Iraqi-born researcher and refugee Rami Alsaberi with his family at the Penrith Observatory. 

Before fleeing the crisis in Iraq in 2013, the Alsaberi family led a comfortable life, other than their youngest family member who has Down Syndrome, all members of the family were well-educated with stable jobs.

After a seventeen-hour drive, the Alsaberi family arrived in their host country where they were supported by, and under the protection of, UNHCR Jordan. When asked about what life in Jordan was like, Mr Alsaberi said it wasn’t easy. 

“Not being able to work in Jordan was annoying, but Jordanian people were very friendly and supportive, and UNHCR also supported us.”

After three years in limbo, the Alsaberi family were delivered a message of hope; their humanitarian visa application to Australia was accepted. When asked about how that moment had felt, Mr Alsaberi said that it is difficult to put it into words.

“We rejoiced, but we felt mixed emotions; happiness with fear,” Mr Alsaberi said.

“Happiness for a new beginning and future, fear about what the new country, the community would be like.”

Although, these fears were short-lived, as on arrival they felt instantly welcomed to the country by the Settlement Services International (SSI) team who received them at the Sydney airport.

“SSI helped us with our luggage, took us to our new home in Mount Druitt and, provided us with two years of case management support; we felt very happy in Australia.”

When Mr Alsaberi arrived in Australia equipped with a master degree in astronomy from Baghdad University, it was his mission to continue his dream of leading an academic career and to complete a PhD in Australia. 

“I had few dreams before I came to Australia, first to reach Australia, second to work and to do my PhD in astronomy.”

Like most new arrivals, Mr Alsaberi was eager to find himself suitable employment. Yet, despite having substantial work experience back in Baghdad where he had worked at the ministry of science and technology, he wasn’t able to secure himself employment in his field. 

Within a year, Mr Alsaberi was accepted into Western Sydney University to undertake his PhD under the supervision of Professor Miroslav Filipovic, who he had met at a sheer stroke of luck after sending an inquiry email to the Penrith observatory. Prof Miroslav Filipovic also happened to be the Chair of the observatory and showed an interest in his background and invited me to meet him the very next day. 

“I found observatory at Penrith WSU, and I sent an email to the manager showing him my interest to see and learn about observatory in Australia, I had never saw one in my life,” he said. 

“Next day the manager replied and invited me to come.”

After Mr Alsaberi had introduced himself, Prof Miroslav Filipovic showed an interest in Mr Alsaberi’s background and asked him if he’s interested in undertaking a PhD in astronomy, and this took Mr Alsaberi by surprise. 

“It was shocking for me as I didn’t expect it,” he said.

“I told him that it was my dream.”

Prof Miroslav Filipovic offered to be his PhD supervisor and guided him through the application process.

“The University of Baghdad prepared an original letter in English to help with my PhD application.”

As a fulltime PhD student of astronomy, Mr Alsaberi’s research is in the field of radioastronomy, and on the subject of supernova remnants.

Today, three years on, the Iraqi refugee is a lead researcher at the facility and recently made an exciting new discovery, which has seen his research published in one of the world’s most prestigious astronomy journals, the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, one of the leading peer-reviewed astronomy journals.

His research has been in the public limelight and was featured across the media.  Mr Alsaberi led the discovery of the first moving pulsar in The Small Magellanic Cloud, a dwarf galaxy near the Milky Way, which is visible from Earth. 

“This pulsing star is really unique in both the small and large Magellanic Cloud.”

“This is the only pulsar that moves in both galaxies, and our mission now is to find out what is the dynamic behind this movement,” he said.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling, so far I had three dreams that came true – I came to Australia, I started my PhD and I visited some of the best radio telescopes in Australia, I can’t describe my feelings.” 

Mr Alsaberi recently wrote about the connection between new arrivals and Australia’s First Nations communities. Click here to read his op-ed. 

Learn more about SSI’s Humanitarian Settlement Program here.

This time last year, SSI celebrated Refugee Week at the New Beginnings Winter Festival.

