Settlement Services International welcomes the unprecedented funding of $146 million over four years by the NSW State Government in this week’s State Budget to help Syrian and Iraqi refugees start a new life in NSW.

Record-breaking numbers of forcibly displaced people worldwide have increased the importance of this week’s Refugee Week celebrations, according to Settlement Services International (SSI) CEO Violet Roumeliotis. The annual celebration of the courage and contribution of refugees would be a particularly poignant occasion this year in light of the staggering number of refugees and other forcibly displaced people around the world, she said.

Starting a business takes perseverance and hard work. That is especially true in a foreign country with different business practices and a new language, like Syrian refugee Zaher Batal has done.

Settlement Services International (SSI) is piloting an initiative that aims to inform people seeking asylum about the Australian workplace and prepare them to enter the workforce.

The NSW Government is once again supporting the refugee community with a pledge to prioritise refugees in public sector recruitment. 

Baroque violinist Anna McDonald is passionate about exploring the realms of new music – a passion that she developed after a decade of studying and performing in London.

At the New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival 2016, the fun won’t end with the music and dance performances. A host of original workshops will also expose attendees to new experiences ranging from relaxing yoga with sacred Aboriginal sounds to vibrant African dance and drumming.

While many places in the world are experiencing turbulent times due to the unprecedented displacement of people, it is always useful to stop and ponder what makes Australia such a peaceful corner of the globe and a wonderful place to live.

Refugee Week is a chance to celebrate the positive contributions refugees make to Australian society. As part of the national celebration this month, Settlement Services International (SSI) is involved with a number of free events, including our very own festival.

A talented restaurateur seeking asylum in Australia has brought a taste of Iran to Sydney’s north west with the recent opening of his own business, Shahrood Restaurant.

Nurten Kumru is a single mum of three adult children — and as of six months ago a grandmother too — but she still has enough love in her heart to be a foster carer.

Over a delicious chicken curry at the recent Indian inspired Community Kitchen lunch, Ashwin Patel shared his migration story and how he came to be a cook.

The shared experience of motherhood transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, as demonstrated by a special group of women who celebrated Mother’s Day with Settlement Services International (SSI) this month.

From the outside, Aroos Hair and Beauty looks like any other business trading on Pitt Street, outside Merrylands train station. However, inside, a determined mother and daughter are working tirelessly towards a shared dream: having their own business, and their lives, firmly set up in Australia. SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative is supporting them on this journey.

Renowned performers from one of Sydney’s leading world music groups will showcase the talents of multicultural artists and help to shift negative perceptions about multiculturalism in Australia at NSW’s leading festival celebrating refugee arts and culture.

Rosanna Barbero has just hung up from a frustrating phone call with a customer service representative for a large electrical retailer, trying to sort out an issue with a faulty device. She is exasperated.

Spanish people are known for loving parties, and when they involve food there is generally one common element in all of them: Paella.

SWITCH is a photography exhibition about gender and sexual identity across two diverse cultures — Australian and Iranian.

The generosity of everyday Australians is significantly improving the experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum living in the Australian community, according to a leader from the humanitarian settlement sector. Speaking at the start of National Volunteer Week, Settlement Services International (SSI) CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the actions of volunteers had a profound effect on the lives of people fleeing war and persecution.