The study found that 68% of refugee graduates of the Ignite Small Business Start-ups Program had moved off Centrelink payments, with some also paying company tax and generating jobs for others.
- In-depth interviews with 35 of the refugee entrepreneurs identified savings of $880,000 a year in Centrelink benefits – or a potential $4.4 million over five years – among this group alone.
- More than 60 new refugee enterprises emerged from the program, generating company tax revenue for the government
- At the time of the study, 20 staff had been taken on by the program’s entrepreneurs
- The entrepreneurs were also contributing to innovation in Australia
The Ignite Small Business Start-ups Program, an initiative of humanitarian organisation Settlement Services International (SSI), was launched in 2013 to assist newly arrived humanitarian migrants or refugees to set up businesses.
Now at the end of its three-year pilot, the program has helped to establish 66 new refugee businesses – the majority in retail trade, followed by cultural and recreational services and construction.
“The stand-out finding is the diversity of business types set up by the refugee graduates of the Ignite program,” Professor Collins says. “There is no typical refugee business enterprise. Businesses established by successful Ignite clients cover many different industry classifications.”
Overall, of the 240 SSI refugee clients accepted into the Ignite program 25 per cent were running their own enterprise, the study found.
“This success rate must be set against the substantial barriers that these refugees faced in order to appreciate its significance,” Professor Collins says.
“At first glance refugees are the most unlikely entrepreneurs. They lack capital to start up a business, they have no credit history, no assets or security. In many instances their educational qualifications are not recognised and they have no social networks.”
The report also found that newly arrived refugees who are women are equally passionate about entrepreneurship and have the potential to succeed as new entrepreneurs in Australia. “One in five Ignite clients are women and one in four of the Ignite clients who succeeded in setting up a business are women,” Professor Collins says. “This is an important finding because many refugee families who arrive in Australia are single-parent families headed by a woman.”
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis noted it was not because of a lack of passion, a business idea or commitment and ability that other Ignite clients had not set up a business. “Rather, the constraint was the time of the enterprise facilitators. With more resources for the program to hire additional enterprise facilitators the success rate would have been much higher.”
The Ignite program is based on the Sirolli Trinity of Management® model and tailored specifically to newly arrived humanitarian migrants or refugees. “This model has led to an innovation in thinking and tailoring of support to entrepreneurs of refugee background,” Ms Roumeliotis says.
“The report has demonstrated the success of Ignite and suggests it has the potential to be rolled out nationally, with modification and consultation.”
SSI now plans to expand the model to support passionate entrepreneurs with disability, their families and carers through a new pilot program Ignite Ability.
SSI is a finalist in the Settlement Innovation category of the Australian Migration Settlement Awards on Wednesday, March 22, which will be attended by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The Ignite program was part of the nomination.
To speak with SSI CEO or for entrepreneur case studies:
Rekha Sanghi
SSI Communications Coordinator
0422 304 578
rsanghi@ssi.org.au
Professor Jock Collins
Professor of Social Economics
UTS Business School
0425 341 083
Jock.Collins@uts.edu.au
Lesley Parker
Media Officer
UTS Business School
0422 000 249
lesley.parker@uts.edu.au
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said: “As a leading humanitarian settlement provider, we know from countless individual stories of migration and displacement since post WWII, including many victims of terrorism, these new members of the Australian community would strongly agree that the Australian Government should place the highest priority on security and safety.
“We understand that the people we work with value a free, diverse and harmonious society and embrace the opportunities offered to them to make a fresh start here. The higher than average entrepreneurial spirit of our refugee population is well documented.
“At a time when there are continuing calls for radical change in our immigration and multicultural policies, we welcome the confirmation that the Australian Government is committed to harnessing the advantages of our cultural diversity as an asset which sparks innovation and creativity and which contributes to the economic and social prosperity of all Australians.
“We’re also pleased to note the statement acknowledges that the Australian settlement framework is widely considered best practice, an approach that is the envy of many comparable countries.”
There were performances, gardening workshops and art demonstrations, along with craft, henna designs and a pampering corner with nail art, hair styling and make up.
One attendee, Iman, displayed artworks that she developed in the five years she has lived in Australia.