Not only has the pandemic changed how we come together to mark this week, it has also changed the refugee community in Australia. While we are all familiar with the broader economic impacts of this virus – job losses, underemployment, businesses folding – many Australians have been insulated from just how far and wide the impact of this virus has permeated within our CALD communities.

The group this pandemic has most put at risk are people who are either still seeking asylum in Australia on bridging visas, or people who have been found to be refugees but have no pathways to permanent residency. Both have little to no access to welfare.

People seeking asylum and temporary migrants tend to be casually employed in industries including cleaning and hospitality. Every day, we’re hearing from people who have lost their jobs because their employer can’t access the JobKeeper scheme on their behalf.

We’re hearing from people who have held jobs for eight years, paid taxes, but suddenly find themselves without access to any safety net when their employment dries up.

In addition to this, the isolation of this quarantine period has meant increased social isolation for a group already at risk of this. It has also affected the educational progress of both children and adults. Not to mention, the pressure that bulk buying and empty supermarket shelves have had on a demographic that tend to live pay cheque to pay cheque.

While a number of state governments have been forthcoming in closing this welfare gap, it is still devastating to see any community left with minimal support. It’s even more so given the theme of Refugee Week is ‘Celebrating the Year of Welcome’.

New joint research from SSI and Western Sydney University demonstrates just how impactful welcoming communities can be on new arrivals.

This joint research, Foundations for Belonging, provides a snapshot of newly arrived refugees in Australia and shines a light on under-researched social and civic dimensions of integration: social bonds, social bridges, social links and rights and responsibilities.

The research examines these dimensions from the perspectives of refugees themselves and their everyday experiences of welcome, participation and belonging in the early stages of settlement.

To launch this research, we are inviting everyone to join a free online panel discussion hosted by Australia at Home, Thursday 18 June, 1pm – 2pm. To secure your place, click the link here. Please ensure you register your attendance to receive the Zoom link to join the event. 

Now more than ever, it’s important to think about how we participate in creating a culture of welcome. You can:

• Participate in digital events
• Read inspiring stories of former refugees
• Donate to support families in need

Let’s come together to promote social cohesion and belonging and, above all, to do what we can to make 2020 the year of welcome.

Despite paying tax on his work for years, Damon is ineligible for the federal government’s COVID-19 emergency stimulus payments for people who have lost their jobs, due to his status as an individual seeking asylum.

“It’s been so hard for me to face and cope all the circumstances of this [pandemic]. It is so hard to suddenly lose my small photography business that I have worked on it for years, even with all the hardships and barriers of living in Australia on restricted visa conditions,” said Damon.

Unfortunately, Damon is not alone in loosing employment as a result of the pandemic.

A pulse survey conducted by SSI has identified that more than 80% of people on temporary visas had lost their job or had their hours reduced in the past eight weeks. This is far higher than the rate of job losses in the wider NSW economy.

State governments around the country have stepped up to support those seeking asylum, reducing, but not eliminating, the extreme financial distress many individuals on temporary and bridging visas are facing.
But in NSW — without access to emergency relief measures or the recently introduced JobKeeper and JobSeeker initiatives — some of the state’s most vulnerable residents are falling into poverty, unable to pay their rent or bills and put food on the table.

You can support people like Damon to stay on their feet by donating a care package of food staples here.

Damon photographed by Jenny Papalexandris.

Individuals and families seeking asylum, an already vulnerable demographic, are not only facing extreme financial hardship, but also the mental stress the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown may have on their lives.

While many Australians have been able to use the shutdown to spend quality time with their loved ones and family, many individuals like Damon have little or no family in Australia to lean on for support. Damon has not seen the majority of his family members for seven years.

The lack of Government support can only work to increase these feelings of isolation, with Damon explaining the omission of federal support for individuals seeking asylum has left him feeling alienated from wider Australia.

“As a refugee, I feel separated out from other parts of society in terms of government supports. It is hard being rejected for Job Seeker support because of my conditional visa, despite paying tax like other Australians.”

Despite his current situation, Damon still hold onto his dream to establish himself as an artist in Australia.

“My high hopes have changed to [just] hopes, but I am optimistic that I will not lose all my hope,” he said.

