He’s played to some of Australia’s largest music festivals, invented an innovative new guitar style, and even made it through to the finals of Australia’s Got Talent, but now Chris Tamwoy is returning to his roots, with a headline performance at one of southeast Queensland’s biggest multicultural food, arts, and culture festivals, World of Culture.

Harrowing stories of temporary migrant exploitation detailed in a report released today highlight the need for urgent action to protect temporary migrant workers, according to migrant and refugee services providers Settlement Services International (SSI).

New research has quantified the devastating mental health impacts of temporary visas – something all too familiar for Iraqi-born Ferah* who, despite the challenges, has shown incredible strength and resilience in carving out a life for her and her children in Australia.  

When his car broke down in remote Western Australia in April, Ivan Kelly found himself stranded thousands of kilometres from home without any phone reception. Instinctively, Ivan reached out to his SSI Local Area Coordinator, Melissa.   

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis reflects on NAIDOC Week.

Mohsen excels after Christmas Island detention lasting 3 years.

Like many ambitious young women, Syrian-born Salwa Afif Razzouk looked forward to launching her career having completed her bachelor's degree in law and master’s in public management. Instead, the outbreak of the Syrian war forced her to set aside her career plans and leave her homeland behind.

One of Australia’s largest refugee resettlement providers has called for urgent action to lift Australia’s humanitarian intake, as new research shows the number of people experiencing forced displacement increased at a record-breaking rate in 2022.

Sadia had almost completed her Master of Dental Science in Malaysia when the Taliban gained control of her home country Afghanistan. After returning home to protect her two young children, Sadia and her family were forced to flee to Australia for safety in November 2021.

Upon Mohsen's arrival in Australia, he had transitioned from being a qualified medicine graduate to being deemed unemployable. Finding himself under growing pressure to support his family, Mohsen’s priority became securing any work he could.

When former United Nations HIV Program Specialist, Dr. Mohammad Zubair Harooni, arrived in Australia with his wife and four children in January 2022, he knew finding employment would be key to building his new life.

When Iranian-born Mary Logan sought refuge in Australia, she hoped to continue her work in hair and beauty. However, her overseas experience and qualifications were not recognised, forcing the salon owner and manager to begin again as an apprentice.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. So what does this actually look like in practice?

Every day in our work at SSI, we see just what can be achieved by meaningfully incorporating the voices of people with lived experience into decision making. It’s important for refugees, for migrants, for people with disability and more. So too is it important for First Nations communities.

Allianz Australia and Settlement Services International (SSI) have awarded 34 deserving refugee students with SSI Allianz Refugee Scholarships, providing vital funding to access technology, pursue their education, and obtain local qualification recognition.