SSI offices turned into vaccination hub for asylum seeking communities
On Thursday, SSI began facilitating the vaccination of people from asylum and refugee backgrounds out of our Parramatta office, as part of Western Sydney Local Health District’s outreach program to reach vulnerable communities.
Multi-talented Syrian entrepreneur expands business into homemade organic products
Refugee and entrepreneur Ashod Paloulian is a man of many talents. He trained to become a professional tennis player in his hometown of Aleppo, Syria, before relocating to Sydney to begin a new life.
Talented refugee artist awarded with University of Sydney scholarship
Visual artist and Iraqi refugee Raneen Shamon arrived in Australia in 2017 from Jordan, where she had lived with her parents and younger brother for three years, waiting for their humanitarian visas to be approved.
Syrian artist exhibits work exploring displacement and migration
Visual artist Maher Al Khoury arrived in Australia seeking asylum from Syria four years ago. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1988, he had a dynamic arts career working across the Middle East as a university lecturer and artist, with exhibitions in Syria and Abu Dhabi.
Reconciliation through action
One of our biggest strengths at SSI is the diversity of our staff and commitment to being an inclusive organisation that supports the community and the wellbeing of our people.
Young refugee mother finds education and employment in new home
Single mother and refugee Janet Ferdosian made the courageous decision to flee Iran in 2014 and seek temporary refuge in Turkey, where she lived for three years while waiting for a humanitarian visa.
Making leaps and bounds down the pathway to independence.
Since she began receiving support from SSI’s Local Area Coordination (LAC) services 18 months ago, Jessy, a young woman with Autism Spectrum Disorder, has taken great strides towards living an independent life.
From the CEO: Australia’s roadmap to re-opening
A question that has kept me awake on more than one night over the past year is, how do we emerge from COVID-19 as a stronger country – a country whose citizens remember that we live in a society, not just an economy?
Keeping kids in foster care connected to family – National Families Week 2021
During National Families Week, we reflect on the importance of the family as a unit in the life of the child, and recognise the value of Life Story Work in keeping a child in care connected to their family.
Young refugee fleeing persecution forges prosperity in new home
23-year-old Irfan Ali Nasiri arrived in Australia from Pakistan with his mother and four siblings in 2016, reuniting with his father in Auburn, Sydney, after years of separation.
New resident welfare wait times must be reduced, not increased, in interest of equity and the economy
A measure forcing new permanent residents to wait four years before they can access most government welfare payments and family tax benefit risks exacerbating inequality for people who are starting out and already contributing tax to the Australian economy, according to Settlement Services International (SSI).
SSI welcomes Budget’s injection of funds for migrant communities and frontline FDV services
Settlement Services International (SSI) welcomes the Federal Government’s Women’s Budget Statement and its Budget 2021 women’s safety package, in particular measures to help culturally diverse women victims of family and domestic violence (FDV).
Consistency required in approach to international COVID-19 outbreaks
Australia’s robust COVID-19 containment system could open the door for citizens and visa holders in India who are seeking to return home, according to community organisation and social business Settlement Services International (SSI).
SSI and Allianz mark five years in partnership; almost 200 refugee scholarships awarded to date
Allianz Australia and Settlement Services International (SSI) are proud to mark five years of partnership with almost 200 (177) scholarships cumulatively granted to support people of refugee backgrounds achieve independence in Australia. The milestone was celebrated at the annual Allianz SSI scholarships ceremony held virtually where 20 individuals from a refugee background were awarded scholarships; […]
From the CEO: Myanmar and refugees in the Asia-Pacific
Tsering Yangzom fled Tibet at the age of nine and lived in India for a number of years before coming to Australia as a refugee in 2020. She is one of many people from the Asia-Pacific region that SSI supports following forced displacement.
Living and thriving as a young person with Asperger Syndrome
Like many university students, 20-year-old Bevan is focused on completing his degree and finding out what direction he wants to take in life.
New multicultural support for people experiencing gambling harm
A new multicultural service provided by Settlement Services International (SSI) and funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation will support individuals, families and communities experiencing gambling harm.
Culturally diverse children miss out on early childhood education, so more vulnerable
Education today | Published: Thursday, 25 March 2021 Attendance at early childhood education makes a difference for the development of all children but children from diverse backgrounds are less likely to go. These children continue to be more likely to be developmentally vulnerable at school entry than children from non-CALD backgrounds in each census since 2009, but […]