The 2019 legacy-themed conference will be held on Friday, May 24, at the International Convention Centre (ICC).
The SSI and TEDxSydney partnership involves a “Pay It Forward” initiative, whereby conference registrants can give community members from a wide range of SSI programs — including disability services, refugee resettlement, multicultural foster care, and startups — the opportunity to attend the conference for free.
Speakers covering the topics of science, business, technology, art, design, entertainment and culture will discuss the impact that personal, organisational and intergenerational legacy can have on humankind.
High-achieving entrepreneur and autism advocate Haydn Payne is part of the SSI cohort attending the conference and is excited about the opportunity.
“I often watch TED talks to spark new ideas for my own business. I’m stoked to have the opportunity to attend and see it live in action,” he said.
With the support of IgniteAbility® Small Business Start-ups — a pilot program established by SSI to facilitate business creation for people with a disability — Mr Payne is developing a podcast series for high functioning young adults on the autism spectrum.
After being wrongly diagnosed with ADHD, Mr Payne was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome at age 16 and, in the context of the 1990s when it was not a social condition many were aware of, had to break barriers and cope with his condition through his own set of resilience tactics.
“As someone growing up in a low socioeconomic environment, and during a time in the ’90s when many didn’t know what Asperger’s even was, I found myself facing many challenges,” he said.
“After many frustrations, I decided to do something more proactively and get involved in the autism community and advocate to raise awareness.”
Diversity and disability peer facilitator and mentor Pauline David is another community member attending the conference and part of the SSI cohort.
As someone from an Assyrian background who has lived with a physical disability from birth, Ms David has experienced social, cultural and structural related barriers her whole life and now advocates for improved accessibility for herself and others.
“Through sharing my story, I hope to challenge perceptions, attitudes and stigmas to help improve community access for people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds,” Ms David said.
“Attending the upcoming TEDxSydney conference will help inspire some new ideas for my advocacy work,” Ms David said.
“I hope to connect with new networks and spread the word on diversity and inclusion in the wider community.”
TEDxSydney Founder and Licensee Remo Giuffré said that TEDxSydney is thrilled to be able to give SSI program participants a unique learning experience through the ‘Pay It Forward’ initiative.
“At the core of TEDxSydney, we aim to create a connected community, and it’s great to be able to collaborate with SSI and bring the two communities together,” Mr Giuffré said.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said that the collaboration between the two organisations took a fresh approach in encouraging the broader community to get involved and support marginalised communities to attend a high-profile event.
“Through this wonderful partnership, we’re able to provide a seamless way for the wider community to give back to those people who otherwise wouldn’t have the chance to attend a TEDxSydney conference,” Ms Roumeliotis said.
“SSI appreciates the ongoing support and generosity of TEDxSydney and its members, who are empowering people to change their lives through direct exposure to myriad brilliant speakers and thought-provoking conversation.”
About SSI:
Settlement Services International 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, Rebeka Selmeczki, M: 0478 679 078 E: rselmeczki@ssi.org.au
This week marks the end of Ms Roumeliotis’ time as Telstra Business Woman of the Year ― a unique accolade for a non-profit CEO that she has used to create opportunities for other business women from diverse backgrounds.
“I’m the daughter of Greek migrants. I grew up working weekends in my family’s corner store. I haven’t just seen the incredible entrepreneurial potential in Australia’s migrant and refugee community ― I’ve lived it,” she said.
“I want to use my own success to show other women from diverse backgrounds that there is no limit to what we can achieve. We are wives, mothers and daughters, but we also have potential that extends beyond that facet of our identities.
“Migrant and refugee women are strong, they’re resilient and they’re resourceful business women. They just need a hand navigating the complex Australian regulatory environment.”
As the CEO of community organisation and social business Settlement Services International (SSI), Ms Roumeliotis has been able to offer that support by establishing the Ignite® Multicultural Women’s Business Scholarships — a 12-month package of specialised support valued at $20,000 to help women from diverse backgrounds get their business idea up off the ground.
