The festival, celebrating its 40th year of inspiring social change, was produced by Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, which aims to build an inclusive, resilient, self-reliant and creative community.

It was a great opportunity for Welcome2Sydney ambassadors to show newcomers a beautiful neighbourhood like Newtown and be part of a rich exchange with people from different cultures.

Neil, one of the ambassadors, said, “I loved being able to show the participants around Newtown Festival while learning more about them and their personal story. It was fantastic to reconnect with families and hear about their progress in settling into Sydney as well as meeting new participants in the program.”

Newcomers also had a great time in a very accepting and embracing environment surrounded by residents, youth and multicultural communities.

“We had so much fun,” said one participant. “We enjoyed it and it was great to see my daughter go out and meet people because she is always staying at home.”

Habib, a young newcomer from Syria, said, “I have never been to Newtown so I had the chance to check out a completely new area. The activity was so entertaining and beautiful and it was our first time in such a massive music festival as we never had similar festivals in Syria.

“We spent the entire day at the park doing something different as it was a new vibe to us. I had so much fun and tried new food.”

Since January, Welcome2Sydney has been working closely with ambassadors and newcomers to increase a feeling of social wellbeing, build an inclusive community and connect people to share similar interests and improve social connections.

The program has been encouraging repeat visits, inviting participants to meet every time with new people from the local community or catch up with others they have previously met.

Habib said, “We did not know anyone when we arrived to Sydney and now we keep meeting new people every time we go on an outing. I am surprised how all ambassadors in the program are unique and make us want to go out with them again.

“The ambassadors Nick and Neil were indescribable. They have a beautiful soul and a great vibe. We wanted to continue the activity and do some karaoke.”

In order to achieve SSI’s vision of a society that values the diversity of its people, while supporting social and economic inclusion, we will continue to seek engagement within the migration sector and beyond.

Today the world is celebrating the International Day of People with Disability (IDPWD). In many ways this day, through celebrating and recognising the achievements of resilient people in our community, aligns with SSI’s core goal of building an inclusive society.

SSI has long recognised the need to support new members in our communities living with a disability.

Through programs like SSI Ability Links and SSI IgniteAbility we have enabled not only newcomers, but also all members of our community living with disability, to chart their own course. We’ve now experienced the thrill of seeing people with disability start and successfully run their own businesses, as well as seize opportunities to socialise and engage in inclusive activities within their community.

I’d also like to take the opportunity on this day of inclusion, hope and resilience to talk about some recent events of note.

On November 25, SSI reaffirmed its commitment to combating domestic violence through the United Nations campaign: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. We will be hosting morning teas and DV awareness training in November and December at our Sydney offices to learn about the impact of gender-based violence across all aspects of life, including in the workplace.

During the morning teas we will also launch the NSW Settlement Partnership Community of Practice on Domestic and Family Violence.

Since August this year, SSI has joined other progressive employers offering Domestic Violence Leave to our employees. This type of leave is a promise of financial security to those affected by domestic violence; those who may require time to resolve their situation without concern that it will affect their professional career.

I’d like to end by mentioning an overwhelmingly positive point in Australia’s journey towards social inclusion. On November 15 we celebrated the anniversary of the historical Same Sex Marriage vote, which resulted in legislation that affirms the right of every Australian to express their love and commitment through marriage. This resounding victory for social inclusion is, of course, in line with SSI’s own vision and mission.

Since 2015, Settlement Services International’s (SSI) Friendship Garden in Auburn has welcomed people from many diverse backgrounds. The garden brings together locals for community gardening, horticulture courses, community development initiatives, and a fortnightly playgroup. However, it was limited in what it offered to people living with disability.

But this year, the garden has seen an unprecedented evolution. From a place where people go to garden, grow vegetables and connect with others, to a place where the community, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or ability are able to interact and engage with their community and community members.

In collaboration with Cumberland City Council and in consultation with community members through every step of its upgrade, the garden has worked towards increasing its accessibility, not only in physical ways, with raised garden beds, paved pathways and lots of signage, but also through the award of a NSW Government grant. Part of the NSW Community Building Partnership program, the grant allowed SSI to expand the garden and install an accessible children’s sensory garden offering an inclusive environment for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) families and children of all abilities.

The garden features were chosen through a consultation with garden designers and a large group of children. The design incorporates frog ponds, spiralled textured paths and sand pits that simulate participation in sensory based play, enabling children of all abilities to express themselves freely.