SSI has been working hard to start constructive conversations on LGBTIQA+ refugees and culturally diverse people, guided by an internal Gender and Sexual Diversity Working Group. This employee-led group focuses on helping SSI to build LGBTIQA+ inclusion for staff, clients and communities to be their best unique selves.

Historically, the settlement and LGBTIQA+ sectors have had little correlation, despite gender and/or sexual diversity often being a reason for forced migration.

Newcomers who identify as LGBTIQA+ have tended to get lost between sectors, or unable to access services that support their needs holistically. This can contribute to people feeling socially isolated, disconnected and marginalised from their family, their community and the broader Australian society.

In November 2019, SSI partnered with and attended the Queer Displacements Conference, the first conference in Australia to address and discuss the issues faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer individuals who have been forcibly displaced.

In January 2020, representatives of the SSI General and Sexual Diversity Working Group brought this conversation to attendees of the Equality Project’s Better Together Conference. SSI’s workshops at these conferences highlighted the importance of recognising to the many facets of identity, and provided opportunities to consult with the community and receive feedback on our work to date.

SSI demonstrated our unequivocal support for LGBTIQA+ refugee and asylum seeker communities by becoming a signatory of the Canberra Statement, a policy guide that outlines the state of LGBTIQA+ asylum seeker and refugee rights and details policy reforms priorities to ensure access to safety and justice. It was presented at the UNHCR Global Refugee Forum, the first forum of its kind.

A next obvious step was to reflect this focus within local community. To do just that, SSI staff and volunteers set up an “SSI Communi-Tent” at the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day festival. This provided a community space for people to have a chat and connect.

Kathi McCulloch, SSI Community Programs and Operations Manager, explained that SSI’s main objective in joining Fair Day was to visibly support the LGBTIQA+ community. “It isn’t enough for us to have inclusive practices. We strive to provide clear, visible support for our LGBTIQA+ staff, volunteers and clients,” she said.

SSI is working to combat isolation by creating a workplace and community space where everyone is comfortable being themselves—where all people, including those who identify as LGBITQA+ and culturally diverse, are respected and valued for their perspectives, capabilities and contribution and able to experience a sense of belonging.

Read more about SSI’s work in diversity in SSI’s 2018-19 Annual Report.

With our political leaders and commentators pondering what Australia could look like as it gradually emerges from the COVID-19 shutdown, voices for many interests – political, business, community and labour – are jockeying for position in a heated debate on our immigration policy.

As someone from a migrant background who has spent decades supporting newcomers to our shores, I’m frankly tired of the predictable way we continually return to the same nationalistic, negative and – often – racist finger pointing during times of trouble.

This comes down to our own confused identity as a migrant nation, which began when the first settlers declared Australia ‘terra nullius’ – or legally uninhabited – in order to take possession. We’ve made progress in reconciling with Indigenous Australians since then but have yet to achieve makarrata: a Yolngu word that means coming together after a conflict.

With a tenuous claim to land built on foundations of dispossession, it is no wonder we have had such a complex relationship with subsequent waves of migrants. On one hand, we have welcomed migrants with open arms – think the Ten Pound Poms or those workers who built the Snowy Mountains Scheme.

That is how we’ve reached a point where one in two Australians identify as coming from a migrant background, and where we celebrate our multiculturalism with the annual Harmony Day.

But, in all those years since colonisation, we have never shaken the idea that migrants are an ‘other’ to be feared and distrusted. As we begin the slow economic recovery from this pandemic, we must ensure that COVID doesn’t inflame those fears.

I heartily agree with those who say our post-pandemic economic recovery must help all Australians get back on their feet. But it is incredibly unhelpful to conflate our migration intake with the issues at play in the millions of Australians who have found themselves out of employment as a result of this virus.

With Australia now slowly lifting isolation restrictions, it is paramount that we do have a conversation about how – and when – we re-open our borders. But that conversation needs to be led from communities – not top-down from people who have benefited from the economic perks of migration, without facing the barriers.