Recipients of scholarships to date include:
- Merlyn Hernandez: After migrating to Australia in 2003, Merlyn was unable to find employment in her field of graphic design due to low English levels. Instead, she began studying hospitality and in 2013, launched Dulce Trio Boutique Cakes, which sells creative cakes and sweets. Despite Merlyn’s innovation, talent and the passion, her business was not making money, so she applied for an SSI scholarship. With support from a team of experts, Dulce Trio has refocused its sales and marketing efforts. Merlyn has also been linked with food and beverage industry experts and is in the process of pursuing a micro-loan to supercharge her business’s growth trajectory.
- Parastoo Brahimi: Originally from Afghanistan, Parastoo spent 11 years living as a refugee in Indonesia. To calm her mind during that uncertain period, Parastoo learned beading and began holding workshops to teach other refugees how to use beadwork to create small handicrafts and jewellery. After being resettled in Australia, Parastoo wanted to share her love of therapeutic craft work and came to SSI looking to turn her idea into a business. With support from a team of experts, her business ― Anissa ― was born. Currently in the product development stage, Anissa specialises in the creation of jewellery inspired by feminine concepts from the Quran.
Ms Roumeliotis said there is huge untapped potential in Australia’s new and emerging communities, which have much higher rates of entrepreneurialism than their Australian-born peers.
“This is particularly true of people from refugee background, who are nearly twice as likely to start their own business than the Australian population as a whole. Of those refugee entrepreneurs, women are more likely than men to actually earn an income from their own business,” she said.
“Budding entrepreneurs like Parastoo and Merlyn already have the skills, courage and work ethic to succeed in business ― all they need is a helping hand to level the playing field. What is often missing for migrant and refugee women is the opportunity to participate and share their knowledge and skills.
“I am incredibly grateful for the chance to lift up other women and use my own success to pave the way forward for other budding entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.”
About Violet:
Violet Roumeliotis is a social entrepreneur who has extensive experience working with refugee, asylum seeker and migrant communities. Violet is the current Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year, and sits on the Federal Government’s Settlement Services Advisory Council, the board of national migrant and refugee women’s coalition, the Harmony Alliance. Violet was named one of AFR’s Top 100 Women of Influence for 2018 in the category of Diversity & Inclusion and has twice been named on Pro Bono Australia’s list of the 25 most influential people in the not-for-profit sector. She was awarded the title of Community Fellow from Western Sydney University for outstanding service to the community in 2017.
About SSI:
Settlement Services International 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, Hannah Gartrell, M: 0478 679 078 E: hgartrell@ssi.org.au
SSI will draw on its experience in operating successful employment programs for vulnerable groups of people, bringing its unique social enterprise approach and established connections with employers and specialist services to communities across Parramatta, Mount Druitt, Auburn, Merrylands and Blacktown.
The NSW Government has partnered with local service providers to deliver Opportunity Pathways, a new employment-focused program that helps people receiving social housing assistance to access education, training and work.
Opportunity Pathways is aimed at people who want to improve their employment options and who are:
• aged 17 and older; and
• living in social housing or are approved social housing applicants; or
• are receiving a Rent Choice subsidy.
Through this program, SSI connects participants to education, training and employment opportunities tailored to their needs, aspirations and capabilities. SSI identifies the strengths, skills and aspirations of each participant, and matches these to job categories and relevant courses that are likely to lead to job opportunities.
Since 2015, SSI has operated employment programs that support vulnerable groups of people across the Sydney region, including young people who are unemployed, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, people with disability, parents transitioning to the workforce, long-term unemployed people, refugees, and people seeking asylum.
“We are very pleased that through our programs, our clients have successfully secured employment in over 400 local businesses, government agencies and corporations,” said Karen Bevan, SSI General Manager Service Delivery – Community.
“We work with people who may face barriers such as not knowing what work opportunities are available locally, or lacking confidence or capacity to enter employment without support.”
SSI’s innovative and person-centred approach addresses challenges like these with its successful social enterprise model, providing participants with meaningful work experience, skills, confidence, and access to sustainable employment.
“Each participant in the Opportunity Pathways program will be supported through this established process, and receive practical work experience with on-the-job training in one of our social enterprises, such as The Staples Bag (low cost grocery retail business), Humble Creatives (creative arts venture), The Experience Centre (administration and professional services), and Food for Thought (hospitality service),” said Ms Bevan.