The sensory garden was officially opened on 24 October 2018 with an open day attended by school children, community members, regular garden participants, and government representation.

“The open day was a chance to celebrate people of all abilities being able to express themselves freely and participate in an inclusive community environment,” says Diana Nguyen, SSI Community Engagement Practitioner.

“We see the garden as an inclusive space that supports everyone, and where everyone is equal. The NSW Community Building Partnership grant to build the sensory garden and make the garden more accessible has propelled this vision into reality. The scope for how this space can be used for all groups of people has widened dramatically.”

“Our hope is that aspects such as the mobility-friendly pathways, considered design of sensory based features, such as sand pits and herbal plants, and the overall tranquillity of the sensory garden, have removed any previous barriers to inclusion and have created a welcoming space for everyone.”

Regular garden playgroup volunteer June Simpson has seen the positive impact of the garden and is excited to see the future of the garden grow further, “Each time I come something new is happening. To have more people coming in and accessing it; it’s such a wonderful community accessory to me. I’m looking forward to seeing more people come in and have the enjoyment of it.”

Samar has been bringing her children to the garden playgroup since it began. Her eight-year old daughter Sophia attends the playgroup during the school holidays with her younger brother, Niyazi. Sophia is a confident, bubbly and well-spoken girl living with a disability. Sophia is just as capable as everyone else, and doesn’t let her disability stop her from being a leader and role model for other children.

“It’s been a fantastic experience for [Sophia]. I think it’s given her a lot of confidence. It’s been such a wonderful experience for her, being in an environment that’s just so positive and welcoming. In terms of [similar] opportunities, it would have been very limited.”

“The garden has helped her grow.”

Sophia agrees with her mum.

“I love the Friendship Garden – it makes my heart so happy. It’s always so much fun exploring the garden, and there’s always so much happening around. The Friendship Garden is a beautiful place to create special and happy memories and make new friends.”

The evolution of the garden has been an example of collaboration between community, an NGO, local and state government.

“The garden has changed significantly. Our collaborative effort has enabled us to build the sensory garden, which is now one of the main highlights,” says Ms Nguyen.

“My vision is that this place will be utilised by everyone, for everyone who may or may not have a disability; to meet, to do gardening, and to look at their potential. It’s a place for everyone to feel like they belong.”

To find out more about SSI’s Auburn Friendship Garden, visit our Community Engagement page.

With the theme “Orange the World: #HearMeToo”, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence focuses attention on some of the most marginalised and under-serviced groups in our communities, including migrants and refugee women, women with disability, indigenous women and girls, as well as women in regional and rural communities.

A host of public events are being coordinated, among which iconic buildings and landmarks will be ‘oranged’ to recall the need for a violence-free future.

To observe the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Settlement Services International (SSI) in collaboration with the NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP) is launching a Community of Practice on Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, specifically focusing on supporting refugee and migrant women and girls.

“There is a wealth of experience and expertise in DFV and settlement across the sector, however there are limited mechanisms to share experiences, expertise and work together to amplify outcomes,” said Astrid Perry, SSI Manager of Strategic Policy.

“There is ample opportunity now to better understand and share this work, as well as strengthen and support our collective response to domestic and family violence.

“Women from CALD backgrounds experience a range of intersecting and compounding challenges (cultural, linguistic, economic and social) that place them at greater risk of experiencing DFV, and restrict their ability to seek support and redress for it.”

The Domestic and Family Violence – NSW Settlement Partnership Community of Practice (the DFV-NSP CoP) comprises DFV specialist workers, caseworkers and settlement managers from across the partnership, and is a mechanism by which NSP partners come together to share key learnings, and identify service delivery issues, practical responses and strategies to respond to DFV in their communities.

Overall the DFV-NSP CoP aims to:

• Share key learnings, seek advice and provide input for shared experienced in responding to DFV.
• Identify service delivery issues, practical responses and strategies to respond to DFV.
• Provide space for consultations on issues that can be fed into state, national and international advocacy.

The NSW Settlement Partnership (NSP) is a consortium of 23 community organisations, led by Settlement Services International (SSI), delivering core settlement support for humanitarian entrants and other eligible migrants in their first five years of life in Australia. These services are delivered in agreed areas in NSW, under the Department of Social Services’ Settlement Services Programme (SSP).