Already, terrorism studies experts are warning that elements of Australia’s far-right are using the coronavirus crisis to stoke resentment against migrants. Isolationists and protectionists are also jumping on the bandwagon, leading to rising racist attacks on people of Asian descent.

Some argue that fewer migrants means more job and housing opportunities for Australians but, as we head into an economic recession, we need the increased consumer spending that comes with population growth. Migrants contribute far more to the economy in taxes and social contributions than they receive in benefits, and they are considerably more entrepreneurial than your average citizen, so they actually create jobs.

Temporary migrants in particular are either highly skilled and doing jobs we don’t have the skills for in our country, or they are very low skilled and coming in to do the jobs we don’t want to do ourselves. It defies comprehension to point the finger at what is often a very vulnerable group in our society, who regularly experience exploitation.

This pandemic allows us the opportunity to re-set our public narrative on migration – to strike the right balance with permanent migration and have an educated conversation about the social and economic benefits of temporary migration and fairer pathways to permanency and citizenship.

While our politicians continue analysing when it will be safe to open our borders, it is incumbent on the rest of us to show we have evolved beyond our ancestors of the Middle Ages, who used the pandemic of their times – the Black Death – as an excuse to persecute women and ethnic minorities such as Jewish and Romani people.

Let’s not repeat history. Let’s not give time to those who stoke division. Let’s instead use our voices and actions to enhance social cohesion, and to ensure that when this pandemic is over, we’ve left the welcome mat at the door.

Violet Roumeliotis

SSI CEO

After just under two years of being a foster carer, Victoria has developed a passion for providing children with the security, support and connection they need to flourish and grow, showing that fostering can be right for anyone who is ready to make a meaningful commitment in a child’s life.

Victoria immigrated to Australia with her family in 1984 to escape the Lebanese civil war. Growing up in Northern Sydney, she embraced Australian culture, adopting the typical Aussie dinner ‘meat and three veg’, while maintaining a positive connection to her Lebanese background.

She went on to study engineering at university and launched herself into a career that would dominate her life for the next 20 years. Feeling like she had achieved success in her career, she decided to reassess the direction she would take in the next stage of her life.

“I think I got side tracked by work and looking after family members. Then when the dust settled at the age of 40, I realised what I always wanted to do, so I took up fostering,” says Victoria.

During her research into foster care, Victoria discovered SSI’s Multicultural Foster Care program. The program emphasises maintaining the bonds of ethnic background, religion and language when forging foster care placements for children from diverse backgrounds. As a Lebanese woman and Arabic speaker, SSI’s approach appealed to Victoria.

“It’s important to maintain a child’s connection to culture so they can maintain a sense of identity. It’s important that they know where they come from,” she says.

After undergoing the application process, Victoria received her first placement in October 2018. As she continued to work a Monday to Friday job, she chose to do respite and emergency care, looking after children on weekends and during work breaks.

Victoria knows that without a partner or her own children, she would have the time and emotional energy to give her placements the care, attention and structure they need to thrive. Some foster children have never had routine in their lives.

“In my household it is always about routine, discipline, and structure. It’s about early bed times, developing good healthy eating habits, exercising by going to the park, free time, blaring the music, and lots of playing. It works well with the kids,” she says.

She also has two cats, Autumn and Blackberry, who have taken a liking to the children Victoria fosters, stepping into the role of therapy cats.

“The kids love them. They can be rough, and push and pull them, but they just put up with it!” she laughs.

Therapy cats aside, Victoria explained her ultimate goal is to provide the children and teens she supports with security.

“I’m trying to give them security in many different ways; financial, by supporting them to study and get a job; emotional, by helping them be strong enough to say no to situations that are not good for them. Through health, I’m teaching them about eating, exercise and meditation. And I try to give them confidence that they can do something if they put their mind to it.”

While temporarily taking responsibility for the welfare and development of another person’s child may sound like a daunting task, Victoria says she believes foster caring is as easy or difficult as you make it. Victoria explains that what a carer really needs is dedication.

‘To be a carer you have to be dedicated to the children. You need to integrate your life into theirs,’ she says.

