SSI announces second round of applications for Community Innovation Fund

The Community Innovation Fund’s resources are offered to groups, organisations or individuals with a connection to south-west Sydney (Fairfield, Liverpool and surrounds) and projects that will benefit local refugees who have arrived in the last three years.

It is not a typical grant program, since it offers support to develop ideas, write applications and implement projects, with one-on-one mentoring.

Opportunities available to south-west Sydney’s newly arrived refugee community have grown since the Fund introduced its first round in September 2017, when innovative ideas and successful projects included a range of exciting projects in arts, technology and sport.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said, “SSI has always taken the view that we should be listening to the community and responding to their concerns rather than reacting to issues and trying to find solutions after problems arise.

“The Fund gives people an opportunity to think of ideas that are relevant, embedded in their own communities, and tailored to their needs and their own priorities rather than someone else setting their priorities.

“Communities have a better understanding because they are living and breathing what is happening at the coalface.”

Information sessions for the second round of Community Innovation Fund Applications are as follows:

• Fairfield: Friday, July 6, 10am-12pm at Fairfield Community Hall, 25 Barbara Street Fairfield
• Liverpool: Friday, July 6, 5-7pm at Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre, 108 Moore Street Liverpool

Local service providers and other funded bodies are not eligible to apply.

Applications close on August 20, 2018.

To find out more, visit the SSI Community Innovation Fund

About SSI: 

SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with all people who have experienced vulnerability, including refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Officer Lamoge Shvily (M) 0405 320 377 (E) LShvily@ssi.org.au