“I used to just paint animals, now I just paint women. In my country, women are oppressed, so now I paint women enjoying freedom,” Iman said. “Freedom is dancing. Freedom is wearing what you want.”
Held at the Auburn Centre for Community, the event activities were suitable for people of all ages and genders, with the aim of encouraging attendance from both men and women.
SSI Community Engagement Manager Trina Soulos said gender equality was an issue affecting the whole community, so it was important for all community members to be involved in celebrating International Women’s Day.
“Gender equality is not just an issue for women. Including fathers, husbands and sons in community celebrations like this is just one of the ways we can fight stereotypes and create more positive change for women,” she said.
“We wanted to capture the inclusive spirit of International Women’s Day and create a space where everyone was welcome to celebrate unity, gender equality, resilience and hope.”
Around 200 people attended the event, where lunch was prepared by sisters Sharon and Carol Salloum supported by SSI staff and volunteers. The culinary duo run Sydney restaurant Almond Bar and have been regular contributors at SSI events for refugees and people seeking asylum.
The event was a great example of community coming together, with contributions from Cumberland Council, the House of Welcome and the Women’s Creative Hub, Community Migrant Resource Centre, Auburn Diversity Services Inc, Olivetree Women’s Network, Aunty’s Ginger and Tonic, Australian Asian Cultural Association, Playgroup NSW, Reverse Garbage, Cumberland Women’s Health Centre and Parramatta Holroyd Family and Domestic Violence Prevention Committee.
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell, 02 8799 6740
An evaluation by consultants Urbis prepared for the NSW Department of Family and Community Services found that ALNSW contributed significantly to improving peoples’ lives and returned an economic benefit to the community of $3 for every dollar spent.
ALNSW is delivered by Settlement Services International (SSI) in partnership with Uniting and Vincent de Paul across 44 Local Government Areas by 60 ‘Linkers’.
SSI Chief Operations Officer Stephen O’Neill said ALNSW was contributing to a significant shift in attitudes towards inclusion of people with disabilities, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
“Our bicultural and bilingual Linkers are accessing communities that have long been underrepresented and under utilising the support services available to them – both within the disability sector and other mainstream services,” Mr O’Neill said.
The Urbis report found that linking people to community and services has a profound effect on the quality of people’s lives and that people who have come into contact with the program are now actively engaged with and contributing to the community.
It also found that people from CALD communities have responded very positively to the program’s flexible, person-centred approach.
“So many of our participants tell us that having a Linker from the same cultural background or who speaks the same language has really helped them out of difficult and challenging circumstances, and facilitated the support they’ve needed,” Mr O’Neill said.
Since its launch in 2014, SSI Ability Links NSW has supported over 8,000 individuals and families across Metro North, Metro South and Southern NSW, and made over 80,000 community connections.
Mr O’Neill said given the reported success of the program, he hoped Ability Links would continue into the future as part of, or alongside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
“With such strong evidence that Ability Links provides value for money and generates significant social and economic benefits for both the broader community and Government, we see a strong future for this program,” he said.
“The work of Ability Links is already diverting some people away from funded supports and improving the capacity of individuals and communities; this will help support the sustainability of the NDIS.”
Ability Links NSW is a State Government program that supports people with disability, their families and carers to connect with their local community, achieve their goals and aspirations and live enriched and fulfilled lives.
To find your local SSI Linker contact (02) 8713 9200 or email us at abilitylinks@ssi.org.au
Media enquiries
SSI Communications
Rekha Sanghi 0422 304 578
Anna Vilalta 0488 680 240
Most of the claims relate to the Fairfield LGA, one of eight areas where SSI delivers the Humanitarian Settlement Program in the Sydney metropolitan area. The HSS is funded by the Federal Government.
SSI is keen to clarify several key points being repeated in the media, often without substantiation or citing of sources. In some cases where sources are offered, correct data has been used to extrapolate incorrect conclusions.
This is an attempt to sort fact from fiction.
Syrian refugee arrivals claim 1:
More than 6,000 refugees from the Federal Government’s special Syrian humanitarian intake have been settled in Fairfield.
