A single mishandled disclosure of domestic violence can silence a woman forever, says Adara* a specialist nurse supporting refugee communities. Her recent experiences highlight the urgent need for better-trained first-line responders, like case workers, health professionals and educators who are working with refugee women experiencing domestic violence.

“The amount of courage it takes to even open up to one person is enormous,” says Adara, who has spent years working with newly arrived refugees.

“When that disclosure is met with unhelpful responses like ‘don’t break up your family,’ it can be devastating. That person might never speak up again,” she says.

The importance of that first disclosure moment has become increasingly apparent through her work. A recent case highlighted the systemic failures when a refugee woman, after gathering the courage to report domestic violence, was discouraged from seeking help – a response Adara describes as “infuriating.”

“Someone takes the immense bravery to speak up, and then gets discouraged from taking steps necessary for their own safety,” she says. “Had people received adequate support and training, that person would not have said what they said.”

Cultural understanding from one woman to another 

Trust and cultural understanding emerge as crucial factors in supporting women experiencing domestic violence. Adara says that clients are more likely to disclose abuse to someone who shares their language and cultural background, and who is a woman.

“It resonates with them when the worker looks like them, talks like them, and has similar lived experiences,” she explains.

Adara reflects on her own cultural background and her journey to Australia with her family in the late nineties. She recalls her younger brother falling sick and the unique challenges the family faced, including the lack of in-language support and resources to help educate her family on his illness and how to support him.

While this experience inevitably led Adara into nursing, it also veered her into her specialist role as a refugee nurse – to be a bridge between the complexities of mainstream services.

“I believe this woman spoke up again to my colleague because it probably resonated with her that my colleague looks like her, talks like her and has got the same life experiences as her. She is so brave for speaking up again, and now we can take the right steps to support her.”

Barriers to mainstream support 

Beyond language difficulties and cultural differences, many women are simply unaware of available support services or their rights.

“They definitely don’t know what’s available to them. They definitely don’t trust anybody or anything,” she notes.

“But even if you take ‘refugee’ out of the context, it could be the same for any domestic violence victim. Sometimes they do know the services that are available to them, but they are afraid to reach out. Abuse chips away at a person’s ability to do things for themselves.”

Mandatory domestic violence response training for all frontline workers, increased investment in bicultural support workers and better coordination between refugee services and domestic violence support agencies should be a start.

“At the very least, if you don’t have the answers, don’t say the wrong thing,” she emphasises. “Say ‘I’m going to connect you with someone who can help’ and find the right information.”

Her experiences underscore a critical message: the first response to a domestic violence disclosure can make the difference between a woman seeking further help or returning to silence.

The need for change is urgent. As refugee communities continue to grow in regional areas, the demand for culturally appropriate domestic violence support services also increases. Training and supporting first-line responders, particularly those from refugee backgrounds themselves, could provide the crucial link between vulnerable women and the help they need.

1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)
1800respect.org.au
99 Steps (QLD)
NSW Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety

In March, SSI took another step toward creating a more inclusive workplace by starting a disability reference group. This group is designed to make sure that people with disabilities can share their experiences and help shape workplace policies. Operating under the community development branch of SSI’s local area coordination services, the group focuses on building trust and connecting with hard-to-reach communities.

The main goal of the group is to address the specific challenges faced by people with disabilities, especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. These individuals often face multiple barriers when trying to get support and navigate different systems.

A key member of the reference group is Nidhi Shekaran, who was born in India and lives with cerebral palsy and vision impairment. Nidhi is passionate about advocating for positive changes that benefit others like her. One of her priorities is to tackle transportation issues that many people with disabilities experience. She supports flexible work options, including effective work-from-home arrangements and necessary adjustments for employees who need to travel.

“The changes that we implement now will always be there,” said Nidhi.

“What we do is very future-focused.”

With the help of her fellow group members, Nidhi is working to make workplace documents and materials more accessible. She understands that many formats are not easy for people with vision impairments to use.

“If the experience of a person with disability is valued, then they themselves feel valued,” she said.

