sisters, who run Sydney restaurant Almond Bar, are no strangers to the Community Kitchen, having previously used their professional culinary skills to cook for refugees and people seeking asylum at the fortnightly lunch event.

Community Hubs at Banksia Road and Rydalmere Public Schools organised special Grandparents Day events on November 2, attracting over 300 grandparents, parents and grandchildren.

The NSW Community Hubs team reviewed and celebrated its past year’s Hub activities during the team's annual meeting in November.  The meeting was an opportunity for participants to share their challenges and learnings, and to discuss priorities and the expansion of the program in 2017.

SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups is to benefit from donations of around $60,000 thanks to the amazing generosity of Google and its Sydney-based staff.

By Elise Marley-Wallace, Allianz Public Relations and Social Media Manager In December 2016, more than 20 Allianz Australia employees volunteered over 200 hours to support not-for-profit humanitarian organisation, Settlement Services International (SSI), as part of Allianz’s community outreach program.  

Two busloads of refugee families travelled from Liverpool to an exhibition in Glebe for the launch of Courageous Journeys: A Family Portrait on November 16.

Tinsel and holly wreaths appeared in the SSI office this week – a sure sign that another year is drawing to a close and the summer break is around the corner. Like many people, I’m looking forward to a few weeks off to relax, revive and refresh myself for another busy year in 2017.

Over one hundred multicultural youth came together for the 20 Voices Youth Symposium on Education last month to learn how to navigate the local education system and take their career goals into their own hands.

Shagufta Hamayun moved to Australia from Pakistan four years ago with her husband and two children but she soon felt that something wasn’t right.

Yarie Bangura spoke to a crowd of 150 Google employees about her small business Aunty’s Ginger Tonic, on Friday evening, November 25. The event was the launch of Google Give Week; a week during which Google employees are given the opportunity to donate to local charities whose initiatives are making a significant impact in the community.

A number of new directors were welcomed to the Settlement Services International Board Annual General Meeting, while three stepped down, including long-term Chair Kamalle Dabboussy.

Amina Khatoon has found her first job and Cicilia Rigas was employed after just two months with the Settlement Services International (SSI) jobactive service. These are just two examples of why SSI has again been awarded a five star rating by the Department of Employment for its efficiency and effectiveness in placing job seekers into sustainable work.

Multicultural women contribute unique skills and talents to Australian society, but more collaboration between sectors is vital to help women from CALD backgrounds thrive in Australia.

Recent media reports have highlighted migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum as highly vulnerable at work. Accounts of low-paid work, unpaid wages, unsafe work conditions, exploitation and abuse are not uncommon. 

Politicians, practitioners and women from diverse backgrounds will this week take part in a dialogue designed to drive social and economic change for multicultural women. The inaugural National Multicultural Women’s Conference 2016 – Influencing Change: Vision and Impact (NMWC) will showcase the resilience and strength of women from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and discuss effective strategies, services, programs and approaches for supporting them in Australia.

A young student from Syria has been in Australia fewer than 18 months but she’s already achieved something many people never do: she’s identified her dream and is chasing after it.

Close to 1,000 Sydneysiders braved the rain to show their support for a more compassionate, inclusive and welcoming Australia at Walk Together 2016, in Sydney on Saturday.

A group of 15 children and their mothers, who are in Australia seeking asylum, took part in a creative excursion to the Auburn Friendship Garden, organised by SSI and the Sydney Writers’ Festival (SWF) for the school holidays.

Senator Zed Seselja, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs, visited the Community Migrant Resource Centre (CMRC) on September 22, as part of a quick visit to three members of the NSW Settlement Partnership.