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To be held at the Parkroyal Parramatta from November 3–4, the conference will host speakers including:

Also addressing the conference will be Renata Kaldor AO, the co-founder of the Andrew and Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Ms Kaldor said: “Migration for women is more complex than for men. More often than not, women migrate because of the wishes of their husbands – not necessarily because they want to leave their country of birth. This makes their journey and settlement so much more difficult.”

The inaugural National Multicultural Women’s Conference is the outcome of a partnership between Settlement Services International (SSI) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), with support from Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the conference would facilitate a lively and productive dialogue about the unique lived experiences of multicultural women, with the aim of influencing a shift in how women are supported and recognised in Australia.

“Women from diverse backgrounds contribute so much vitality, talent and enthusiasm to our communities. They are nurturing mothers, inspirational leaders and talented entrepreneurs, and yet the challenges and opportunities they face are often unique from their male counterparts,” she said.

“The National Multicultural Women’s Conference will provide a unique platform to share perspectives, innovations and approaches affecting women, and drive further collaboration and change across sectors.”

“The conference will provide an opportunity for sharing knowledge, informing the national agenda, and recognising and celebrating the outstanding contribution that women from diverse backgrounds make to our society”, said FECCA Women’s Chair Hina Durrani. “We are looking forward to an interesting and informative two days.”

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace, 0488 680 255

SSI delivers the Ability Links NSW program (ALNSW) that supports people with disability, their families and carers. SSI Linkers work closely with people who need support to achieve a more meaningful and happier life. Linkers also work with the local community to support them to become more welcoming and inclusive.

Ms Kawashima organised a meeting with the North Ryde RSL Men’s Bowling Club president and found out that Mr Dyer would need a tailored wheelchair, as well as a ramp to access the green.

Ms Cohen said that lawn bowls is a sport where people with a physical disability can participate equally with the rest of competitors.

“There are no rule changes and competitors can compete on both normal green and synthetic surfaces,” said Ms Cohen.

Ms Kawashima and Ms Cohen started working tirelessly to make Mr Dyer’s dream of joining the bowling club a reality.

“The wheelchair is special because it has been modified to comply with regulations so that it doesn’t damage the bowling green which was a main concern of the club and its members,” said Ms Cohen.

When the good news was delivered to Mr Dyer, he couldn’t believe that he was finally going to be able to play.

“I have been waiting to play for two years, since I finished my lessons. I can’t wait to go down there and play with them.”

“I love bowling because it gets me out of the house and I get to mix with people and socialise,” he said.
To make sure he’s got enough support, SSI Linker Ms Kawashima has also organised a carer through Catholic Community Services who will be with Mr Dyer at the club for one hour every Wednesday.

“Our Linkers don’t only work towards improving the lives of their participants, but also towards outcomes that will have a positive impact for the whole community,” said SSI Executive Manager Families & Inclusion Stephen O’Neill.

“In this case the North Ryde RSL Men’s Bowling Club is now accessible for other people with reduced mobility, which is a great outcome for all.”

Chris Jones, President at North Ryde RSL, said the wheelchair will be a great asset for the Men’s Bowling Club members.

“As a community Club we try to assist our members whenever we can, plus Brett and his family have been members of the Club forever,” Mr Jones said.

“The wheelchair will be made available to all who require it, and with an ageing population and membership we can expect that the chair will be used quite a lot.”

Mr Dyer will have his first lawn bowls game with other members at North Ryde RSL on Wednesday 2 November at 1pm. 

To find out more about ALNSW and how SSI can help, please call the Ability Links offices on (02) 8713 9200 or email abilitylinks@ssi.org.au.

 

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant: Anna Vilalta 0488 680 240

Centred on the theme ‘we share our future’, Walk Together in Sydney will begin at Belmore Park at 11am. There will be speeches from prominent Australians including:

The crowd will make its way to Victoria Park for a family-friendly festival that will include multicultural food, music, dance, stalls, and an appearance from special guests the Sydney Thunder and GWS Giants.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said Walk Together was an opportunity for all Australians to show they appreciated our country’s diversity and all the benefits it offered.