Nidhi believes that while inclusive recruitment is important, it’s just one part of the solution. It’s equally vital to ensure that everyone feels truly included and supported at work.

Nidhi’s involvement in SSI’s reference group shows her commitment to community engagement. Since 2005, she has participated in the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association’s Community Voices initiative and was nominated for Blind Australian of the Year in 2023.

The reference group’s focus on CALD communities provides a valuable space for cultural exchange.

“You learn from each other, and you have a good relationship with everyone because you have a collective goal,” Nidhi said.

Nidhi hopes that initiatives like the disability reference group will lead to significant outcomes driven by people with disability themselves.

“It comes back to the mantra of ‘nothing about us, without us’,” she said.

Together, Nidhi, the reference group, and SSI aim to challenge stereotypes around culture and disability. By increasing awareness of the barriers faced by CALD people with disabilities, the disability reference group aims to develop effective strategies to overcome these challenges.

The reference group will meet every six weeks until June 2025, and its members are excited about the changes they can create over the next year.

Learn about SSI’s range of disability services on our website. You can contact our local area coordination team at:

Phone: 1800 960 975 

Email: ssilac@ndis.gov.au

SSI was one of the first NGOs in Australia to achieve Disability Confident Recruiter status through Australian Disability Network. Read more about SSI’s commitments to diversity and inclusion.

Alana Beattie, a 38-year-old woman living in the Campbelltown area of Sydney, has made remarkable progress in her personal life over the past six years with the help of her local area coordinator (LAC).

Alana’s condition, a rare genetic disorder known as pseudohypoparathyroidism, means that her mobility is severely affected, as her muscles tend to become stiff and cramp up.  General movement, and interactions with public transport above all, can become complicated and dangerous, should her balance be compromised.

“I need supervision when I travel due to my condition,” Alana said. She mentions that this need for assistance is compounded by her obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to health risks if she falls asleep in uncomfortable positions.

Alana’s supervision needs were exacerbated when she found herself in an emergency housing situation and in desperate need of a more stable option. For several years, Alana was informally supported by her parents, both in terms of accommodation and decision-making. When those supports broke down earlier this year, Alana was quickly left fearing for her living situation and running out of options.

With the help of her LAC, she was able to move into a short-term accommodation and assistance (STA) option, and after gathering enough evidence to meet the requirements, was finally approved to progress to supported independent living (SIL) accommodation in June.

“I was feeling really anxious because my housing situation was uncertain,” says Alana.

“But I was excited to finally make the move [to SIL] so that I could be around other people and make new friends.”

The social aspect of her accommodation is a crucial reason why Alana feels so grateful for her relationship with her LAC.

“I’m in a really good position to move forward and begin healing,” she said.

The steadiness of SIL accommodation allows Alana to focus on her hobbies, which includes maintaining several fulfilling pen pal relationships with friends overseas. She’s also an avid West Tigers fan and enjoys travelling with her ‘girls group’ when she can.

Without the support of an SSI local area coordinator on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it’s possible that Alana would never have been able to secure her current living arrangement and live life as comfortably and meaningfully as she can now.

Alana sees a bright future for herself and is already setting new goals with her LAC.

“I want to keep healthy and motivated,” she said, indicating that continuing to participate in her wellness program will be the key to staying on top of her condition.

With all the recent changes going on in her life, Alana also wants to learn to be more adaptable. With the personalised sense of care and guidance an LAC can offer, Alana will no doubt be able to surmount any obstacle and celebrate every accomplishment that comes her way.

Learn about SSI’s range of disability services on our website. You can contact our local area coordination team at:

Phone: 1800 960 975 

Email: ssilac@ndis.gov.au

Imagine being told you need a life-changing medical procedure—but in a language you don’t fully understand. This is the confronting reality for many people in Australia today who face barriers accessing vital information in English.

We all deserve to understand what’s happening in our lives, to know our options, and to make choices based on clear information. The right to receive information in a language we understand is fundamental, no matter the language we speak.

