Australia must step up in response to record displacement
Figures showing another record year for global displacement emphasise the important role Australia can play in helping the world’s most vulnerable, according to one of Australia’s leading refugee settlement experts.
Uyghur dancer preserves culture and starts up business in Australia
When Dilnigar Alim arrived in Australia in 2009, she brought with her the unique skills that she gained studying and working as a professional Uyghur dancer and performer in far East-Turkestan.
‘Share a meal, share a story’: celebrating refugee stories
In partnership with Settlement Services International (SSI), the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) is highlighting food during Refugee Week (June 16-22, 2019) and asking everyone to ‘Share a meal, share a story’.
Volunteering brings benefits to the community and to volunteers themselves
Volunteering attracts people from diverse backgrounds with a broad range of experiences. This adds to the richness and impact that SSI’s volunteers have across a wide range of roles and programs that support vulnerable people.
From the CEO: Individualism, elections and Refugee Week
Australia’s annual celebration of people who have found a safe haven on our shores — Refugee Week — is occurring at a time of heightened individualism.
New arrivals aspire to literary canon
Welcome2Sydney provided an opportunity for nine new arrivals and four volunteer Sydney ambassadors to join an SSI group attending a Sydney Writers' Festival event at Carriageworks last month.
Armidale enjoys Ezidi food night in partnership with local Café
On April 30, eleven men and women from the Ezidi community were involved in a traditional food night at the Café Patisserie on Taylor Street in Armidale. The evening was the result of a beautiful relationship, which flourished as a local Ezidi family regularly dropped off bread to their local café, just as they would do for their neighbours back in their home country.
Event highlights innovation in western Sydney refugee communities
Sydney’s refugee communities are brimming with solutions for the challenges they face. With a helping hand from SSI, community leaders are being resourced to create projects that close gaps and capitalise on their communities’ strengths.
Award-winning refugee filmmaker unlocks creativity and talents ahead of Refugee Week
Iraqi-born and award-winning filmmaker Ali Al Azeez is facilitating a series of filmmaking workshops for the general public in the lead-up to the SSI New Beginnings Winter Festival.
SSI staff and Colyton community work towards healing this past Sorry Day
Reflecting on times of great pain, strength and resilience, Settlement Services International (SSI) staff and local community members gathered at SSI’s Community Hub at Colyton Public School, to walk down the long path of forgiveness in recognition of Sorry Day.
New arrivals create beautiful mosaic surfboard thanks to volunteer at Community Kitchen
Serena Horton brought together two seemingly disjointed activities, mosaic and surfing, to unite a community of newly arrived refugees and people seeking asylum, around the creation of a unique piece of art - a surfboard adorned with mosaic.
Ability Links kicks goals for young refugees
The latest project, launched in Lidcombe last month, helps bring together and support young refugees and their carers through a weekly social soccer meet-up.
Social inclusion and diversity at the heart of upcoming TEDxSydney conference
For the second year running, Settlement Services International (SSI) is the official community partner for TEDxSydney.
From the CEO: Walk together with courage
Progressing towards a unified Australia — where inclusion and belonging are the rule, not the exception — requires us to create a space where we respect each other. Respect breeds acceptance, which in turn establishes trust. Only when all three elements are in place can we move forward and truly walk together.
Fostering NSW – Carers needed from all cultural backgrounds
There is an increasing need for carers from diverse cultural backgrounds to give stability in safe homes to children of all ages.
SSI foster carers share their stories
Hear from SSI foster carers as they speak about their experiences and learn about the support they receive from our staff.
A conversation with SSI’s Turkish Carers Support Group
Operating for many years, SSI’s Turkish carers support group is a testament to their love and interest and support for each other, and support for the children they care for.
Newly arrived refugees celebrate first Australian Mother’s Day
Singing, dancing, gift giving and the voices of strong women was all a part of the Mother’s Day event held at the Inner West Council’s Community Refugee Welcome Centre last week, celebrating the dedication of newly arrived refugee mothers.
Refugee families celebrate Australian culture at Easter Show
SSI’s Welcome2Sydney program enabled two refugee families to enjoy an iconic Australian experience last month: the Sydney Royal Easter Show.