SSI brings its experience to disability service delivery in Sydney and South West Sydney
From July 1, 2020, Settlement Services International (SSI), in partnership with the NDIA, began delivering Local Area Coordination (LAC) services for the NDIS across two districts in NSW.
Proactive autism advocate launches business with SSI’s support
With the support of IgniteAbility® Small Business Start-ups, high-achieving entrepreneur and autism advocate Haydn Payne launched his own pilot program, PRISM, for job prospects in Blacktown in January 2020.
Global refugee youth advocate named chair of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network
SSI Youth Collective steering committee member and refugee advocate Arash Bordbar was elected Chair of the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN) in June 2019.
Enabling people with disability to live the lives they want
SSI has a rich history of providing support to and advocating for the rights of people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
Walking together: SSI’s journey to harness the power of newcomer and First Nations communities
For the past two years, SSI has embarked on a journey of reconciliation, built on community consultation, organisational reflection, and the vision of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
SSI selected to deliver a multicultural service to address gambling harm in Victoria
The Minister for Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Melissa Horne, yesterday announced Settlement Services International (SSI) would deliver a new state-wide gambling harm prevention and counselling service for migrant and refugee communities.
“The more we give, the happier we feel” – SSI Volunteer Jayanthi
Immediately after moving to Australia from Sri Lanka in 2018, Jayanthi, who has more than 15 years of experience working in the Non-For-Profit (NFP) sector, began looking for opportunities to volunteer and work with Australian organisations.
Perseverance and growth: Kim’s foster care journey
When Kim* and her husband first started with SSI’s Multicultural Foster Care program, they thought they would ease themselves into foster caring with short-term care arrangements.
With 2020-21 Budget, Australia is building back worse not better
Settlement Services International is dismayed that Australia’s 2020-21 Budget has delivered stimulus and incentives to businesses and those on high incomes by sacrificing those most vulnerable — in Australia and overseas – to a future of destitution.
From the CEO: Beating the isolation of closed borders through community connection
COVID-19 has touched everyone around the globe, causing economies to come crashing to a halt, shut-downs to be mandated and borders to close.
Settlement Services International (SSI) and Australian National Maritime Museum sign MOU to strengthen support for new migrants to Australia
Two organisations deeply involved in migration to Australia have today signed an MOU to develop programs and initiatives to support new migrants.
“Children need to know where they come from.”
For single mum, Linh, becoming a foster carer has been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life.
From the CEO: We are witnesses to history
Last week marked the seven-year anniversary of Australia’s introduction of offshore processing of refugees. In a weird twist of fate, Kurdish-Iranian journalist – and former Manus Island detainee - Behrouz Boochani was granted permanent protection in New Zealand just a few days later.
Social Engineer draws on experience to support others through COVID-19
Since moving to Australia in 1998 due to political and civil unrest in Iraq, Bashar Hanna has faced and overcome the many challenges of establishing himself personally and professionally in a foreign land.
Foundations for Belonging 2020
Shines a light on aspects of integration that are overlooked.
Refugee Week, launched with new research, was celebrated 1.5 metres apart but still together
The pandemic has changed how communities come together, and 2020 presented a challenge that required Settlement Services International (SSI) and Refugee Week partners to readapt usual modes of engagement for events and celebrations.
From the CEO: Words aren’t just words when they excuse violence
The viral video of an NSW Police officer using physical violence in response to a swearing teenager has rightly caused outrage at a time of heightened racial tensions across the world.
Iraqi-born researcher and refugee gets work published in prestigious scientific journal
Iraqi refugee and PhD student of astronomy Rami Alsaberi arrived in Australia in December 2016 with his parents, brothers and sister as a family unit of seven from Iraq after spending three years in Jordan.
New research shows social networks provide refugees with significant foundations for belonging
New research by Settlement Services International and the Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University, challenges narrow economic definitions of successful refugee settlement and, instead, suggests social and civic dimensions are equally valid markers of refugee integration.
From the CEO: 2020 – the year of welcome?
Dates allocated to celebrate particular causes and communities can sometimes risk ending in token celebrations that are quickly forgotten as we prepare for the next occasion. In Australia, we’ve always endeavoured to ensure that Refugee Week in June is about more than just ‘food, festivals and fashion’, but this year brought a whole new challenge thanks to COVID-19.