For Nasser, a professional interpreter from Jordan, this isn’t just about words. “Interpreting can be a life-changing service, especially for newly arrived migrants navigating healthcare or legal systems. We’re not just translating—we’re supporting people’s rights to access services in a language they understand.”

Drawn to languages through a love of English movies and music, Nasser turned his passion into a profession, completing a degree in interpreting and translating before moving to Australia in 2015.

“Honestly, if I hadn’t studied translation and interpreting, I wouldn’t be here in Australia today,” Nasser shared. “After finishing my bachelor’s degree in Jordan, I felt I needed to improve my spoken English to be a better interpreter. This brought me to Sydney to immerse myself in the language and pursue a master’s degree at Western Sydney University. It wasn’t easy balancing part-time study and work, but it opened doors to my career as an interpreter.”

Today, Nasser works as a professional interpreter in courts, police stations, schools, and medical clinics. His clients are Arabic speakers from diverse backgrounds, many of whom rely on his skills to navigate life-altering situations.

He highlighted the unique obstacles interpreters often face in these settings. One of the biggest challenges is when service providers aren’t fully prepared for an interpreter’s presence.

“At medical clinics, sometimes the doctor doesn’t expect me at the appointment. There might not be a chair set up, which leaves me feeling like I’m not part of the conversation. But having a properly set up space is important for everyone—it ensures better communication for the patient.”

Another challenge Nasser often faces is lack of a proper briefing beforehand. “A quick briefing with the service provider makes a huge difference. It helps me understand the context, know who’s involved, and makes for a smoother session. Without it, there can be confusion, especially if there are multiple people involved or if the matter is particularly complex.”

Despite Australia being known for having one of the best developed interpreter systems in the world, studies within the country have found that although access to professional interpreters is available in many sectors, they are often underutilised.

“It’s very important to have a professional interpreter instead of a family member or friend, as many of us don’t want to share private information with relatives or friends especially when it comes to matters like health. Professional interpreters are also bound by a code of ethics, which means we are always confidential and impartial,” Nasser reflected.

Professional interpreters are much more than a bridge between languages—they’re a lifeline for people navigating complex systems in a new country. With the right training, organisations can create safer, more inclusive environments for all.

We recently developed an e-learning course designed to help organisations make the most of professional interpreters like Nasser. With the right training, they can ensure every person, no matter what language they speak, has equal access to respectful, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive services.

You can trial our new online course here or speak to our Diversity Training team by calling us on 02 8799 6700 or via email diversitytraining@ssi.org.au.

Learning and development in the early years of a child’s life sets the foundation for their future trajectory. The Productivity Commission’s final report on the Early Childhood Education and Care inquiry, released today, is a welcome step towards levelling the playing field for all children, particularly in reducing developmental disparities among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) children. 

The report outlines a vision for a universal Early Childhood Education system that prioritises improved affordability, inclusion, and flexibility. This is key to securing Australia’s social, cultural, and economic future. 

We know from our own work with communities across Australia that children from CALD backgrounds are more likely to be developmentally vulnerable when starting school and less likely to access early childhood education. 

This is also highlighted in our Stronger Starts, Brighter Futures II research, conducted jointly with researchers at Education Futures, University of South Australia, which aligns with the Productivity Commission’s findings, particularly on the observations on developmental vulnerability. 

Socio-economic disadvantage is a large driver of developmental vulnerability for all children. This plays a huge role in shaping the developmental outcomes of children from CALD communities in particular as they disproportionately experience socio-economic disadvantage, according to Stronger Starts. 

Almost a third of children from CALD backgrounds living in the most disadvantaged socio-economic areas were developmentally vulnerable compared to 1 in 6 of their peers living in the most advantaged areas. 

We are heartened that the Productivity Commission’s recommendations align with those from our research, particularly in calling for greater investment to support the inclusion of CALD children and their families. 

We urge the government to consider these recommendations and prioritise investment in place-based services that have proven effective in supporting developmentally vulnerable children, which have been advocated for in both the Commission’s report and our research. 