“Australia is a diverse nation, shaped by our Indigenous first people and the generations of migrants who subsequently have made their homes here. That diversity is a strength; we’re a more vibrant and rich society for it.

“Participating in simple acts, like walking together, shows that we are curious about our neighbours and those who are different to us. It shows that we don’t just notice our differences – we celebrate them.”

Welcome to Australia CEO Mohammad Al-Khafaji said: “Right now, where there is fear mongering and division, it is more important than ever that we promote unity, respect and inclusion towards all in our community. We must work towards a community which rejects racism, and celebrates our inclusive multicultural nation.

“Walk Together is our opportunity to call out the best in Australians to come together and support refugees and new arrivals, and to stand with them, and say welcome. We have more in common than that which divides us.”

 

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell, 0488 680 287

The event, which is organised by Settlement Services International (SSI), Youth Collective and Auburn Diversity Services Inc, has attracted more than 250 participants, including a large contingent of newly arrived young people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

SSI Youth Projects Coordinator Dor Akech Achiek said, “MY Kitchen Rocks creates a relaxed, fun environment for newly arrived young people to meet their peers and make new community connections over food, music and sports. With the games, giveaways and activities, it’s a great chance for participants to unwind and just enjoy being young.”

Mr Achiek said all of the work SSI does with young refugees and people seeking asylum is designed to build their confidence, resilience and self-empowerment.

“The young people we work with have unique skills, ideas and experiences that can greatly benefit our country. They do, however, need extra support to overcome challenges their Australia-born peers do not face, such as language barriers and issues over identity and culture,” he said.

“Events such as MY Kitchen Rocks are a good way to help multicultural young people engage with their local community and make friends with other youth who have experienced similar situations to themselves.”

MY Kitchen Rocks will take place at Auburn Centre for Community from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday October 5 as part of SSI’s regular Community Kitchen event.

 

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant Hannah Gartrell 0488 680 287 or 02 8799 6740

Mr Turnbull’s commitment to provide a further $130 million to support peace-building and assistance to displaced people; and resettling refugees currently residing in Costa Rica, are also very positive outcomes from the Leaders’ Summit on Refugees in New York. 

With conflicts continuing unabated in many parts of the world, we can not just standby and watch as the number of displaced people and refugees continues to grow. I’m very proud that Australia is continuing a long tradition of providing a new home for the displaced and war weary.

We have to put aside comments by those who focus on the negative and conflate terrorists with refugees; this creates fear and doubt in people’s minds towards to men, women and children in their hour of need.

Hearing those voices of fear in our community is disappointing, particularly in light of the very successful settlement experience of around 700,000 refugees since the end of World War II. SSI will continue to counter these voices with the many positive stories of integration and social cohesion that organisations like ours encounter every day.

Some people may also try to criticise refugees by claiming they are over-reliant on welfare payments, however, those claims are not supported by the medium and long-term analysis.

More than 30 per cent of all refugees supported by SSI in NSW over the 12 months to August 31 found paid employment within their first year in Australia. Almost 70 started businesses.

All of our evidence shows that people arriving in Australia as refugees integrate well and contribute greatly to Australia’s cultural life and economy. We look forward to welcoming all who come and supporting them to overcome their past experience and make the most of their new opportunities.

Violet Roumeliotis
SSI CEO

Media Enquiries

SSI Manager Corporate Communications Angela Calabrese, Ph: 0401 284 828

SSI Online Communications Coordinator Callan Lawrence, Ph: 0478 156 491

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Forty-six scholarships, ranging from $500 to $5,000, will be offered in five categories, including primary and secondary school, vocational training, tertiary qualification and skills recognition.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said that from her experience, as supported by research, refugees who settle in Australia have a high motivation to work but this didn’t automatically lead to employment.

“Refugees who lack Australian work experience, affordable options for the recognition of their skills and qualifications, and limited access to English language tuition, face barriers in the employment market,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“The SSI Allianz Scholarships will reduce the financial barriers experienced by refugees as they participate in the NSW education system.”