When asked what advice she has for anyone considering becoming a foster carer Victoria has a clear message: “Do it yesterday, before tomorrow. It’s very rewarding and very worthwhile.”

Are you considering becoming a foster carer? Visit SSI’s Multicultural Foster Care FAQs or take our quiz to see if you are eligible.

Billingual Guide, Emad Ibrahim and Adam Bujairami ,a HSP team leader – Reception, picking out board games for refugee families stuck at home.

Since mid-March, SSI has supported more than 100 newly arrived refugees to settle in their new home. All our processes were modified early in the outbreak to ensure all staff and newcomers abide by strict hygiene practices and the federal government’s mandatory 14 days of isolation.

Emad Ibrahim is a Bilingual Guide with SSI’s reception team. His job involves meeting refugee families on arrival at Sydney airport and welcoming them to Australia.

“The reception team’s work cannot stop; these families need support,” he said.

“It is not like this is just a task or job. It is something you feel you must do, because these families, they need assistance. They are just like us, they could be my family or friends.”

He explained that he and his team are comfortable in their safety while greeting new arrivals due to the strict hygiene and physical distancing practices that have been implemented. Some of the precautions taken include supplying staff and new arrivals with masks, strict documentation and reporting of any flu like symptoms, no contact deliveries of food and quarantine entertainment, and strict physical distancing.

“We are doing this in the proper way. If you do your work correctly, you can protect yourself and others,” said Emad.

Emad said some new arrivals are reuniting with family or friends in Australia that they have not seen for months or years.

As overseas arrivals must self-isolate for 14 days due to COVID-19, one newly arrived refugee family had to find a creative way to keep physical distance when meeting their sponsors prior to the introduction of more rigorous restrictions on reasons for leaving the house..

“There was a fence at the house, and I told them: you stay on one side of the fence and you on the other about six meters apart. They all seemed very happy. It was very nice that we could help them meet despite the circumstances,” he said.

Moments like this are common for the reception team, who go above and beyond every day to ensure newly arrived refugees have everything they need and feel at home in Australia.

With the introduction of 14 days of isolation, the team has been making regular trips to buy puzzles and games for refugee children and families to help get them through their first two weeks at home.

Learn more about SSI’s Humanitarian settlement program here

Read the story of the refugees helping to build testing centers as part of COVID-19 response here

 CEO Violet Roumeliotis speeking at Metropolis 2019.

Now, as the curve appears to flatten, the impact of the virus is clear. Thousands of Australians have had to change the way we live. An estimated 3.4 million or us will lose our jobs, and our country’s business sector, once considered our economy’s powerhouse, is suffering.

From the beginning of the outbreak, the Australian government has stepped up to minimize the impact of the pandemic on individuals and their livelihoods by offering free childcare, subsidising wages and nationalising private hospitals.

Unfortunately, not all of corporate Australia has been so community minded, with companies including Virgin Australia, Star Entertainment Group and womenswear retailer Mosaic Brands now moving to lay off tens of thousands of staff to remain solvent.

Virgin Australia’s announcement to move into voluntary administration is particularly concerning as the company employs about 10,000 people and supports another 5,000 indirect jobs.

I’m a firm believer that when our external environment forces us to look for ways to reduce costs, cutting staff should not be a knee-jerk first response. Every employee is an individual with their own bills to pay. Many have families to support, and some, due to their age, will face serious challenges re-entering the workforce.

While it is clear job losses are unfortunately inevitable in some industries, the move of big companies to make swathes of staff redundant is a major disappointment. It highlights our need, as business leaders and a society, to prioritise people over profits and transition towards more values-driven leadership.

We need to think innovatively and explore alternate solutions, like reducing leadership salaries, moving staff to shorter weeks, or diversifying into new areas. Follow the example of Sydney licensee Alex Cameron, who has turned his popular restaurant into a takeaway joint.

As he said: “We just want to scrape by during this period with enough revenue to cover wages. We’ll worry about rent and bills down the track.”

Or Archie Rose Distillery, which normally makes gin, whiskies, vodkas and rums, is now producing sanitiser.