We also welcome the report’s specific recommendations to address both financial and non-financial barriers to participation for CALD children, and to invest in programs that enhance cultural safety and responsiveness in services, potentially through the use of bilingual and bicultural educators. 

As an NDIS Partner in the Community, Disability Employment Service provider and Equal Opportunity Employer, SSI recognises the importance of reflecting on our practices to positively impact the lives and experiences of people with disability.

Acknowledging the value of lived experience, we knew that the voices of people with disability needed to be integral to the planning of our disability employment symposium in mid-February. At the helm was Michelle Brown, an ally of SSI local area coordination and a facilitator of SSI’s Ignite program.

The event involved discussions on enhancing the economic participation of individuals with disabilities. Attendees, including government representatives, service providers, and advocacy groups, collaborated to identify effective strategies for recruiting and retaining individuals with disabilities in the workforce.

The working group provided invaluable feedback on key aspects of the symposium, including making the auditorium more accessible, encouraging presenters to provide visual descriptions of themselves for attendees with impaired vision, and even the running order of the day.

“To showcase the experiences of what people with disability go through in terms of employment, we brought [the lived experience panel] to be first… I think that really shaped the day in terms of how things were run,” said Michelle.

Michelle’s desire to amplify the concerns and stories of those with lived experience comes from a personal place.
“I have worked for organisations that weren’t flexible around my needs,” she said, shedding light on the barriers people with disabilities face right from the recruitment stage.
“The advertisements [for most jobs] say you need your licence… I don’t drive so that’s been a big issue in trying to find a job.”

The conversations at the symposium also emphasised that people with disability seeking self-employment should also not be left out of the picture. This was an important message for Michelle, whose role sees her mentoring people with disability to explore and pursue self-employment through entrepreneurship.
“[The symposium] highlighted for me the need for such a program as Ignite,” she said .
“No-one really considers that someone [with a disability] could actually run their own business, so I feel it’s a very valuable program.”

Whilst the symposium highlighted pathways for many critical conversations to be converted into actions, Michelle acknowledges that there is still much work to be done to promote inclusivity in the workplace.

“It’s just the beginning,” clarifies Michelle, who emphasises the need for greater education and awareness surrounding the experiences of people with disabilities.
“In a way, [it] filters down to perhaps why there isn’t change.”

The symposium’s working group underscores SSI’s commitment to advancing the role of people with disabilities in the organisation.
“That’s another way that SSI has been successful; providing opportunities for people,” Michelle said.
“I was proud that the working group made a significant difference on that day, and I also thought it was really great that we were acknowledged in terms of the work we did.”

Through initiatives like the symposium and dedicated programs, SSI is committed to fostering the needs and hopes of people with disability to help make workplaces stronger, and more inclusive.

For more information SSI’s disability services, visit our webpage. You can contact our Local Area Coordination team via the following methods:
Phone: 1800 960 975
Email: ssilac@ndis.gov.au

Innessa, singer/songwriter creating slavic inspired alternative folk, was selected to be part of SSI’s delegation at the Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) in 2023. A year on, she shared her journey, highlighting impactful moments and encouraging other aspiring musicians to seize this unique opportunity to apply to be part of this year’s SSI AWMA delegation.

“The AWMA awards night was a huge highlight – a culmination of the whole experience. Seeing acts of such high calibre, like Vanessa Amorosi, was so inspiring. I wanted to work on my art to be on that stage one day,” Innessa recalled.

“The black carpet on awards night made me feel like a star, a VIP for a moment, while the industry panels at the conference opened my eyes to new perspectives. I learned something valuable at each of the sessions.”

One of the great experiences for Innessa was the chance to meet new people and expand her network.

“Meeting other delegates and spending time with them was fantastic. I enjoyed hearing their stories and discovering common interests. I had a little jam session with one of the delegates, Peranya, and I hope to collaborate with her musically in the future,” she shared.