Allianz Australia’s Managing Director, Niran Peiris said he was proud to help refugees receive an education and contribute to business.

“This scholarship program is about offering the support and opportunity for refugees to really make a difference at school, work and in the community.

“This scholarship reflects Allianz’s absolute commitment to diversity. We know that a diverse workforce is a better workforce.”

Earlier this year Allianz recruited nine new employees from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Vietnam, who came to Australia as refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.

“As I said at the start of this partnership, Allianz and SSI both have a vision of playing a key support role in the community in the areas of education, employment and addressing social justice issues,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“Today, I’m proud of what that partnership has achieved so far, which is a new future for the new Allianz recruits and, through these scholarships, 46 more people will be given the opportunity that education offers,” Ms Roumeliotis added.

For more information and application forms, please go to:

ssi.org.au/scholarships

Application forms for each category can be downloaded from the category page. The application deadline is October 31, 2016, with successful applicants being notified in December.

For more information and interview opportunities, contact:

Allianz

Elise Marley-Wallace
Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Market Management
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd | 2 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: +61 2 8258 5747 | Fax +61 2 9390 6676 | Mobile 0406751336
Email: elise.marley-wallace@allianz.com.au

Allianz – Employer of Choice for Gender Equality 2014 – 2015
Allianz – Employer of Choice for Women (EOWA) 2009 – 2013

Settlement Services International

Angela Calabrese
Executive Manager
Corporate Communications
Settlement Services International
Ph: +61 2 8799 6700 I Mobile 0401 284 828
Email: acalabrese@ssi.org.au

About SSI

SSI is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation providing a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, housing, asylum seeker assistance, foster care, disability support and employment services in NSW.

About Allianz Australia

Allianz Australia delivers a wide range of personal, commercial and corporate insurance products and services to more than 3 million policyholders. Over 50% of Australia’s top 200 BRW-listed companies have some form of insurance cover with the group and the group provides workers compensation services to around one-fifth of Australian employees.

Large General Insurance Company of the Year 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009*
Best General Insurance Company of the Year 2014, 2012, 2010, 2007, 2006**
Workplace Gender Equality Award 2015, 2014
Women’s Council Employer of the Year Award 2013

*Australia & New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards **Australian Banking and Finance Insurance Awards

As part of an extensive orientation program, SSI provides refugees and people seeking asylum with information about policing in Australia.

However, some new arrivals remain fearful of police officers stemming from experiences in their home countries, which can affect interactions between the two parties, SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said.

“In 2013, we had a similar roundtable event with the NSW Police Force, and what came out of that was a wonderful initiative called ‘Coffee with a Cop’, where a uniformed officer engages with an asylum seeker or refugee on that human level, which at the end of the day is what we all desire – to be seen as a human and not as a label or a uniform,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“These sorts of initiatives are what come out of opportunities to discuss very human issues, like this roundtable. We can collectively put our heads together and achieve great outcomes.”

NSW Police Superintendent Peter Lennon, Commander of the Fairfield Local Area Command, said these opportunities were vital for both the Police Force and the community.

“You can’t put a value on how important these informal discussions are. They are certainly beneficial to our officers as I hope they are to the community, including the workers who support refugees and people seeking asylum. A number of settlement issues where police and service providers can cooperate to the benefit of refugees and asylum seekers were discussed,” Superintendent Lennon said.

“It is equally important that refugees and asylum seekers transition as smoothly as possible from being new arrivals to established members of the community.

“We recognise that being in a new country, with no or few friends or family is difficult and we’re here to assure you that police officers are your friends and we can all work together for a safer community.”

Over the course of the day, more than 60 participants from the police force and settlement sector worked through real-life scenarios where refugees or people seeking asylum might encounter police, with the aim of helping all participants to feel better equipped to jointly respond to such scenarios and achieve better outcomes for vulnerable new arrivals.

