Volunteers come from all walks of life but one thing they have in common is a generosity of spirit that drives them to give up their time to help vulnerable individuals.

  In a dynamic presentation at the Settlement Council of Australia (SCOA) conference in Melbourne today, SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis highlighted the power of partnerships and the importance of trust and communication in achieving better outcomes for vulnerable communities.

Settlement, citizenship and policy topped the agenda at the annual Settlement Council of Australia (SCoA) conference in Melbourne today, as dozens of settlement professionals, academics and community leaders shared their views on the major issues facing settlement globally.

A solutions-focused approach is at the heart of all the services SSI offers. Whether it’s working with people seeking asylum, refugees, children in foster care, or people with disabilities, this is a sound approach that has proven and demonstrated positive outcomes for the individuals involved and, of course, for communities.

A group of resourceful young women have taken their support for refugees and people seeking asylum to a new level, progressing from bake sales and school holiday volunteering to a large fundraising event.

Dozens of young people from refugee backgrounds tackled the major issues facing refugee youth at the inaugural Young Leaders Forum in April, with employment, education and health leading the agenda.

A well-maintained garden and outdoor area goes a long way to making a house feel like a home.  A partnership between SSI and Habitat for Humanity Australia (HFHA) is helping to do just that through HFHA’s Brush with Kindness program.

SSI’s Community Kitchen is always a cultural melting pot, and this was particularly so in April when Iraqi-born chef Ammar drew from Italian and Australian cuisine to create a fusion feast.

People volunteer for many reasons: altruism, corporate social responsibility, free time. For Naila Yousid, her experience resettling in Australia as a refugee prompted her to become a volunteer.

Participating in an inclusive community garden project has given a young man seeking asylum the skills to turn his interest in carpentry into a career.

Leading artists from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will showcase their talents at NSW’s leading festival celebrating refugee arts and culture. Confirmed artists for the expanded 2016 New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival will impress audiences with performances and workshops that draw inspiration from the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia and more.

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.

Young workers from migrant and refugee backgrounds will receive mentoring support to help them stay in a job long term, thanks to an innovative new service being delivered by SSI.

Karim* arrived in Australia in 2012 to seek asylum when it became unsafe for him to stay in Iran. An electrical engineer by trade and with a wealth of experience, he owned and operated his own business in his home town of Shiraz, Iran.

Harmony Day is an important annual event on SSI’s calendar, but the 2016 event marked a milestone as hundreds of staff, volunteers, clients and supporters came together to celebrate this year’s theme – diversity is our strength.

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.