Facts:
- As at February 3, 2017, 9,382 refugees of the 12,000 have arrived Australia-wide. (Department of Social Services website)
- NSW expects to take a total of 6,000 people; just over 5,000 have arrived to date (precise numbers are not publicly available). The figure for the entire state is substantially less than the 6,000 claimed in a number of recent media stories in relation to the Fairfield LGA
- During 2016, a total of about 4,700 refugees arrived in Fairfield (a mix of special and regular intake – DSS website’s Settlement Reporting Facility). Arriving in Fairfield does not equate to living in Fairfield on an ongoing basis, an important distinction
- In January 2017, SSI was supporting a total 3,700 clients in Fairfield (a mix of special and regular intake).
Syrian refugee arrivals claim 2
The Fairfield property market has become unaffordable, with demand outpacing supply. The median rent for a unit is about $500 a week.
Facts:
- Median rent for a two bedroom unit in Fairfield LGA is $330 p.w. and $360 p.w. for a house according to NSW Rent & Sales Report September Quarter 2016 (latest Issue 117), well under the $500 cited in media stories
- Median rent for two bedroom unit in Fairfield suburb is $350 p.w. based on aggregated data from property listings on RealEstate.com.au
- The majority of arrivals are families of three to four people who prefer to rent two bedroom properties
- SSI sources properties in the Fairfield LGA on a regular basis – our experience is that property availability is no different to the rest of the Sydney market which remains tight. However, we continue to find properties for clients wishing to live in this area
- Of the top 10 Sydney settlement LGAs for refugees, Fairfield LGA remains the cheapest place to rent
- If we compare the top 10 Sydney settlement locations or suburbs for refugees, Fairfield remains the second cheapest suburb to rent (Mt Druitt is the cheapest).
Syrian refugee arrivals claim 3
Fairfield is struggling to settle refugees after a huge influx of new arrivals
Facts:
- In the three months from November 2016 to January 2017, there were 737 arrivals in Fairfield. Fairfield LGA has a population of almost 200,000
- Funding of $146 million over four years was set aside by the NSW State Government in last year’s Budget to help Syrian and Iraqi refugees start a new life in NSW
- Services that received extra funding include: specialist health care and access to education and pathways to work. Other critical areas that received funding include specialist torture and trauma services, employment and community integration programs
- In relation to extra Federal funding, SSI recently received additional Settlement Services Program funding from DSS to provide support for additional clients resulting from the increased intake of refugees
- Allocations to NSW Settlement Partnership partners in Fairfield and Liverpool will fund additional services for the larger number of refugees settling in these areas.
About SSI
SSI is a community-based, not-for-profit humanitarian organisation providing a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, housing, asylum seeker assistance, multicultural foster care, disability support and employment services in NSW.
Media enquiries
SSI Corporate Communications Manager, Angela Calabrese 0401 284 828
SSI Communications Assistant, Hannah Gartrell, 0488 680 287
The event, which is organised by Settlement Services International (SSI), Youth Collective and Auburn Diversity Services Inc, has attracted more than 250 participants, including a large contingent of newly arrived young people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.
SSI Youth Projects Coordinator Dor Akech Achiek said, “MY Kitchen Rocks creates a relaxed, fun environment for newly arrived young people to meet their peers and make new community connections over food, music and sports. With the games, giveaways and activities, it’s a great chance for participants to unwind and just enjoy being young.”
Mr Achiek said all of the work SSI does with young refugees and people seeking asylum is designed to build their confidence, resilience and self-empowerment.
“The young people we work with have unique skills, ideas and experiences that can greatly benefit our country. They do, however, need extra support to overcome challenges their Australia-born peers do not face, such as language barriers and issues over identity and culture,” he said.
“Events such as MY Kitchen Rocks are a good way to help multicultural young people engage with their local community and make friends with other youth who have experienced similar situations to themselves.”
MY Kitchen Rocks will take place at Auburn Centre for Community from 11am to 2pm on Wednesday October 5 as part of SSI’s regular Community Kitchen event.
Media enquiries:
SSI Communications Assistant Hannah Gartrell 0488 680 287 or 02 8799 6740
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Forty-six scholarships, ranging from $500 to $5,000, will be offered in five categories, including primary and secondary school, vocational training, tertiary qualification and skills recognition.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said that from her experience, as supported by research, refugees who settle in Australia have a high motivation to work but this didn’t automatically lead to employment.