“All of our social enterprises are linked to or have strong relationships with local employers.”
SSI will also draw on its existing networks, delivering Opportunity Pathways in collaboration with the well-established partnerships it has with other specialist services, employers and local supports as needed.
“With our strong connections to CALD community organisations, SSI will use our existing working relationships to establish culturally appropriate services, identify suitable participants, and provide participants with pathways to paid employment or to other relevant support services,” said Ms Bevan.
“Our service commitment to all of our clients is to work collaboratively with other services to best meet their needs.”
“We look forward to working with the communities in Western Sydney to deliver a service that makes a real difference and helps people address the barriers to employment and reach their goals.”
Family and Community Services (FACS) has funded Opportunity Pathways for three years. For more information about the program visit the FACS website.
SSI provides Opportunity Pathways services across sites in Parramatta, Mount Druitt, Auburn, Merrylands and Blacktown. To contact us, refer a participant, or self-refer, please email opp@ssi.org.au
We strongly condemn these appalling acts of violence, offer our condolences to the victims, their families and loved ones, and express our solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka and members of the Sri Lankan community living in Australia.
Despite our different beliefs and world views, we share a common humanity and urge all Australians to live in unity, with love and respect, regardless of religion.
A scholarship ceremony and multicultural afternoon tea was held at Allianz headquarters in Sydney yesterday, where SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis joined Allianz Australia’s Managing Director Richard Feledy to acknowledge and celebrate the success of the scholarship recipients with their families.
The SSI Allianz Refugee Scholarships were created to minimise the financial barriers experienced by refugees as they participate in the NSW education system. Over $84,000 – including $50,000 from Allianz – has been allocated this year to individuals across the education system: secondary school, vocational education and training, university, and skills and qualifications recognition.
One scholarship recipient, George Najarian, a refugee from Syria, applied for the SSI Allianz University Scholarship to help him achieve his dream of becoming a successful engineer. Mr Najarian and his family settled in Australia in 2017 after fleeing their home in Aleppo, where he had nearly completed a degree in robotics.
“Our family shop had been bombed, my brother had been shot and my sister’s school was destroyed. I was risking my life by going to university,” explained Mr Najarian. “Becoming an engineer will provide a decent life for my mum, my siblings and I, and will allow me to give back to the country which gave my family another chance at life.”
Mr Najarian will put his scholarship towards an Extended Diploma of Engineering at Western Sydney University. The funds will cover the cost of his tuition, the purchase of a laptop, textbooks and engineering software.
This award-winning partnership between Allianz and SSI has been delivering new education and career opportunities for refugees and migrants for three consecutive years now. To date, 130 refugee education scholarships have been awarded, with a combined value of $264,000, and 21 refugees have been supported into permanent employment with Allianz in a variety of skilled roles. A further 20 refugee youths have been supported through pre-employment workshops.
Ms Roumeliotis said the SSI Allianz Scholarships complemented the tremendous work SSI and partner organisations were doing for people from refugee backgrounds, tapping into their strengths, talent and resilience to help individuals reach their potential.
“We believe we have an obligation to support our communities, to add value and strengthen social cohesion,” she said. “Importantly, these scholarships reflect our fundamental view that everyone has the right to meet their potential and to live the life they want to live.
“SSI is extremely pleased that our partnership with Allianz continues to help new members of our community to follow their education and employment pathways, like George, so they can realise their dreams and make their own special contribution to our diverse society.”
Allianz Australia Managing Director Richard Feledy said, “A good quality education can provide people with the opportunity to change their lives and those of their families and communities, and we are thrilled to support the recipients of the Allianz SSI Scholarships for the third consecutive year. The SSI organisation, these scholarships, and our Allianz Refugee Employment Programs all aim to provide these strong individuals with ongoing education and career opportunities so they can fulfil their personal and professional goals, and we are proud to be a part of this important initiative.”
About the SSI Allianz Scholarships
The SSI Allianz scholarships directly support people from refugee backgrounds to achieve independence.
Refugees who come to Australia face many challenges during settlement, such as financial hardship, dealing with experiences of torture and trauma, and family separation.
