The Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra (SWMCO) will take to the stage as the headline act at the New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival on June 18, bringing together the orchestra’s 11 performers who come from as many different countries.
With a strong focus on new music that challenges the norms of Eastern and Western traditions, SWMCO artistic director Richard Petkovic said the orchestra showcased the talents of refugee artists and highlighted the benefits of working collaboratively with people from different backgrounds.
This had an important role to play in shifting negative perceptions about multiculturalism and encouraging people to embrace diversity, he added.
“There is so much rubbish out there about multiculturalism, and yet there are so many hidden treasures. We need to give light to the artists that are hidden away in Western Sydney and showcase our diversity which should be the envy of the world,” he said.
“Great music brings people together and it can help to transform ourselves into better people.”
As part of a dynamic line up of performers and artists at New Beginnings 2016, SWMCO will combine an eclectic mix of cultural music from Mongolia, East Turkistan, Vietnam, China, Mexico and Indigenous Australia to create new Australian music that explores different cultures, faiths and genres.
Including a number of performers from refugee backgrounds, Mr Petkovic said the orchestra encompassed the themes of the New Beginnings festival: hope, unity and new beginnings.
“Featuring some of the best ‘world’ musicians in Sydney, SWMCO melds classical strings, Dervish rhythms, Latin Samba and intimate melodies to smash conservative music conventions and create a dynamic journey that changes the internal chemistry of the listener,” Mr Petkovic said.
SSI Arts & Culture Program Coordinator, and New Beginnings festival producer, Carolina Triana said the festival provided a unique opportunity for everyday Australians to gain an insight to the unique talents of artists and performers from refugee backgrounds.
“Refugee communities have so much to contribute to Australian society such as unique skills, cuisines and cultures. New Beginnings brings these talents to the foreground and encourages intercultural understanding among the broader community,” she said.
The New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival is a free, family friendly event that will be held at a number of locations throughout Sydney as part of Refugee Week.
Starting with a one-day festival at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour on June 18, New Beginnings will also feature an art exhibition at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Marrickville from June 17–26.
Media are invited to attend the Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra media rehearsal on Wednesday May 25 from 7pm at Keynote Rehearsal Studios, 11/378 Parramatta Road, Homebush West.
For more information about New Beginnings, visit www.newbeginningsfestival.com.au
For more information about Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra, visit www.culturalartscollective.com.au
New Beginnings 2016 is produced by SSI and supported by Marrickville Council, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Multicultural NSW and Allianz.
Media queries:
SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace
lwallace@ssi.org.au, 0488 680 255, or (02) 8799 6741
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell
hgartrell@ssi.org.au, 0488 680 287, or (02) 8799 6740
“Volunteers provide the friendship and practical support that is so important for people adjusting to life in a new country, with different social norms, transport systems and vital services, such as healthcare and education,” she said.
“Volunteers play a crucial role in connecting new arrivals to the Australian community, and their contributions make a real difference to the lives of the people we support.
“Our volunteers are engineers, teachers, painters and more, and their efforts to mentor and support new arrivals helps them to overcome feelings of isolation and develop a positive sense of community in Australia.”
Ms Roumeliotis applauded the efforts of volunteers as part of National Volunteer Week, and said their continued support helped to empower vulnerable individuals to realise their full potential in Australia.
“National Volunteer Week provides a unique opportunity for us to reflect on the efforts of our volunteers and their valuable contributions to support our clients,” she said.
Figures* show more than six million Australians volunteer each year. The face of volunteering, however, is changing, with more people using volunteering to gain work experience in areas including client support and administration.
Many of SSI’s volunteers come from migrant backgrounds and a large proportion are refugees, whose qualifications are not always recognised in the Australian labour market.
Volunteering is one way for new arrivals to gain local work experience, while sharing their knowledge with more recently arrived refugees.
National Volunteer Week 2016 runs from May 9–15 and celebrates the contributions of volunteers across Australia.
* Source: ABS Voluntary Work, Australia, 2010
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
New Beginnings this year will feature three separate events across Sydney, including a one-day arts and culture festival on June 18 at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where the live music, dance performances and workshops will include:
- Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra: An 11-piece orchestra with artists from cultural backgrounds that are as diverse as their instruments.
