Hello and welcome to the first edition of Settlement Services International’s (SSI) Coffs Harbour Community News! My name is Lisa Steward and I’m SSI’s Community Engagement Coordinator for the Coffs Harbour area.

The holiday season at SSI always brings to the fore the warmth and compassion that exists within our community. In contrast to the commercialism often intertwined with the gift-giving season are the actions of folk like the Blue Mountains Refugee Support Group and Ashfield Public School P&C ― just two of the many groups who, in recent weeks, have delivered gifts for the individuals and families SSI supports.

“I knew I could help out in the kitchen, I’m a wife and a mum, I like to talk, and I was a newcomer once too.” This is the self-described list of prerequisites SSI volunteer, Ashley Thomas, cites as her motivation for getting involved in Settlement Services International’s (SSI) Community Kitchen.

On Sunday, November 11, participants and ambassadors from the Welcome2Sydney project attended Newtown Festival, spending a fun day out enjoying music, markets and food.

Here at SSI, diversity and inclusion is at our heart, and our diverse workforce, programs and initiatives allow us to engage with clients and communities across a broad scope.

Since 2015, Settlement Services International’s (SSI) Friendship Garden in Auburn has welcomed people from many diverse backgrounds, however it was limited in what it offered to people living with disability. But this year, the garden has seen an unprecedented evolution.

At SSI, we are getting ready to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (December 3), a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance, and recognises the achievements and contributions of people with disability.

Emma Mackenzie is an Ability Links participant living with cerebral palsy and mild intellectual disability in the Hills area. She met SSI Ability Links linker Sonal one year ago and worked with her on creating opportunities to fulfil her dreams.

The arts and culture festival that brings diversity to the fore — the SSI New Beginnings Festival in Spring — took place at the iconic Darling Harbour on Saturday, November 3, 2018.

Settlement Services International (SSI) joins the Refugee Council of Australia and the 50,000-strong Hazara community in Australia in calling on the Australian Government to act quickly before the Taliban commits more atrocities and displaces more Hazara men, women and children in Afghanistan.

Canada’s refugee-turned-minister of immigration, Ahmed Hussen, was recently in Sydney during a multi-city visit to Australia, taking time to visit SSI Ignite Small Business Start-ups at the Addison Road Community Centre offices in Marrickville.

Budding young green thumbs of mostly Afghani background have given gardening a go and created a small community garden at the Auburn Diversity Services Inc. (ADSi) offices with the help of SSI’s Friendship Garden ambassador, Muthana.

Are you a job seeker with disabilities or an employer willing to explore the possibilities of working with people with disabilities? There is a great opportunity ahead for you.

When Cornelia Schulze moved to Sydney from Germany four years ago, she found the transition difficult at first. With two business degrees and a 25-year career in publishing, Ms Schulz has a wide range of skills which she was keen to put to good use.

A group of young people newly arrived from Syria has met with Welcome2Sydney ambassador Kate to enjoy a beautiful day out playing rooftop basketball at Ultimo Community Centre.

Carly Bishop was first introduced to IgniteAbility through Ability Links NSW, and ever since, has seen her business idea not only come to fruition from concept to start-up but was also recently recognised as an Illawarra Women in Business (IWIB) awards finalist.

Settlement Services International (SSI) welcomes NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s appointment of an expert panel to develop a population policy for NSW, especially if it brings balance, fact and data on Australia’s migration program and ensures Australia’s successful multicultural social fabric and community cohesion are not undermined.

The evidence of the benefits of migration is disconnected from public perception, say migration leaders at an international conference in Sydney this week.

This week we are celebrating Carers Week across Australia. Carers are tireless supporters of their loved ones. We had a conversation with Manjit Kaur, who is the mum of 18-year-old SSI Ability Links participant Jasamit.

Former-refugee and SSI Ignite entrepreneur Ghazal Ehsan arrived in Australia as a mere fourteen-year-old. Today she is deeply immersed in starting up her own cosmetic teeth whitening business in Sydney.