Job seekers expand their skills thanks to SSI employment program
“You know the best part of doing this?’ asks Ian Beasley as he folds white fabric in narrow, even parts; “That each one of the creations we made today is a one-off piece, they are handmade and can’t be replicated.”
Sydney sisters open doors for newly arrived refugees
Finding work in Australia remains one of the greatest challenges for newly arrived refugees, but two sisters are helping to break down barriers by connecting refugees with job opportunities in Sydney’s competitive hospitality industry. Carol and Sharon Salloum run a popular Middle Eastern restaurant in Sydney, following in the footsteps of their parents who migrated to Australia more than 40 years ago.
Young refugee ‘one of the locals’ this Australia Day
This January 26 will hold new significance for Simon Shahin, who will celebrate his first Australia Day since arriving in Sydney as a refugee from Syria last year. An ambitious 22 year old, Mr Shahin has adjusted well to life in Australia. He has made new friends, run a marathon, completed work experience through Youth Collective’s Gateway to Your Future project, and was actively involved in the inaugural Techfugees Australia Hackathon in November.
Gateway to Your Future opens new doors for young refugees
Sourcing the skills and experience to step into the Australian workforce can be a struggle for many people from CALD backgrounds but SSI’s Youth Collective initiative has been helping to break down barriers for young people with a series of new projects.
New Staples Bag is full of quality groceries, sold cheap
Food insecurity is a growing concern for many in the community who are struggling with the rising costs of living. To improve access to basic supplies and help address issues of food security in Sydney, SSI, as a member of CoAct, has launched The Staples Bag which includes an array of food provisions for those in need.
Courage a boon for refugees starting businesses
A Refugee Week event organised by two Sydney immigration lawyers has raised about $9,000 for SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative. The fund-raising event organised by Adriana Mercado and Marina Brizar, of Playfair Visa and Migration Services, featured a photo exhibition of former refugees who now live in Australia, as well as speeches, drinks and canapés.
Success story: John Mashar
John Mashar arrived in Australia as a refugee from Sudan at age nine. Now at age 21, John told SSI how he was using his experience as a young refugee settling in a new country to help other young people through the Youth Collective. “I was born in South Sudan. Sudan is split into north and south. The north has closer relations to the Arab world, like much of North Africa. They’re mostly Muslims and they have an Arab culture. The south, where I was from, has closer relations to sub-Saharan Africa, so they’re mostly Christians, they’re animists, and they have very strong African traditions.
Former refugee gives generous support to SSI
SSI began searching for a suitable office in the Bankstown area in September 2014, to accommodate staff and service needs of the SRSS program, the Multicultural Foster Care Service and Ability Links NSW, along with meeting, interview, training and function rooms. “(SSI General Manager) Peter Zographakis suggested that we check out a brand new site called Little Saigon Plaza, which was so good that we assumed it would be too expensive for SSI to lease in,” said Janine Stainer, SSI Facilities and Operations Manager.