Afghan refugee and former IT professional sees bright new future in Australia
Tahir Sadeq arrived in Australia from Kabul, Afghanistan, with his wife, daughter (9) and son (10) in September 2021.
SSI expands Victorian services with new employment programs
Settlement Services International’s (SSI) services in Victoria for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities have recently expanded to include support for job seekers.
Inspirational community leader, Gail Ker, announces retirement
Nationally lauded and award-winning community leader Gail Ker OAM, CEO of Access Community Services Limited, is to retire effective December 31, 2021.
Refugee mother faced with unique challenges during lockdown
Single mother and refugee Yasameen Al-Natrawee fled Iraq seeking temporary refuge in Malaysia, where she lived while waiting for a humanitarian visa.
Underutilised migrant skills a huge opportunity
A report looking at the contribution of permanent skilled migrants highlights the unrealised potential in newcomer communities and the need to provide income support and access to family tax benefits earlier in the settlement journey, according to Australia’s largest refugee and migration resettlement support provider, Settlement Services International (SSI).
Iraqi sisters secure employment and further education during first year in Australia
The Humanitarian Settlement Program, funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs* and delivered by Settlement Services International has supported Iraqi sisters, Diana and Sandra Hassan* to acquire part-time jobs and engage in higher education.
Refugee doctor back on track saving lives
Saif Noori understands both hard work and hardship. Before arriving in Australia in May 2018 on a humanitarian visa, Saif was a medical officer at a hospital in Iraq.
Syrian refugee from LGBTIQ community overcomes social adversity and finds meaning working for the elderly
In April 2019, five years after fleeing to Lebanon from his home in Syria, Joe Smith* was granted a humanitarian visa to move to Australia with his mother and brother.
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.
Hardworking taxpayers left with almost no support: an insight
“There are many, many honest and hardworking taxpayers, now unemployed in our communities who have almost no support. They are in serious crisis,” said SSI Community Engagement Practitioner, Paula Ben David.
How Saira found a second family while searching for employment
In March 2018, Saira* crossed the globe alone, travelling from her home in Sierra Leone to Australia, to escape her traditional marriage and build the foundations of a new life for herself, and one day her children.
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.
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.
COVID-19 causes talented asylum-seeking artist to lose work, but not hope
Like many individuals working in the creative sector, Damon, a talented photographer and artist has been greatly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
COVID-19 leaves Australia’s most vulnerable without food on the table
In response to overwhelming demand, SSI is distributing donated food packages to individuals and families from asylum seeker backgrounds.
From the CEO: Our country is stuck in a toxic relationship
You know you’re in a toxic relationship when there is a negative change in the way you see yourself and your relationship with the world. For me, the signs have been clear for years: our country is stuck in a toxic relationship with itself, and we urgently need to come to terms with who we really are.
SSI calls out discriminatory visa approach in COVID-19 stimulus packages
"The virus doesn’t discriminate but the government is discriminating by visa type." As a signatory to an open letter sent to the Prime Minister today, Settlement Services International (SSI) has backed calls across the community services sector to leave nobody behind, “build back better” and avoid mass-unemployment and social unrest after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why we need value-driven leadership during crisis
Six months ago, we could not have predicted the immense impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on our lives, businesses and economy.
SSI saddened that millions miss out in JobKeeper scheme
Settlement Services International (SSI) welcomes the passage of vital JobKeeper legislation that will help six million workers and their families to put food on the table, pay bills and self-isolate safely.