- Heartdancers: A troupe that weaves Aboriginal Australian sounds, dance and stories with yoga for workshops accompanied by musicians from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
- Mythra Ensemble: This group draws influence from Iran, Armenia, Turkey and the Kurdish culture to create music that is a mix of folk and modern in style.
- Lucky African Dance: A dynamic West African performer who leads audiences in high energy dance workshops.
- Yasmin and Fanous: This talented singer and ensemble blend traditional African sounds with improvisation and modern tunes.
- Iraqi Cultural Festival Folkloric Group: Featuring the Terezka Drnzik Dance Ensemble, this singing and dancing spectacular showcases traditional Iraqi Khashaba music.
Presented with the support of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), the free Darling Harbour event will include food and market stalls showcasing an array of international cuisines and cultural handicrafts. Everyone is welcome.
SSI Arts & Culture Program Coordinator Carolina Triana said the expanded New Beginnings 2016 line up was a testament to the success of the inaugural 2015 festival, which attracted more than 1000 community members, performers and artists.
“The New Beginnings festival is a celebration of the talents and cultural diversity of people from refugee backgrounds, who bring so much vitality to the arts sector in Australia,” Ms Triana said.
“We are looking forward to seeing the 2016 program evolve so that more people from the community can share and enjoy the music, dance, craft and flavours on display.”
New Beginnings 2016 will also feature an art exhibition from June 17–26 that will include visual art, photography, multimedia, installation works and film screenings.
Presented with the support of Marrickville Council as part of Open Marrickville 2016, the exhibition at Camperdown’s Chrissie Cotter Gallery will conclude with a special closing event on Sunday June 26.
New Beginnings 2016 is produced and presented by Settlement Services International (SSI), a community-based, not-for-profit humanitarian organisation.
For more information, head to www.newbeginningsfestival.com.au.
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace
lwallace@ssi.org.au, 0488 680 255, or (02) 8799 6741
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell
hgartrell@ssi.org.au, 0488 680 287, or (02) 8799 6740
New Beginnings 2016 will kick off with a one-day Arts & Culture Festival on June 18 at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour that will feature live music, dance performances and workshops.
Presented with the support of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA), the free event will also include food and market stalls showcasing an array of international cuisines and cultural handicrafts.
There are a number of ways to get involved in the family-friendly event:
- Performing artists from refugee backgrounds are encouraged to showcase their talents to the community. Individuals and groups are welcome to apply, provided that at least one member of the group has a refugee background or is currently seeking asylum in Australia.
- Creative workshop facilitators are needed to deliver fun and engaging cultural experiences that appeal to a wide range of audiences, such as traditional dance and kids-only workshops.
- Stallholders are invited to host cultural food and market stalls to complement the festival program
New Beginnings is currently inviting performing artists, stall holders and workshops facilitators to get involved. Expressions of interest are now open. Visit the New Beginnings Festival website for more information or to download Expression of Interest forms.
New Beginnings 2016 will also feature an Art Exhibition from June 17–26 that will include visual art, photography, multimedia, installation works and film screenings. Presented with the support of Marrickville Council as part of Open Marrickville 2016, the exhibition at Camperdown’s Chrissie Cotter Gallery will conclude with a special closing event on Sunday June 26.
Marking the end of New Beginnings will be a Community Meal on July 13 to celebrate the break of the fast during Ramadan. More details to come, so stay tuned!
The New Beginnings festival is produced and presented by Settlement Services International (SSI), a community-based, not-for-profit humanitarian organisation.
Participant enquiries:
SSI Arts & Culture Coordinator, Caroline Triana,
ctriana@ssi.org.au, (02) 8799 6783 or 0435 865 084
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace
lwallace@ssi.org.au, 0488 680 255 or (02) 8799 6741
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell,
hgartrell@ssi.org.au, or (02) 8799 6740
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said: “SSI values its ongoing partnership with Multicultural NSW and is a proud sponsor of the Australian Multicultural Marketing Awards, the Annual Multicultural March — including the NSW Premier’s Harmony Dinner — and the Annual NSW Premier’s Multicultural Media Awards.”
“The Multicultural March program aligns with SSI’s vision to achieve a society that values the diversity of its people and actively provides support to ensure meaningful social and economic participation and to assist individuals and families reach their potential.”
Multicultural NSW CEO Hakan Harman said our diverse communities play an important role in building a stronger and more socially cohesive and harmonious multicultural New South Wales.
“Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest assets and I am pleased to see Settlement Services International support the Premier’s Harmony Dinner.”
SSI is the state-wide umbrella organisation for 11 Migrants Resource Centres and Multicultural Services across NSW, and its staff is locally based in these centres so that they can work directly with the community to deliver SSI programs.
Since it was established in 2000, SSI has provided support to new arrivals in NSW assisting them in reaching their full potential as members of their local and wider community. This mission has continued and expanded, with programs that support and promote cultural diversity and inclusion, such as SSI Foster Care, Ability Links NSW, and helping to secure housing for refugees, asylum seekers and people at risk of homelessness through our Housing Services program.
Through its Community Engagement program, SSI organises several events each year to celebrate culturally and locally significant events. During the month of March, SSI will be holding special celebrations for International Women’s Day on March 9 and for Nowruz — the Iranian New Year — on March 23, as well as a fundraising event with the screening of the award-winning Tamil movie The Crows Egg at Event Cinemas in Parramatta on March 7.
Throughout 2015, SSI celebrated special cultural events such as Deepavali, Tamil New Year and Eid Mubarak, where 250 members of the Muslim and broader community celebrated the end of Ramadan.
SSI’s Harmony Day celebration on March 23 will feature cultural performances, live music and lunch shared with SSI clients, staff and members of the community, who will celebrate together the cultural and ethnic diversity that makes up contemporary Australia.
Media enquiries:
SSI Executive Manager Corporate Communications Angela Calabrese, 0401 284 828
SSI Communications Coordinator Rekha Sanghi 0422 304 578
—
SSI General Manager, Peter Zographakis; Sera Kebabjian; Ruby Tran; Souad Boutros; Maxeem Georges; Abdelraheem Altabaibeh; Allianz Australia Managing Director, Niran Peiris
Over the next two years, Allianz will offer permanent placements for up to 10 SSI clients per year, with SSI identifying potential recruits and providing ongoing support. The first group of new employees includes three women and two men from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Vietnam, who came to Australia as refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Their qualifications are in the areas of accounting, business management, community services, legal, banking and insurance.
The scheme is designed to mirror the first year of Allianz’s successful graduate program and will include two job rotations in the company within the 12 months that align to the employees’ background, skills and experience. After the two rotations, Allianz will work with participants to identify a suitable permanent role.
In announcing the partnership, Mr Peiris said “Allianz looks to afford opportunities to all sectors of society that have the skills to be part of our future workforce and this includes refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
“Allianz is proud to support diverse communities in Australia and to give an opportunity to some of those who have come to this country as a result of dislocation from their homeland,” Mr Peiris said.
Commenting on the partnership, Ms Roumeliotis said both organisations desired a long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationship. “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,” she said.
“Increasing access to education and employment opportunities ultimately increases social participation, independence, and economic and personal well-being for those from a refugee background. Large corporates like Allianz have enormous potential to create jobs, open access to education and basic services, and deliver innovative solutions.
“Both research and SSI’s anecdotal experience as a humanitarian settlement organisation tell us that although the motivation to work is high among refugees who settle in Australia, this does not necessarily lead to employment. Refugees with no Australian work experience, no affordable options for the recognition of their skills and qualifications, and limited access to English language tuition face difficulties in gaining access to sustainable employment pathways.
“Approaching this problem through a win-win ‘working partnership’, we feel we are now creating new solutions,” Ms Roumeliotis added.
In a second component of the partnership, Allianz will provide educational scholarships to assist recently arrived refugees and asylum seekers to integrate successfully into their new communities. The scholarships aim to minimise the impact of structural disadvantages that refugees often experience during the early settlement phase by increasing access to education.
For more information and interview opportunities, contact:
Allianz
Nicholas Scofield
General Manager
Corporate Affairs
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd | 2 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: +61 2 9390 6596 | Fax +61 2 9390 6676 | Mobile 0416 088 414
Email: nicholas.scofield@allianz.com.au
Allianz – Employer of Choice for Gender Equality 2014 – 2015
Allianz – Employer of Choice for Women (EOWA) 2009 – 2013
SSI
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 worker’s compensation services to around one-fifth of Australian employees.
Large General Insurance Company of the Year 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
SSI Work for the Dole participant Marcel Tawbeh (left) and staff member Napoleon Mansour.