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell, 02 8799 6740 or 0488 680 287

To be held at the Parkroyal Parramatta from November 3–4, the conference will host speakers including:

Registrations are now open for the inaugural event, which is the outcome of a partnership between Settlement Services International (SSI) and the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA), with support from Ethnic Communities’ Council of NSW.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the conference would facilitate a lively and productive dialogue about the unique lived experiences of multicultural women, with the aim of influencing a shift in how women are supported and recognised in Australia.

“Women from diverse backgrounds contribute so much vitality, talent and enthusiasm to our communities. They are nurturing mothers, inspirational leaders and talented entrepreneurs, and yet the challenges and opportunities they face are often unique to their male counterparts,” she said.

“The National Multicultural Women’s Conference will provide a unique platform to share perspectives, innovations and approaches affecting women, and drive further collaboration and change across sectors.”

Earlybird registrations close on August 31, 2016. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for organisations that work with or support cultural diversity and immigrant and refugee women. A range of sponsorship packages have been developed to ensure a successful outcome for sponsors and stakeholders. Click here for more information.

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace, 0488 680 255
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell, 0488 680 287

 

A robust program of panel discussions and presentations will feature more than 40 speakers including Chinese-Australian artist Guo Jian and Iranian-Australian filmmaker and human rights activist Saba Vasefi.

The event, which was developed by not-for-profit Settlement Services International (SSI), in partnership with CPAC and with the support of CuriousWorks, will give people working in two complementary sectors the opportunity to share and reflect on their experiences and practice.

“By bringing together people whose work straddles the arts and refugee space, we hope to encourage discussion, critical thought, and creative exchange, and nurture future collaborations,” said SSI Arts and Culture Coordinator, Carolina Triana, who developed the Forum.

“The event is also a fantastic chance to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions refugees and people seeking asylum have made to the arts, while reflecting on the particular needs and challenges that artists from refugee backgrounds face in Australia.”

This contribution is highlighted in two exhibitions taking place at CPAC in conjunction with the Arts and Refugees Forum. The Refugees exhibition features works from 22 world-renowned artists from refugee backgrounds that were gathered from major public and private collections across Australia.

Another exhibition taking place at CPAC in conjunction with the forum is Beyond Refuge: Citizens, which CuriousWorks has developed with local Sydney-based artists who are former refugees, current asylum seekers and first generation Australians.

 

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant Hannah Gartrell 0488 680 287

“UNHCR figures* show we’re on track to see the number of forcibly displaced people exceed 60 million for the first time. Among that group are more than 20 million refugees, which is the highest number recorded since 1992,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“These figures show that no-one is immune to the effects of war and persecution, so it’s important that we use opportunities like Refugee Week to raise awareness of the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions they make to Australian society.”

Many of the people SSI works with have only been in Australia a short while, but already, many are making a meaningful social and economic contribution, Ms Roumeliotis said.

“The refugee community has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and we’re also seeing a widespread desire to give back to Australia and help others by volunteering and pursuing careers in social work or community services,” she said.

“A great example of this is a young Syrian refugee, Ania, who arrived in Australia late last year with her family after living in Lebanon for four years. Ania has studied extensively, speaks four languages, and recently secured work with the NSW Government. When she achieves her goal of studying political law, her contribution to Australian society will only grow. ”

Ms Roumeliotis said Refugee Week, which runs from June 19 to 25, was a chance to acknowledge the skills refugees like Ania bring to their new homes.

“Behind the ‘refugee’ label are people like you and me. Seeking safety, they have been forced to leave behind everything they know – friends, family, memories, their homeland – and it’s incumbent on us to offer a warm welcome,” she said.

SSI launched its Refugee Week celebrations on Saturday with the New Beginnings Refugee Arts & Culture Festival in Darling Harbour, which featured live music, dance performances, workshops, and food and market stalls.

The celebrations will continue over the next week, with an art exhibition, documentary screening and more. Visit Newbeginningsfestival.com.au for more information.

*Source: UNHCR Mid-year Trends

 

Media enquiries:

SSI Communications Assistant Hannah Gartrell 0488 680 287 or 02 8799 6740

SSI Communications Coordinator Louise Wallace 0488 680 255 or 02 8799 6741