Innessa had clear goals going into the delegation, including getting inspiration for organising her own tour after AWMA and finding a mentor. “During the awards night, I ran into a few acquaintances and had the chance to discuss my music ideas and plans with them. Pauline Maudy was one of them. I asked her to be my mentor, and when she said yes, I was over the moon! In December, I was given a grant for Pauline to mentor me, and now we have a goal of getting me ready for an Australian national tour following my successful Queensland tour,” she said.

Innessa emphasised the importance of supporting diverse musicians through initiatives like SSI’s delegation at the AWMA Awards.

“As someone who came from a different country, it’s tough to cut through the noise and promote myself. When I came to Australia, it was hard to start completely anew with no connections,” she explained.

Innessa’s musical journey began at eight in Russia with a passion for poetry. By 16, she was performing original songs, blending her poetry, vocals, and guitar skills. After university, she traveled the world with her guitar, exploring music in the Black Sea, Egypt, Spain, and the USA. Now based in Australia, she has released four studio albums, performed at major festivals, and had two songs selected as finalists in the Queensland Music Awards.

Innessa acknowledged that balancing family responsibilities, university studies, and a music career is a challenge, but the support from the delegation experience at AWMA helped her regain her drive, focus and confidence to ‘put herself out there’.

“For female artists who come from different countries, it’s really helpful when you get support promoting yourself. My original music is not traditional folk or commercial pop, so finding where I fit can be a struggle,” she shared.

The delegation provided a space for diverse musicians from all backgrounds and music professions to find a place of belonging and connect with others on similar paths.

“I don’t know why anyone would be unsure about applying for this opportunity where you get to come to awesome workshops and events and connect. Why wouldn’t you apply?” Innessa encouraged.

“You won’t lose anything by applying, and you might get the chance to be part of something special.”

For emerging, diverse female musicians, the delegation experience offers a unique chance to learn, grow, and connect with Australia’s top music talent.

Applications to be part of SSI’s next delegation are now open and close at midnight on 18 August. We welcome applications from emerging, female-identifying, or non-binary artists from diverse cultural backgrounds in NSW and Queensland.

Apply using this form, which gives more details on what’s included and who can apply.

A first-of-its-kind community co-design consortium, launched last week, will give RMIT engineering students the opportunity to shift the dial on some of the big challenges facing culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia. 

Working at the intersection of engineering practice and community-led collaboration, the RMIT Humanitarian Engineering Research Consortium/Understanding and Leveraging Engineering with Society, or HERCULES for short, ensures students learn the fundamentals of engineering by solving real-world challenges through genuine engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities via not-for-profit organisations. 

Last week, first year mechanical engineering student, Tahlia Torcasio presented four humanitarian-design prototype finalists to an audience of community leaders and RMIT University academics who comprise the first-of-its-kind community co-design consortium. 

“My fellow humanitarian engineering students and I are motivated by the drive to move the needle on some of society’s most challenging problems, and being part of HERCULES will be a game changer for our education. Engaging with community via human service organisation to co-design solutions is a win-win for our understanding and community impact,” said Ms Torcasio. 

Dr. Spyros Schismenos, lecturer in Humanitarian Engineering is the co-leader of RMIT’s Humanitarian Engineering Lab who’s passionate about the advancement of innovative teaching and research at the intersection of human-centered design, technology, and experiential learning.  

“By forging alliances with organisations working at the coalface of complex social and human challenges such as Sydney’s Sydwest Multicultural Services, Melbourne’s PRONIA and national Settlement Services International, we will ensure students design solutions with, not just for, people,” explained Schismenos 

The students’ prototypes ranged from a sustainable pest-resistant bamboo house designed for extended family lifestyles, to a sun-tracking solar panel built to be accessed by multiple households. The prototypes were created by a winning team of 18 first-year students in response to community consultation and as part of the RMIT SydWest Engagement Challenge.  

The RMIT SydWest Engagement Challenge attracts more than 1000 students enrolled in RMIT’s Introduction to Professional Engineering Practice and guides students on community engagement and co-design practice, giving students first-hand experience to understand and work with Australia’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities. 

