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Refugee Support

The Humanitarian Settlement Program provides essential early support and information to refugees and humanitarian entrants. Learn more

IgniteAbility

IgniteAbility Small Business Start-ups is a pilot program established to facilitate business creation for people with disability. Learn More:

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Local Area Coordination

SSI is partnered with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to support people aged 7 and over to access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and other mainstream community services. Learn more

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SSI Employment

Employment is integral for newly arrived refugees, migrants, asylum seekers and for other vulnerable people in our community. Learn more

About us

50

programs

and initiatives are provided by SSI

49,000 +

people

access SSI Group services

18,000 +

people

access initiatives, including workshops, information sessions and consultations

As of SSI's 2021-22 Integrated Report

SSI News Blog

SSI Foundation

SSI Foundation

Please note: the deadline for applications for the 2016 academic year has now closed (October 2, 2015).

The SSI Foundation directly supports people from refugee backgrounds in NSW to achieve independence. The SSI Foundation’s scholarships and grants program for individuals, community groups and organisations extends the reach and impact of SSI’s unique and effective community engagement activities and empowers recipients to settle successfully in Australia.

Benjamin Franklin quote

Through the work of the SSI Foundation, SSI continues to achieve its vision of a society that values diversity of its people, actively provides support to ensure meaningful social and economic participation, and assists individuals and families to reach their potential.

Purpose of the SSI Foundation

The purpose of the SSI Foundation is to assist recently arrived refugees to successfully integrate into their new community. The SSI Foundation aims to minimise the impact of structural disadvantage often experienced by refugees during the early settlement phase by increasing access to education, employment and community infrastructure.

Challenges faced by refugees

Persecution, war, political instability and displacement are all factors that lead individuals and families to leave their homes to seek permanent protection elsewhere, including Australia.

Refugees who come to Australia face many challenges on settlement, such as financial hardship, dealing with experiences of torture and trauma, and family separation, yet Australia is a nation built on immigration. We have a long history of providing safe asylum to refugees, many of whom have gone on to make great civil, social and economic contributions to Australian society.

The SSI Foundation aims to continue that tradition by providing targeted scholarships and grant support to those who are the most in need and willing to overcome social and economic challenges.

Funding Streams

In response to the various needs of refugee communities both individually and collectively, the SSI Foundation will offer scholarships to individuals across all levels of the education system, public and private, as well as a comprehensive suite of grant opportunities for individuals and groups that span arts and culture, health and wellbeing, settlement innovation and also sponsorship of community groups and activities. The rollout of the program will be undertaken in three stages beginning in 2015 with Education Scholarships.

1. Education Scholarships – for individuals (36 available in 2015)

  1. Primary school
  2. Secondary school
  3. Tertiary - university
  4. Vocational education & training (VET)
  5. Skills & qualifications recognition

Applications for Education Scholarships will open again in September 2016.

How you can help

The SSI Foundation welcomes donations from members of the community who are committed to helping create a more fair and just society. Opportunities for support include the funding of scholarships at a local or state level, from primary school through to university.

Additional areas of support can include funding a specific stream within the grants or sponsorship program. All donations are welcome and will help make a difference to those seeking refuge in Australia.

Donations of $2 and above made to Settlement Services International are tax deductible.

SSI Head Office
Level 2, 158 Liverpool Road,
Ashfield, NSW, 2131
t: (02) 8799 6700
e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Quality services and support

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.

SSI draws on its expertise and experience to advocate for the people and communities it serves. Through the work we do, we empower people to change their lives. Through our advocacy and representation, we influence ideas and policy.

Our vision is to achieve a society that values the diversity of its people and actively provides support to ensure meaningful social and economic participation and to assist individuals and families reach their potential.