NSW’s premier festival celebrating the cultural heritage and artistic talents of people from refugee backgrounds will be bigger than ever in 2016. Following the stand out success of the inaugural New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival last year, the 2016 program has expanded to feature three separate events across Sydney both during and after Refugee Week.

Cultures combined during a recent dance workshop, where a group of female refugees learned how to express themselves through classical Indian dance.

We all need help from time to time to face challenging situations. For Catherine Halliday, a Shoalhaven resident who will be undergoing a cornea transplant next month, this moment arrived a few weeks ago.

Twenty-five-year old refugee Ranita Dasho has one goal for life in Australia: to give back. After less than a year in the country, she’s already turning that aspiration into action.

Artist Miriam Cabello’s long-held passion for collaborative community art and educational projects has seen her take on a unique mentoring opportunity for the New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival 2016.

A group of amateur cooks who are seeking asylum in Australia have acquired home cooking skills and experience thanks to a social enterprise established by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Twenty four refugees have secured employment in the past six months with the support of Settlement Services International’s Humanitarian Settlement Services program.

In a move that will extend support services to vulnerable families, Settlement Services International (SSI) and Metro Assist are pleased to be working together in partnership to deliver the ParentsNext initiative which begins today.

More than 100 NSW settlement service providers came together for a one-day forum in March to discuss major hurdles facing newly arrived refugees and ways to improve service delivery in the early stages of settlement.

There were big smiles on everyone’s faces when members of Blacktown North Public School Community Hub visited Luna Park in March. Community Hubs is a national program that supports migrant and refugee parents and children as they navigate the education system.

Like many Australians, Natalie Tsirimokos watched the global refugee crisis gain momentum in 2015 and felt compelled to act. “I spent a lot of time thinking about how I could help, so I began researching local not for profits,” she said.

An innovative partnership between Allianz Australia and Settlement Services International (SSI) will deliver new career opportunities and support for refugees and migrants who have settled in Australia. Today’s joint announcement by Allianz Australia Managing Director Niran Peiris and SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis coincide with the first week on the job for five recruits under the partnership employment program. The partnership aims to improve employment and educational opportunities for SSI clients as well as enhance workforce diversity at Allianz.

Settlement Services International invites its staff, partners, supporters of diversity and inclusion and refugee support professionals to participate in ORAM Training on Sexual and Gender Minority Refugees.

Fans of Indian film and supporters of Settlement Services International came together on Monday, March 7, to raise funds for SSI’s community engagement programs for refugees and asylum seekers.

Oscar Al-kinani is just 20 years old but already he’s achieved several milestones that have brought him closer to his goal of working with an international humanitarian organisation. Since arriving in Australia 19 months ago as a refugee from Iraq, Oscar has completed English language and high school qualifications and he is now on track to finishing a TAFE certificate in community services.

From the arts to technology, there are many different fields where refugees have made significant contributions to Australian society. But what are the factors that drive their success? And why is telling and listening to their stories so important? 

A cooking enthusiast who is seeking asylum in Australia has capitalised on his volunteering experience with SSI to secure a restaurant job. For the past two years, Mostafa has cooked and provided support at Settlement Services International’s (SSI) fortnightly Community Kitchen at the Auburn Centre for Community.

Rediscovering his passion for competitive sport has put a smile back on the face of one young wrestler as he awaits the outcome of his refugee application. Yaser has been wrestling for 10 years, but said he had a tough time finding somewhere to continue his training when he first came to Australia to seek asylum from Iraq in 2013.

Before taking part in the Staples Bag SSI Work for the Dole program, Campsie resident Marcel Tawbeh would never have considered working in retail. “I was shy and lacked confidence, and thought I would only be able to work in the background,” Mr Tawbeh said.

Before taking part in the Staples Bag SSI Work for the Dole program, Campsie resident Marcel Tawbeh would never have considered working in retail. “I was shy and lacked confidence, and thought I would only be able to work in the background,” Mr Tawbeh said.