New arrivals – opportunity or threat? Second generation Australians and their views on race, migration and asylum seekers
Migrants from Western Europe who arrived in the "50s and "60s in Australia were seen with hostility and suspicion by many in the local community. These are now well-settled communities but as new comers, they struggled to fit in.
Home exhibition artist: Sefullah
Sefullah is from the Iranian village of Palk Lak of Arkvazi, in the Illam Province, where he lived before making his journey to Australia. Sefullah is a self-taught artist, who researches different styles of painting and schools of thought.
Home exhibition artist: Mohammed
Mohammed is a multi-disciplinary artist working in the areas of photography, performance and graphic design. Mohammed lived in Iraq where he obtained a degree in theatre performance from Basra's College of Arts. In Baghdad, he had his own studio and appeared in a number of productions and radio plays.
Fun at the Opera House for mothers and children
Settlement Services International (SSI) has joined forces with the Women Empowering Refugee Women (WERW) volunteer group to organise a social event at Sydney’s Opera House for a number of SSI clients and their families.
Home exhibition artist: Mohanad
Mohanad was born in Nasiriyah, Iraq. He started painting when he was six as he was encouraged by his grandfather, who bought painting material for him. After graduating from the Arts & Carving Institute in Iraq, Mohanad moved to Syria where he kept painting, drawing and showing his works in several exhibitions.
Home exhibition artist: Mahdi
Mahdi, who was born in Iran, has a passion for calligraphy, creative writing and painting. After finishing school, Mahdi began painting and decorating city walls in Iran where he enjoyed turning dull city walls into colourful and bright themes.
Home exhibition artists: Hayder
Hayder completed a BA in Fine Arts at the University of Baghdad, in his native Iraq, in 2008. From 2009 to 2011, he worked as an art teacher with the Ministry of Education of Iraq.
New SSI Foundation announces education scholarships
Settlement Services International (SSI) today announced education scholarships worth $60,000 as part of the launch of the new SSI Foundation. Formerly known as the Connect Australia Foundation, the SSI Foundation introduces more categories of support and increased amounts distributed.
Home exhibition artist: Farid
Farid was born in Tehran. He started painting at the age of 4, after his mother noticed a creative streak in him. He graduated with a Civil Aviation degree in Iran before arriving in Australia in 2013 with his wife and children.
Home exhibition artist: Damon
Damon began his photographic journey more than 20 years ago with his father’s old Konica camera in Iran. He started experimenting by taking images of nature, people and his surroundings.
Home exhibition artist: Babak
Babak was born in Iran where he completed a BA in Graphic Design. His special interests are painting, sculpture, music and graphic design.
From the GM – congratulations to Ability Links NSW
July was a big month for SSI, with several new programs starting, but the 12 month anniversary of Ability Links NSW has stood out for me as being particularly significant and emblematic of the organisation’s future. Many great stories have come from this program in a short space of time; here are just a couple of randomly selected examples.
Joint statement on racism directed at Adam Goodes
“Australia must and can be better than this” Following the weekend’s events when prominent Aboriginal AFL player and former Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes was booed at every turn during the Swans v West Coast Eagles AFL match.
Bush regeneration project symbolises new life for asylum seeker volunteers
Every Friday for the last nine weeks, morning commuters have bustled through Circular Quay on their way to work, oblivious to a group of men dressed in gardening clothes and walking shoes who excitedly await their ferry.
Eid Mubarak celebrated at SSI Community Kitchen
More than 250 people gathered this week at SSI Community Kitchen’s Eid- al- fitr (عيد الفطر) celebration to mark the end of Ramadan. The Eid celebration attracted a larger than usual number of visitors and volunteers who all pitched in and enjoyed the warm weather and festive atmosphere.
Community Iftar in Campbelltown
SSI and Macarthur Diversity Services Inc. staff, volunteers and special guests that included people seeking asylum joined together for a community Iftar dinner at Campbelltown Civic Hall, last month.
An international voice for refugees
As a key provider of resettlement and community integration support to refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, SSI has an important role in ensuring that the views of this marginalised group are clearly represented to local, regional and international stakeholders.
SSI youth awarded International Soroptimist scholarship
Nineteen-year-old SSI client Atoosa Nooralizadeh is the recipient of an education scholarship awarded by The Hills branch of Soroptimist International, a worldwide organisation to empower women and girls.
Judo provides strength and success for civil engineer from Iran
Hasan, an SSI client living in the community while he awaits the outcome of this refugee application, has won silver at the NSW Judo Championships held last week. Hasan finished second in the 66kg division, which qualifies him for the National Championship next year.
Successful fundraiser for SSI refugee and asylum seeker families
SSI gratefully accepted a generous donation of toys, blankets and food items for refugee and asylum seeker families from ‘Women Empowering Refugee Women’, a joint initiative of Knox Grammar and Ravenswood School for Girls , who kindly delivered donations to the SSI Parramatta office yesterday.