Quotes: 

Violet Roumeliotis, CEO, Settlement Services International (SSI) 

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to empowering engineering students and supporting communities to co-design solutions to some of our most pressing challenges.  

“Diverse communities face numerous challenges, often punctuated by inequality and lack of opportunity afforded to other sectors of society. SSI supports refugees, people seeking asylum, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, people living with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander communities, women, youth, families and LGBTIQA+ communities.  

By working with RMIT University and HERCULES consortium partners, we’ll provide a unique engagement experience that supports students in their educational pursuits and helps communities co-create place-based solutions,” she said.  

Elfa Moraitakis, CEO, SydWest Multicultural Services 

SydWest Multicultural Services CEO, Elfa Moraitakis said the impetus to join the HERCULES consortium grew from the students’ response to the RMIT SydWest Engagement Challenge where she saw first-hand the impact of collaboration that comes from genuine engagement.  

“Working from a strength-based perspective enables individuals and communities to provide insights and solutions to the challenges impacting them. This approach enables students to develop these skills early in their career and to design engineering solutions with the end-user in mind. 

“The Western Sydney region is a diverse and vibrant area with a mix of unique challenges and creative insights and perspectives providing students with a rich learning ground,” said Moraitakis. 

Nikki Efremidis, Interim CEO, PRONIA

PRONIA Interim CEO, Nikki Efremidis is passionate about identifying interventions for some of Australia’s priority communities and co-creating solutions for pressing real-world social and humanitarian issues. 

“It’s a wonderful initiative to bring like-minded community organisations together to build a consortium that will harness ideas and opportunities to help students to combine engineering practice with social engagement skills. 

“The humanitarian engineering program, through Dr Schismenos, who also works with UNESCO, will bring a unique perspective to community collaboration and co-design on topics that put community at the heart of innovation,” said Efremidis.

For more information on RMIT University Humanitarian Enginneering course visit https://www.rmit.edu.au/about/schools-colleges/engineering/news/humanitarian-engineering 

SSI welcomed the release of the Multicultural Framework Review, Towards Fairness: A multicultural Australia for all, which drew on the voices of thousands of Australians to undertake the first comprehensive review of multicultural policy in Australia in more than 50 years. 

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said multiculturalism was a core part of Australia’s national identity and while multiculturalism as a policy had evolved from strong foundations, it needed a reset to advance a multicultural Australia. 

“We commend both the Federal Government and the review panel for delivering this comprehensive roadmap that will build on Australia’s strong multicultural foundations,” she said. 

“It has been decades since we’ve seen a review of this nature. If implemented, these changes would offer a reset so that multiculturalism and multicultural policy reflect the Australia of this century, not the last.” 

Ms Roumeliotis said it was particularly heartening to see this review acknowledge the need to work to strengthen multicultural communities’ understanding of and engagement with First Nations communities. 

“The report reflects a modern, nuanced understanding of what multiculturalism means in 2024 and beyond, with a clear national framework and a proposed set of reforms at the Ministerial and departmental levels to support implementation including the establishment of an Australian Multicultural Commission.” 

In December 2023, SSI was part of joint advocacy led by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia and more than 80 other community organisations that recommended these changes so that multicultural Australia is fit for purpose for the 21st century. 

Ms Roumeliotis said SSI welcomed, among other things, the review’s recommendations on strengthening support for refugees with disability through the establishment of a formalised partnership between NDIS and the Department of Home Affairs. 

The report also recommended changes to bridge the digital divide for multicultural communities to create culturally responsive digital infrastructure, which is especially important to improve access to essential services that we all rely on in times of need. 

“It was particularly heartening to see a strong focus on integrating lived experience and ensuring the voices of multicultural Australia are involved in the co-design and development of these initiatives,” she said. 

SSI looks forward to working with the Federal Government, communities and our peers in the community sector to implement this progressive vision. 

Last month, members of the NSW Settlement Partnership gathered in Sydney to celebrate nine years of shared achievements, as the consortium comes to an end.