Join the 16 Days campaign! You can participate in person or on social media via the following hashtags: #OrangeUrWorld, #OrangeTheWorld, #HearMeToo, #EndVAW.

Contact: DFV Project Manager – Juliana Nkrumah AM, Manager Strategic Policy: Dr Astrid Perry.

As a provider of disability services that works closely with multicultural communities, SSI works every day towards diversity and inclusion, and is hosting and participating in a wide variety of events in the lead-up to this important date.

Working with job seekers, entrepreneurs and people who are looking for meaningful ways of social participation, SSI supports people with disabilities to lead a better life.

We also work with multicultural and business sectors to promote disability inclusion, with collaboration and partnerships at its core. We work every day towards building a disability confident and inclusive society, championing change and inclusion, with a strong focus on communities from culturally diverse backgrounds.

In the lead-up to the International Day of People with Disability, SSI will be taking part in the following events:

AccessAbility Day

SSI Disability Employment Services will be taking part in AccessAbility Day, a new Australian Government initiative developed to connect job seekers with disability and employers for a one-day workplace experience. For more information https://bit.ly/2z9VW8S

Community Kitchen

Come along to celebrate social inclusion with SSI at the Community Kitchen in Auburn!

When: Wednesday, November 28, 11am – 1pm.

Held at the Auburn Centre for Community, 44A Macquarie Road, Auburn.

SSI Ability Links celebrations across the state

SSI Ability Links is organising and will be taking part in more than 20 events from Queanbeyan to Mollymook and from the Inner West to Liverpool. Check out updates or contact us to find events near you through our Facebook page.

Harnessing the strength and resilience of people from all abilities adds to our understanding of diversity and strengthens our capabilities as we continue to work towards a truly inclusive society.

Together, we will continue to ensure that our communities have the same opportunities regardless of ability, language or culture, while embracing the benefits of being part of a diverse and inclusive society.

Ms Mackenzie has become an active member of her community as she strives to build the skills needed to maintain an independent life. Each Thursday she volunteers her time by attending a social group at Westmead Children’s Hospital.. Through these sessions she has discovered her love of public speaking and one day hopes to make a career out of it.. “Ability Links has recognised my strengths and has worked with me in linking me with various services, including a psychologist who helps me manage my anxiety,” said Ms Mackenzie.

Ms Mackenzie is also a casual worker at ANZ Stadium, as well as waitressing at Ratha’s Café in St. Marys. Linker Sonal saw the strength within Ms. Mackenzie offering her an opportunity to join the Ability Links Ambassador Program. As part of this role, Emma shared her experience and worked as Master of Ceremonies in an event held in Rouse Hill last month. This was her first professional experience speaking in public, and she was thrilled to have had this opportunity.

With the help and encouragement of Linker Sonal, Emma felt supported and was able to deliver in her role as the event’s MC in emphatic fashion.

“I am very delighted to be an Ability Link’s Ambassador. This is an opportunity where I can share my stories of success and showcase my ability”, Ms Mackenzie added.

SSI Arts and Culture Program Manager Carolina Triana and festivalgoer at the SSI New Beginnings in Spring Festival. Photo: Damon Amb

This annual festival brings thousands of Sydneysiders together to enjoy the creative, culinary and artistic talents of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

This year, an eclectic group of Sydney’s newest community members took centre stage. Click here to get a taste of the impressive 2018 line-up and photo album.

The Festival is the brainchild of Carolina Triana and has undergone a vibrant evolutionary journey since its inception back in 2015.

What’s the vision behind the Festival?

The Festival’s innovative program encompasses music, dance, visual arts, craft and cuisine. It showcases the creative talents and cultural heritage of culturally and linguistically diverse artists and communities.

The programming widens audiences’ access to a broad range of art forms and cultural expressions. These high-quality and innovative arts experiences promote a deeper understanding between communities.

We celebrate cultural diversity as an inherent quality of Australian society and bring it to the fore. With so much creative talent and cultural vibrancy among newcomer communities, New Beginnings’ vision is to become a creative platform for newly arrived artists and makers as it simultaneously creates a space for community building and cohesion.

Captured: Festivalgoers at the recent SSI New Beginnings Festival in Spring 2018.

How has the Festival evolved since its inception?

The Festival first emerged back in 2015 to celebrate World Refugee Day, when SSI hosted the inaugural New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival at the Addison Road Community Centre in Marrickville.

