Our History
Since 2000, SSI has grown from a small team inspired by the vision of 11 migrant resource centres to one of Australia’s largest, multi-faceted providers of human services for people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
For 25 years, we’ve believed that real progress starts when everyone is heard, seen and valued. As we celebrate this milestone, we’re not just looking back — we’re looking ahead with an unwavering commitment to inclusion, equity and opportunity for all.
Holden Street Office in Ashfield
2002
Holden Street, Ashfield, building officially opened on October 19.
2003
NSW Migrant Resource Centres Association changes name to Settlement Services International (SSI) in October.
SSI 2005 rebrand logo
2005
Settlement Services International (SSI) rebrands.
2011
SSI is awarded the Humanitarian Settlement Services tender.
SSI provides Humanitarian Settlement Services
SSI establishes Legal Aid NSW partnership
2012
- SSI establishes a partnership with Legal Aid NSW to help connect the CALD community with legal services for the first time in Australia.
- SSI now employs a total of 76 employees.
2013
- SSI’s Ashfield office is opened.
- SSI instigates self-funded initiatives including Community Kitchen and Ignite Small Business Start Ups.
- SSI launches the Multicultural Child and Family Program, the first of its kind in NSW.
- SSI now employs 253 people.
SSI opens Liverpool rd office in Ashfield
SSI delivers services through Ability Links NSW
2014
- SSI establishes its self-funded Arts and Culture Program.
- SSI begins delivering services to people with disability through the Ability Links NSW program.
- SSI now employs 336 people.
2015
- The NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP) consortium is established, which is led by SSI and comprises 22 organisations.
- SSI first delivers employment services through the CoAct/SSI Jobactive program.
- SSI launches refugee scholarships in NSW.
- SSI’s inaugural New Beginnings Refugee Arts & Culture Festival takes place.
- SSI establishes Youth Collective, a platform for CALD youth.
SSI’s inaugural New Beginnings festival
SSI’s settles unprecedented number of refugees in a single year
2016
- SSI settles 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq in a single year.
- SSI participates in the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Re-settlement (ATCR) and the UNHCR’s annual NGO consultations in Geneva.
- SSI now employs 515 people.
2017
- SSI becomes one of only five service providers delivering the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) across Australia,
- SSI achieves Disability Confident Recruiter status with Australian Network on Disability.
SSI becomes a Disability Confident Recruiter
SSI expands its services across the states
2018
- SSI expands and opens five new offices including Armidale, Newcastle and Coffs Harbour in regional NSW and an office in Victoria.
- SSI merges with Access Community Services located in Queensland.
- SSI hosts the International Metropolis Conference in Sydney.
2019
Ignite® Small Business Start-ups launches in Canada.
Ignite® launches in Canada
SSI marks 20 years since its establishment
2020
- SSI celebrates its 20th Anniversary.
- SSI sets up vaccination hubs for CALD communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2021
- SSI resources and accommodates the arrival of over 1,000 Afghanistan families in Sydney.
- Reconciliation Australia recognises SSI’s Reconciliation Action Plan at the innovative level.
- SSI now employs 988 people.
SSI’s Reconciliation Action Plan launches
SSI welcomes four new member organisations
2022
- SSI provides 3,256 individuals with support from newly arrived status to settlement in response to the influx of Ukrainian Refugees.
- SSI expands its membership footprint with the addition of four new member organisations.
2023
- SSI rebrands in February with a new logo, brands colours and marketing collateral.
- SSI Legal launches in Victoria.
- SSI Dandenong office opens in September.
SSI now employs 1,212 people.
SSI 2023 logo rebrand
SSI’s Pathways to Possibilities symposium
2024
- SSI hosts Disability Symposium Pathways to Possibilities in February.
- Adira Centre: The NSW Multicultural Centre for Women and Family Safety launches in May.
- SSI launches Billion Dollar Benefit: The economic impact of unlocking the skills potential of migrants report alongside the Billion Dollar Benefit campaign.
- New SSI Constitution passes unanimously.
2025
SSI turns 25!
SSI celebrates our silver jubilee