“Refugees who lack Australian work experience, affordable options for the recognition of their skills and qualifications, and limited access to English language tuition, face barriers in the employment market,” Ms Roumeliotis said.
“The SSI Allianz Scholarships will reduce the financial barriers experienced by refugees as they participate in the NSW education system.”
Allianz Australia’s Managing Director, Niran Peiris said he was proud to help refugees receive an education and contribute to business.
“This scholarship program is about offering the support and opportunity for refugees to really make a difference at school, work and in the community.
“This scholarship reflects Allianz’s absolute commitment to diversity. We know that a diverse workforce is a better workforce.”
Earlier this year Allianz recruited nine new employees from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Vietnam, who came to Australia as refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
“As I said at the start of this partnership, Allianz and SSI both have a vision of playing a key support role in the community in the areas of education, employment and addressing social justice issues,” Ms Roumeliotis said.
“Today, I’m proud of what that partnership has achieved so far, which is a new future for the new Allianz recruits and, through these scholarships, 46 more people will be given the opportunity that education offers,” Ms Roumeliotis added.
For more information and application forms, please go to:
Application forms for each category can be downloaded from the category page. The application deadline is October 31, 2016, with successful applicants being notified in December.
For more information and interview opportunities, contact:
Allianz
Elise Marley-Wallace
Public Relations and Social Media Manager
Market Management
Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd | 2 Market St, Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: +61 2 8258 5747 | Fax +61 2 9390 6676 | Mobile 0406751336
Email: elise.marley-wallace@allianz.com.au
Allianz – Employer of Choice for Gender Equality 2014 – 2015
Allianz – Employer of Choice for Women (EOWA) 2009 – 2013
Settlement Services International
Angela Calabrese
Executive Manager
Corporate Communications
Settlement Services International
Ph: +61 2 8799 6700 I Mobile 0401 284 828
Email: acalabrese@ssi.org.au
About SSI
SSI is a community-based, not-for-profit organisation providing a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, housing, asylum seeker assistance, foster care, disability support and employment services in NSW.
About Allianz Australia
Allianz Australia delivers a wide range of personal, commercial and corporate insurance products and services to more than 3 million policyholders. Over 50% of Australia’s top 200 BRW-listed companies have some form of insurance cover with the group and the group provides workers compensation services to around one-fifth of Australian employees.
Large General Insurance Company of the Year 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2009*
Best General Insurance Company of the Year 2014, 2012, 2010, 2007, 2006**
Workplace Gender Equality Award 2015, 2014
Women’s Council Employer of the Year Award 2013
*Australia & New Zealand Insurance Industry Awards **Australian Banking and Finance Insurance Awards
SSI Work for the Dole participant Marcel Tawbeh (left) and staff member Napoleon Mansour.
The Staples Bag was developed as part of the CoAct/SSI Work for the Dole (WFD) program. It provides access to discounted essential groceries and also provides job seekers with tangible skills in a range of areas including logo and website design, packaging and warehouse maintenance, customer service and direct marketing.
“The SSI Staples Bag is a great program that has given me experience in different things, and I’ve discovered that working with people and in retail is really fun and much easier than I thought it would be,” Mr Tawbeh said.
Brad Reed of Croydon Park has been with SSI’s Work for the Dole program for less than three weeks but has already had five job interviews in that time; more than he has had in the past eight years of unemployment.
Mr Reed moved from Broken Hill to help his aging grandmother and to find work. He said he was ‘stoked’ about his employment prospects and can’t believe that people in Sydney say it’s hard to find work.
“I moved to Sydney because I want to be a good role model for my two sons and I don’t want them to see me sitting around unemployed and unable to provide for them” Mr Reed said.
“SSI has really looked out for me and found opportunities that I’m interested in.
“Working with the Staples Bag team is helping to me keep busy, learn new skills and meet new people, and it gets me closer to bringing my boys to Sydney to join me.”
Mr Tawbeh is a keen gamer and hopes to get a job in an electronics shop, while Mr Reed is interested in security work.