From an intimate suburban community event, it has today evolved into an annual spring festival where thousands of Sydneysiders gather to celebrate diversity and unity in the heart of the city.

We also stage the New Beginnings Festival for Refugee Week, held annually in June. This instalment of the Festival is hosted by the Refugee Community Welcome Centre in Sydney’s inner west and showcases refugee-led workshops, performances and film screenings.

Behind the scenes, our team has expanded. Raphael Brasil joined us in March as Arts and Culture Producer. Delivering on all operational aspects of the Festival, from programming to logistics, Raphael works closely with artists, stallholders and across the organisation.

What were the highlights of the Spring Festival in 2018?

This year, the Festival provided a launch pad for people of refugee and migrant backgrounds to showcase their unique talents. Over 70 artists and 22 stallholders got involved.

A talented cohort of artists making their festival debut astounded audiences through an array of performances and interactive workshops.

Assyrian singer and Oud player, George Karam, known in Arabic music circles as the “Assyrian King”, has found in music his path to integration. With a career spanning 30 years, George has performed in Syria, Lebanon, UAE, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Now in Australia, George shares his knowledge as an Oud and music teacher. George was interviewed by The Guardian at the festival and commented, “As the name of the festival New Beginnings says — that’s a new beginning for me in Australia.”

The Mesopotamian Ensemble — a seven-piece band established in Western Sydney in 2016, whose union of the violin, oud, percussion, guitar, drum and keyboard explores the infinite melodies of the musical world of Mesopotamia — made an epic appearance at the Festival, introducing local audiences to the fusion of Mesopotamian and Middle-Eastern classical and contemporary folk music.

Iraqi-born Bashar Hanna, who arrived in Australia in 1998, founded the Mesopotamian Ensemble with the goal of both bringing Middle Eastern folk to Australia and giving a platform to musicians (five out of the seven members came here as refugees).

At the Festival, Bashar told The Guardian, “We noticed that professional musicians coming from refugee backgrounds — there are no production companies that can open the doors for them.

“Iraqi people have a treasure trove of musicians and performers but not everybody knows about them yet … [This helps them] start their own career [in Australia].”

Festival headliner Nardean is an Australian born MC, spoken-word poet, singer and songwriter who carries with her the ancient mysticism of her Egyptian heritage. Her debut single, “Nothing Matters”, received 30 thousand streams on Spotify within its first month. Nardean was interviewed and performed live on ABC RN Breakfast in the lead-up to the Festival.

Oyobi — a music project that uses live instrumentation and machines to traverse the boundaries between Afro-Latin tradition and modern analog electronica — got festivalgoers moving. Comprised of a group of accomplished musicians, including Vincent Sebastian, Adam Ventoura and Planeface, this music collective recently performed at the inaugural Australian Women in Music Awards (AWMA) with renowned hip-hop artist Kween-G, and the soulful Merenia Marin.

African dancehall prodigy and long-time New Beginnings artist Kween G also performed live on ABC RN’s The Music Show ahead of the Festival.

Where do you see the Festival in years to come?

Our next milestone is to go regional and showcase newly arrived artists that are based in regional Australia. By building our reach and audiences, we hope to become a landmark cultural event for both city and country.

The Festival not only fills a gap as a platform for refugee and migrant artists, but it also supports artists to connect with relevant networks and peers by providing capacity-building opportunities for newcomer artists. It fosters them to develop their practice and reach new and larger audiences.

We’ll continue investing efforts into this aspect of the Festival and facilitate professional development opportunities for newly arrived artists during the first years of settlement in Australia.

To find out more about SSI Arts & Culture initiatives, including New Beginnings Festival, click here.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis and SSI Ignite Global Manager with Ignite Multicultural Women’s Business Scholarship winners.

The Mosaic Gala raises funds to support two SSI refugee programs —Ignite Small Business Start-ups and Refugee Scholarships — while raising awareness of SSI’s work with refugees, focusing on education and employment as a pathway to inclusion, independence and success after settling in a new country.

A highlight of the gala was the announcement of the four recipients of the Ignite Multicultural Women’s Business Scholarships — a 12-month package of support open to women of all ages from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, residing in the Greater Sydney Area and who have a business idea for a product or service.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said that the initiative was close to her heart.

