The shared experience of motherhood transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, as demonstrated by a special group of women who celebrated Mother’s Day with Settlement Services International (SSI) this month.

Renowned performers from one of Sydney’s leading world music groups will showcase the talents of multicultural artists and help to shift negative perceptions about multiculturalism in Australia at NSW’s leading festival celebrating refugee arts and culture.

Rosanna Barbero has just hung up from a frustrating phone call with a customer service representative for a large electrical retailer, trying to sort out an issue with a faulty device. She is exasperated.

Spanish people are known for loving parties, and when they involve food there is generally one common element in all of them: Paella.

The generosity of everyday Australians is significantly improving the experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum living in the Australian community, according to a leader from the humanitarian settlement sector. Speaking at the start of National Volunteer Week, Settlement Services International (SSI) CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the actions of volunteers had a profound effect on the lives of people fleeing war and persecution.

Volunteers come from all walks of life but one thing they have in common is a generosity of spirit that drives them to give up their time to help vulnerable individuals.

  In a dynamic presentation at the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) conference in Melbourne today, SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis highlighted the power of partnerships and the importance of trust and communication in achieving better outcomes for vulnerable communities.

Settlement, citizenship and policy topped the agenda at the annual Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) conference in Melbourne today, as dozens of settlement professionals, academics and community leaders shared their views on the major issues facing settlement globally.

A solutions-focused approach is at the heart of all the services SSI offers. Whether it’s working with people seeking asylum, refugees, children in foster care, or people with disabilities, this is a sound approach that has proven and demonstrated positive outcomes for the individuals involved and, of course, for communities.

Dozens of young people from refugee backgrounds tackled the major issues facing refugee youth at the inaugural Young Leaders Forum in April, with employment, education and health leading the agenda.

A well-maintained garden and outdoor area goes a long way to making a house feel like a home.  A partnership between SSI and Habitat for Humanity Australia (HFHA) is helping to do just that through HFHA’s Brush with Kindness program.

Participating in an inclusive community garden project has given a young man seeking asylum the skills to turn his interest in carpentry into a career.

Leading artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will showcase their talents at NSW’s leading festival celebrating refugee arts and culture. Confirmed artists for the expanded 2016 New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival will impress audiences with performances and workshops that draw inspiration from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and more.

Cultures combined during a recent dance workshop, where a group of female refugees learned how to express themselves through classical Indian dance.

We all need help from time to time to face challenging situations. For Catherine Halliday, a Shoalhaven resident who will be undergoing a cornea transplant next month, this moment arrived a few weeks ago.

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.

Young workers from migrant and refugee backgrounds will receive mentoring support to help them stay in a job long term, thanks to an innovative new service being delivered by SSI.

Harmony Day is an important annual event on SSI’s calendar, but the 2016 event marked a milestone as hundreds of staff, volunteers, clients and supporters came together to celebrate this year’s theme – diversity is our strength.

A group of amateur cooks who are seeking asylum in Australia have acquired home cooking skills and experience thanks to a social enterprise established by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Harmony Day is a celebration of cultural diversity that focuses on inclusiveness, respect and belonging. At SSI, we marked the day with an afternoon of food, music and dancing that also integrated Nowruz – the New Year’s celebration for more than a dozen cultures globally.