Both men however are extremely motivated and happy to find any employment, and attribute this motivation to SSI.
“I do extra hours with Staples Bag because I enjoy it so much,” Mr Tawbeh said.
Settlement Services International (SSI) is a community-based not-for-profit organisation that provides a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, accommodation, asylum seeker assistance, multicultural foster care, employment services and disability support in NSW.
As a member of CoAct, a national network of locally-embedded community service providers, SSI delivers the Australian Government’s jobactive service.
Job seekers can find the CoAct/SSI job active office at 308 Beamish Street Campsie. To purchase the Staples Bag, visit the warehouse at 449 Canterbury Road, Campsie or go to website www.thestaplesbag.org.au
Media enquiries
SSI Communications Coordinator Rekha Sanghi 0422 304 578
Matthew Cleary, Executive Officer St Vincent de Paul Society Support Services said the Society was very pleased to be partnering with SSI to deliver Ability Links and to allow people with disability to live their life the way they wish.
“Ability Links is placing people with disability at the centre of decision making about their lives and welcoming communities to encourage inclusion of people with disability, their families and carers,” said Mr Cleary.
Claerwen Little, Director UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families was pleased the organisation had been chosen as a partner with SSI for the new initiative.
“UnitingCare is proud to partner with SSI and be involved in Ability Links. It’s a ground breaking program promoting community inclusion and participation for people with a disability. It is work we know needs to be done well, and we are committed to that.”
Linkers work with people with disability, their families and carers to help them plan for their future, build on their strengths and skills, and develop networks in their own communities so they can do what they want with their lives – outside of the traditional disability service system.
It provides people with a locally based, first point of contact to support people to access support and services in their local communities.
Linkers also work with local communities to help them become more welcoming and inclusive of people with disability.
. . . ENDS . . .
St Vincent de Paul Society Media Contact: Yolanda Saiz 0417 446 430
Settlement Services International Media Contact: Angela Calabrese 0401 284 828
UnitingCare Media Contact: Nicole Jackson 0412 201 023
Masoud taught himself to paint with coffee while in detention and he has said he still prefers the look of the medium over other materials now that he lives in the community.
“My inspirations for painting were all those dark days that I experienced while staying at different detention centres for over 12 months,” he said. “I used to imagine the sun was crying for people who were locked up, with no freedom, inside the detention centre.”
Another artist exhibiting is Victor Youssef, 72, from Egypt, who has been in Australia less than 12 months.
Victor has brought a collection of work made by etching images into copper sheets with him to Australia that he hopes to sell so he can rent a studio space. The images include a reproduction of the Mona Lisa, Jesus and the Virgin Mary and pharaohs. His work is displayed in churches in the USA, Italy and Egypt.
“If I sell this here, it will change my life,” Victor said. “I like Australia very much, that is why I would like to make something here that is better than I have ever done before.”
Other artists exhibiting work are:
- Atefeh Hekmat: Iran, oil painting;
- Babak Jahangirzadeh: Iran, oil painting;
- Bassam Jabar: Iraq, glass carving;
- Damon Agha Mohammad Bagher: Iran, photography;
- Hayder Shakir Al Bdairi: Iraq, mixed media;
- Homa Nozari: Iran, photography;
- Lutheskumar Sinnathurai: Sri Lanka, oil painting;
- Madhi Jahangirzadeh: Iran, oil painting;
- Masoud Akhava Ghassabzadeh: Iran, coffee painting;
- Mohammad Reza Fattah: Iran, acrylic painting and drawing;
- Mohammed AlanezIraq, photography;
- Othman Omar Kareem: Iraq, drawing;
- Sefullah Akbari: Iraq, oil painting;
- Thasangan Sasitharan: Sri Lanka, oil painting;
- Victor Youssef: Egypt, copper etching.
Details: The Art is Our Voice exhibition is on at the Verge Gallery, Jane Foss Russell Plaza, University of Sydney, Darlington, 10am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, from May 14 to 22.
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Media enquiries:
SSI Online Communications Coordinator, Callan Lawrence, 0478 156 491, or, 02 8799 6746
SSI Marketing and Communications Manager, Angela Calabrese 0401 284 828