“Some of our staff have been with us from the start, and we were pretty distraught when it looked like we were going to have to stand them down. But now we’re in a position due to the popularity of the hand sanitiser where we can actually go out and hire people from the broader hospitality community as well,” said Master Distiller Dave Withers.

The pandemic marks one of the greatest health challenges the world has seen for over a century.

Now is the time for many of Australia’s corporates and businesses who advertise their values and commitment to social purpose, express the strength of their leadership and and commitment to employees, to put their words into action.

I believe as a leader, your values should provide a filter through which you make business decisions — something you not only believe but actively demonstrate through your actions.

Values-driven leaders create values-driven companies, which generates benefits that extends beyond their customer or consumer base to the broader community.

This pandemic is an opportunity for organisations to demonstrate they can act on their values, and in turn educate Australians as to which companies can be trusted to put staff, and thus the community, before profit.

It is an opportunity for leaders to reflect on our own behaviors and reassess and respond to the values that remain true.

In order to lead in today’s complex environment, we should take heed from two great leadership academics, Lee G Bolman and Terrence E Deal in “Reframing Organisations: Artistry, Choice and Leadership.” The state that: “Crises are an acid test of leadership” – how we respond to environments characterised by complexity and ambiguity will either make us look weak and foolish, or set us apart, emerging from the chaos with credibility intact.

As we move out from beneath the shadows of the pandemic, and into economic uncertainty, it is abundantly clear that in order to find balance as a country, we need to find a compromise where the value of our society is not just measured by our economic output.

New Zealand’s ‘wellbeing budget’ or the UN’s sustainable development goals are judicious examples of initiatives that focus on an individual’s wellbeing as a measure of success equal to that of economic performance.

Although it will be a long, hard journey, I firmly believe that if we move towards more values-driven leadership, we can become a productive society with a strong economic output that still looks after its most vulnerable community members.

As I recently said in Beyond Covid-19 Welfare on The Project, COVID-19 has taught us the vital importance of robust invest in healthcare, education and welfare and highlights that a society is only as strong as its most vulnerable member.

As a single woman, you may think that she does not fit the mould of a typical foster carer. But when Victoria talks about the children she supports through the SSI Multicultural Foster Care program, one thing is abundantly clear—she is a born carer.

Construction began in Marrickville on April 17, supervised by architect and disaster and emergency response specialist Professor Robert Barnstone and P&G (Purpose and Growth) director Douglas Abdiel.

P&G is an Australian not-for-profit manufacturing firm which is partnering with other organisations to rapidly deploy a range of health facilities in conjunction with disaster relief teams in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Increased community testing will be crucial to Australia’s path out of COVID-19 restrictions to ensure “second wave” infections can be quickly identified and contained.

Professor Barnstone said, “Purpose-built testing centres will be invaluable for frontline workers all over the world and can be built quickly using off-the-shelf materials in abundant supply.”

Mr Abdiel said P&G had the ability to rapidly expand its workforce to suit government demand.

“We are deliberately building these facilities with the help of our newest Australians, many of whom arrived in this country just a few months ago,” he said.

“Not only are they eager to contribute to their new homeland, but their skills are representative of those that exist throughout the developing world. These designs will be within the reach of the entire globe.”

The testing centre is based on a shipping container, which doubles as the packaging for transport.

It is intended as a drive-through place to conduct COVID-19 tests and either process them when a fast test is available or store them for shipping to laboratories. It has an open-plan design and complies with social distancing recommendations to reduce risk for health workers and the public.

In addition to the testing centres, P&G also has designs for hospital structures housing ICU bays and a nurses’ station.

Professor Barnstone said, “As the number of coronavirus cases increases, Australia faces a serious shortage of hospital beds and will need to look at solutions like field hospitals.

“We have designed a way for governments to quickly create more space using locally available, mass-produced and easily assembled materials.”

By using recycled shipping containers as the core structure, the price of the buildings will be less than a third of the cost of conventional designs. Both designs use prefabricated panels for exterior and interior walls. 

Read more about SSI employment programs here. 

Read more about P&G and how to get involved in COVID-19 relief here.