Yet Australia is a nation built on immigration and has 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
SSI and Allianz aim to continue that tradition by providing targeted scholarships to those who are the most in need and willing to overcome social and economic challenges.
“We stand in solidarity with the communities of New Zealand and are united in condemning the attack on one of the world’s most welcoming and generous nations. Like New Zealand, Australia prides itself on being a safe and tolerant place that people of all nationalities and faiths call home. Senseless acts of violence like this call on all members of the community to reach out to the peaceful Muslim community with tolerance and respect,” stated Violet Roumeliotis, Group CEO, SSI.
“On behalf of the communities we serve and represent, we stand strong against racial hatred and anti-immigrant prejudice for which there is no place in today’s society. This shows that once again we have entered times that require the majority of us who seek social justice and peace to demonstrate incredible amounts of vigilance and courage. Our prayers and thoughts are with you New Zealand.”
ends
Settlement Services International is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australian to achieve their full potential. We work with all people who have experienced vulnerability, including refuges, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.
Access Community Services Limited is a leading Queensland multicultural organisation that operates under the umbrella of SSI. Access merged with SSI on December 4, 2018.
Media enquiries: 0413 593 946 | sfoster@ssi.org.au
The exhibits, presented by the Peacock Gallery Auburn and supported by Settlement Services International (SSI), will run concurrently March 9–31, 2019, and will feature seven different artists, four of whom are female.
The partnership between the Peacock Gallery Auburn and SSI, now in its second year, acknowledges the need for artist representation and provides access to exhibition opportunities for artists from refugee backgrounds. For many of the artists involved it is their first curated exhibition in Australia.
Fragments of Iran is a solo exhibition presented by Mehrdad MehrAeen, a professional Iranian visual artist with over 17 years of artistic experience. His work draws on traditional Iranian forms of art, including Iranian poetry and “Tazhib” — the geometry found in traditional Iranian paintings.
“I am so excited for my first exhibition in Australia,” said Mr MehrAeen.
Mr MehrAeen arrived in Australia in 2013 and continued his artistic practice but, after finding himself homesick and alone, he began to explore these feelings through his artwork.
“Improvisation through the art-making process is the hallmark of traditional Iranian art; most of my art is made through the unconscious mind.”
ANA/MAN/MA — ME (Arabic) / ME (Farsi) / US (Farsi) — is a collective exhibition featuring the work of a diverse range of artists from Arabic, Iranian, and Ghanaian backgrounds, including experienced artist, graphic designer and teacher, Maher Al Khoury.
Mr Al Khoury arrived in Australia from Syria as a refugee in 2017. 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. Mr Al Khoury was exhibited in his home country in Syria and Abu Dhabi at esteemed arts exhibitions; however, ANA/MAN/MA will be his first curated exhibition in Australia.
Young artist Emmanuel Asante arrived in Australia in 2015 from Ghana and started painting and drawing as a way to deal with depression.
“Art is my escape from reality,” Mr Asante said.
“I’m quite excited and looking forward to seeing new people and discussing these artworks and ideas.”
Mr Asante’s work has already been exhibited in numerous youth forums. In 2016 he received the Art for Planet Award from Campbelltown Council.
Exhibition dates: March 9 – 31, 2019
Gallery opening time: Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm
Location: Peacock Gallery, located in Auburn Botanic Gardens, Corner of Chiswick and Chisholm Roads, Auburn NSW 2144
Cost: Free
About SSI:
Settlement Services International 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 self-funds arts and culture initiatives ranging from artist professional development projects to its flagship New Beginnings Festival, aiming to ensure that refugees and newly arrived migrants have equitable access to arts and culture programs and opportunities.
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Officer Rebeka Selmeczki 0468 998 300 or rselmeczki@ssi.org.au
Settlement Services International (SSI) Strategic Policy Manager Astrid Perry said she very much welcomed any increase to funding in this area but hoped the investment would also include provisions to meet the unique needs of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“NSW as a state has very limited targeted domestic and family violence services that focus on migrant and refugee women. Other states, such as Victoria, have explicit funding for services working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” she said.
“We have a pressing need for a dedicated service that helps women who are new to Australia safely escape domestic and family violence.”