The Staples Bag was developed as part of the CoAct/SSI Work for the Dole (WFD) program. It provides access to discounted essential groceries and also provides job seekers with tangible skills in a range of areas including logo and website design, packaging and warehouse maintenance, customer service and direct marketing.
“The SSI Staples Bag is a great program that has given me experience in different things, and I’ve discovered that working with people and in retail is really fun and much easier than I thought it would be,” Mr Tawbeh said.
Brad Reed of Croydon Park has been with SSI’s Work for the Dole program for less than three weeks but has already had five job interviews in that time; more than he has had in the past eight years of unemployment.
Mr Reed moved from Broken Hill to help his aging grandmother and to find work. He said he was ‘stoked’ about his employment prospects and can’t believe that people in Sydney say it’s hard to find work.
“I moved to Sydney because I want to be a good role model for my two sons and I don’t want them to see me sitting around unemployed and unable to provide for them” Mr Reed said.
“SSI has really looked out for me and found opportunities that I’m interested in.
“Working with the Staples Bag team is helping to me keep busy, learn new skills and meet new people, and it gets me closer to bringing my boys to Sydney to join me.”
Mr Tawbeh is a keen gamer and hopes to get a job in an electronics shop, while Mr Reed is interested in security work.
Both men however are extremely motivated and happy to find any employment, and attribute this motivation to SSI.
“I do extra hours with Staples Bag because I enjoy it so much,” Mr Tawbeh said.
Settlement Services International (SSI) is a community-based not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, accommodation, asylum seeker assistance, multicultural foster care, employment services and disability support in NSW.
As a member of CoAct, a national network of locally-embedded community service providers, SSI delivers the Australian Government’s jobactive service.
Job seekers can find the CoAct/SSI job active office at 308 Beamish Street Campsie. To purchase the Staples Bag, visit the warehouse at 449 Canterbury Road, Campsie or go to website www.thestaplesbag.org.au
Media enquiries
SSI Communications Coordinator Rekha Sanghi 0422 304 578
“This really is welcome news for our clients who until now have had to pay full public transport fares while living on limited income,” according to SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis.
“The concession card is an early Christmas present for our clients. Having the concession card can mean savings of up to $12.50 per day, or $50 per week, for people seeking asylum.
Our clients will no longer be limited by transport costs, allowing them to access a broader range of social and community services.
“It will also help to improve the standard of living of the most vulnerable, which delivers a multitude of health and social benefits.”
Ms Roumeliotis also congratulated the efforts of NSW Premier Mike Baird, who championed the travel concessions for asylum seekers and announced the move earlier this year.
“We applaud Premier Baird for recognising the importance of this issue and helping to break down barriers facing vulnerable communities,” she said.
“Mobility is instrumental for participating more fully in society and it applies equally for people seeking asylum.”
Ms Roumeliotis added that the travel concessions will support the mental and physical health of individuals and families who are seeking asylum in Australia.
“The majority of asylum seekers based in NSW are often required to travel widely to access the services they need such as medical care, counselling services, English language lessons and other training courses,” she said.
“Providing a fixed travel fare allows asylum seekers to use more of their limited financial support to cover basic living expenses and to access vital services to enable them to recover from their experiences of persecution and trauma and start rebuilding their lives.”
………………………………………………END……………………………………………………
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace 0488 680 255 or (02) 8799 6741.
Participants learned the basics of surfing and water safety over the course of three months, and gained an insight into Australia’s surfing culture. They also connected with the local surfing community and enjoyed working towards a common goal with others, which supports mental health and wellbeing.
Participants were presented with towels and surfboards after completing the program, courtesy of generous donations from Let’s Go Surfing, community members and local businesses.
“Refugees and people seeking asylum are among the most vulnerable individuals in Australia, and the Surfing Without Borders program has allowed them to take their minds off the challenges they face and focus on learning new skills in a fun and welcoming environment,” SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said.
“Community engagement initiatives deliver a range of benefits such as improved health outcomes, confidence, and the ability to form more meaningful relationships and community connections. Ultimately, this helps individuals to realise their full potential, become more actively engaged in the community, and to contribute to society.
“This program has been a huge success, with participants developing a strong sense of comradery, and their confidence and English language skills have significantly improved in just three months.
“We are thrilled to see how far these men have come in the face of such adversity; it is truly inspiring and a testament to the strength and perseverance of all asylum seekers and refugees living in NSW,” Ms Roumeliotis added.