“Every day in my work I see the strength, courage and entrepreneurialism of women — I am driven to create an ecosystem of support around them so they, too, can benefit from living in the best country in the world and aspire to reach their full potential, she said.”

“As part of being named the Australian Telstra Business Woman of the Year, I wanted to lead by example and reach out to help other women succeed. That is why SSI has established the Multicultural Business Women’s Scholarships.”

Over 35 expressions of interest were received for the inaugural round of scholarships, and the independent judging panel said it had a tough job deciding on the four winners: Parastoo Bahrami from Afghanistan, Merlyn Hernandez from Venezuela, Lorina Leauanae from Samoa and Nanor Wanesian from Syria.

The fledgling businesses ranged from jewellery design to cake decoration, plus-sized fashion and a dance studio.

The 12-month package of professional and specialised support is valued at $20,000 and includes business facilitation and mentorship from the team of experts at Ignite.

Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen is captured with SSI Ignite entrepreneurs.

During this visit, he met with Ignite entrepreneurs who were able to share some of their stories with someone for whom the topic was not only a portfolio but also a lived experience.

At the age of 16, Mr. Hussen fled to Canada during the civil war in Somalia. He studied law and went into practice before becoming Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship last year.

To a Sydney-based audience, Mr Hussen understated his narrative.

“Apart from our Indigenous population, the rest of us in Canada are either descendants of immigrants or immigrants ourselves … The history of modern Canada is a history of immigration,” he said.

Mr Hussen said that the current “global anxieties” around migrants and refugees turned a blind eye to the many economic benefits of increased immigration.

“Talent and investment have never been more mobile. And they will go where they are most welcome.”

Ignite Global Manager Dina Petrakis said that hosting a global public figure like Minister Hussen was a monumental event for both Ignite and its program participants.

“Minister Hussen’s lived experience evokes hope within our aspiring refugee entrepreneurs who, like the minister, have had to make a whole new start at life,” she said.

“His advocacy around casting a light on the economic benefits of increased migration helps to foster a more positive narrative on refugees.”

During his visit, Mr Hussen got a taste of Ignite business TEBA Catering’s Palestinian food and quickly became a lifelong fan.

While at Ignite, he lent his support to the International Metropolis Conference 2018 — “a global conference that allows global leaders to come together to have a discussion on migration issues” — that took place in Sydney in November, referring to its “dynamic program”.

He also expressed his excitement that the conference would be returning home to Canada in 2019.

Some of the youth from ADSi at the Auburn Friendship Garden with their geraniums to take home.

Budding young green thumbs recently created a small community garden at the Auburn Diversity Services Inc. (ADSi) offices. Giving gardening a go for the first time for many, a small group of young people of mostly Afghani background built a garden space with SSI’s Friendship Garden ambassador, Muthana.

Whilst the group started out with little interest in gardening, Muthana soon got them warmed up, imparting his many years of horticulture experience gained in Iraq, his country of birth. The charismatic Muthana spoke passionately about the different varieties of plants and herbs he grows, and demonstrated planting techniques before the young people were soon actively doing it themselves!

During this time the youth also shared a piece of their culture as they spoke about geranium flowers being typically grown in Afghanistan. Everyone also learned the names of the plants and flowers in Arabic and Dari.
After the gardening session, the group was introduced to the Friendship Garden located at the Auburn Centre for Community. The young people were invited to pick and eat mulberries from the trees and were given a piece of the garden – geraniums – to take home to their families. They enjoyed themselves so much they didn’t want to leave!

Auburn Diversity Services Inc. (ADSi) is a community based, non-profit organisation established to promote the principles of multiculturalism, access, equity and social justice. ADSi runs a branch of the Youth Transition Support Program (YTSP) which is funded by the Department of Social Services and led by the Community Migrant Resources Centre. Funding assists migrant youth in the areas of employment, vocational opportunities, education and sports engagement. 

The Friendship Garden in Auburn is a SSI community engagement initiative in partnership with Cumberland Council. The garden welcomes people from diverse backgrounds, languages and ability to work together to build an inclusive and cohesive community. Since 2015, the Friendship Gardeners have transformed barren, disused land to be a green space for community, full of life, vegetables, flowers and friendships. Gardening days occur every Thursday from 9:30am – 12:30pm, with a playgroup for young children every second Wednesday between 10am – 12pm. The garden is located at the Auburn Centre for Community, 44A Macquarie Rd, Auburn.