The key feature of Labor’s proposal is an $18 million investment in new beds for women escaping violence at home. Ms Perry welcomed the pledge but warned investment must go beyond accommodation to ensure these spaces consider the needs of all women.
“Often, the available accommodation is not ideal for women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds because there are rarely interpreters, limited responses to cultural needs and few spaces for large families,” she said.
“In many cases, this accommodation also does not include sufficient support from a social worker or domestic violence specialist. Settlement workers in our community are increasingly reporting that women come out of temporary accommodation without having resolved any of their issues related to their relationship or secured ongoing housing.”
This is disappointing given the additional challenges these women must surmount in order to leave a violent home situation in the first place, said Ms Perry.
“Women of migrant or refugee background are less likely to seek assistance due to barriers like lack of knowledge about their rights, fear of deportation and removal of children, lack of English language skills, or shame and the need to maintain family honour. In other cases, women on temporary visas have little or no independent income,” she said.
There is a real and pressing need for funded domestic violence services that are tailored specifically for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, Ms Perry said.
“We must ensure all women have access to safe accommodation, regardless of their visa status,” she said.
“While we welcome the release of funding to keep more women and children secure, we call on both the NSW Government and NSW Labor to consider funding services that will ensure support is appropriate for all women.”
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 Hannah Gartrell 0478 679 078 or hgartrell@ssi.org.au
A new Settlement Services International (SSI) policy paper, to be released in Sydney on February 13, argues that a more comprehensive and culturally competent response is needed from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to meet the diverse needs of people with disability.
The paper, Still outside the tent: Cultural diversity and disability in a time of reform, questions the goals and vision of the National Disability Strategy with a particular focus on barriers and enablers for people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
It suggests ways forward for that demographic to achieve greater social and economic inclusion.
Co-author of the paper, SSI Research and Policy Manager Tadgh McMahon, said, “Evidence indicates that people with disability from CALD backgrounds have half to one-third of the rate of usage of mainstream services that people born in Australia have had, and there is no evidence to suggest that this is a reflection of their preferences or that they need less assistance.
“What is needed are more ‘soft’ and ‘multiple’ community-based entry points to the disability service system to help these marginalised groups access services such as the NDIS.”
Still outside the tent: Cultural diversity and disability in a time of reform will be launched at an SSI Speaker Series event — “When Disability and Cultural Diversity Meet: The role of community in driving inclusion” — at TripAdvisor HQ in Redfern, Sydney, on Wednesday, February 13.
To obtain a copy of the policy paper or for more information about the Speakers Series, contact Greg Clennar, 0417 687 064 or gclennar@ssi.org.au.
Yesterday’s federal government announcement of $78 million in funding for women and children escaping violence at home included a $60 million grants program to provide emergency accommodation.
Settlement Services International (SSI) Strategic Policy Manager Astrid Perry said while she very much welcomed any increase to funding in this area, women from newly arrived communities were still falling through the gaps.
“Investment must go beyond accommodation in order to ensure these spaces are welcoming and consider the needs of all women. Often, the available accommodation is not ideal for newly arrived women because there are no interpreters, limited responses to cultural needs and few spaces for large families,” she said.
“In many cases, this accommodation also does not include sufficient support from a social worker or domestic violence specialist. Settlement workers in our community are increasingly reporting that women come out of temporary accommodation without having resolved any of their issues related to their relationship or secured ongoing housing.”
This is disappointing given the additional challenges newly arrived women must surmount in order to leave a violent home situation in the first place, said Ms Perry.
“Women of migrant or refugee background are less likely to seek assistance due to barriers like lack of knowledge about their rights, fear of deportation and removal of children, lack of English language skills, or shame and the need to maintain family honour. In other cases, women are on temporary visas that do no enable them to earn an income,” she said.
There is a real and pressing need for funded domestic violence services that are tailored specifically for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds, Ms Perry said.
“We must ensure all women have access to safe accommodation, regardless of their visa status,” she said.
“While we welcome the release of funding to keep more women and children secure, we call on the government to consider funding ancillary services that will ensure this support is appropriate for all women.”
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 Hannah Gartrell 0478 679 078 or hgartrell@ssi.org.au