A diverse group of participants completed the inaugural Surfing Without Borders program, including individuals from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Iraq and Iran.
Plans to develop the 2016 program are currently underway.
………………………………………………END……………………………………………………
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Coordinator, Louise Wallace 0488 680 255 or (02) 8799 6741.
The project also aims to support the communities into which refugee men are settling, and people who work in the settlement sector.
The New Roots Project has been developed to build the health and wellbeing of men, aged 18-45, from Arabic, Farsi and Tamil-speaking backgrounds, who have recently arrived in Australia, and to help them overcome the daily challenges as they start a new life.
The app, which is the first of its kind in Australia, is free and available in Arabic, English, Farsi and Tamil for iPhone and Android devices.
The app is one component of the New Roots Project which has been developed by Settlement Services International (SSI) in partnership with beyondblue and funded by donations to the Movember Foundation. The other components are online training for caseworkers in settlement services and training for community leaders.
The app includes information, tips and tools that help with starting a new life and staying positive in a new country. It has been developed to promote health and wellbeing, to assist with participating in community life and to help men access community and government services. Following a 12-month pilot phase in NSW, it is hoped the app will be made available in more languages and other project components will be promoted Australia-wide.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the project was based on research and community consultations.
“People from refugee backgrounds who are resettling in countries like Australia have typically been through traumatic experiences in the countries they are fleeing from,” Ms Roumeliotis said. “The stress of adapting to a new country and culture and securing the necessities of life can compound on that trauma and negatively affect physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
“The three elements of the New Roots Project — the app, community training and Online Toolkit — are designed to relieve some of that stress and to provide easily accessible tools and information that men can use to rebuild their own health and wellbeing. The design and content was all based on research and consultations with the communities that the project is intended to support.
“The app isn’t intended to replace traditional one-on-one support from a settlement caseworker, but is designed as an additional tool that men can use whenever they need.
“I’d like to thank beyondblue for its work throughout the development of this project, and the Movember Foundation for funding the project to support the health and wellbeing of these men.”
beyondlue CEO Georgie Harman said beyondblue was delighted to support the New Roots Project and promote good mental health among newly-arrived refugee men.
“beyondblue wants all people living in Australia to achieve their best possible mental health. Having access to this app and its practical information in their native language may help men cope with the stress of living in a new country and adapting to a new culture, and also explain about where to get help if they need it,” she said.
Paul Villanti, Executive Director, Movember Foundation said the Foundation was proud to have funded the development of this app. “It’s critical that all men feel connected to their communities given what we know about the impact that can have on their health and wellbeing. The New Roots app will help new members of our community establish those important social connections here in Australia,” Mr Villanti said.
New Roots Ambassadors
Former Iraqi refugee Dr Munjed Muderis, who is now a leading orthopaedic surgeon in Sydney, is a New Roots Ambassador.
“I think this app is a great new tool that will be very helpful for men from a refugee background,” Dr Muderis said.
“I know from my own experience that this can be a very stressful and difficult period when settling in a new country. The New Roots app can help with staying healthy through exercise and eating well, as well as connecting with people by joining local community and sports organisations and attending cultural activities.
“These things can be overlooked during the initial turbulent period of settling in a new country, but they are essential for reducing stress and embracing the opportunities to make this time a happy, healthy and productive experience.”
Cricketer Hameed Kherkhah, who has played with Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, is also a New Roots Ambassador. Mr Kherkhah moved to Australia from Afghanistan as a boy, when his family was given refugee protection.
“I was young, but I remember that my brothers and dad found it very hard and they had a lot of difficulties finding work, getting driving licenses, meeting other people and finding sports clubs,” Mr Kherkhah said.
“I meet a lot of people in my community who are in a similar situation today to what we were in. They need help to find work, housing, sports clubs and this app can help with these things. I think it’s great; all the information is there in your pocket, on your phone, and in your language.
“I wish this was around when my dad arrived, he would have loved it.”
Media enquiries:
SSI Online Communications Coordinator, Callan Lawrence, 0478 156 491 or 02 8799 6746
beyondblue, Anne Wright, 0411 035 695 or (03) 9810 6108
{youtube}https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2DHa-cXFxo{/youtube}
{youtube}https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBuPuhquRVw{/youtube}