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SSI has been part of Positive Action towards Career Engagement (PACE) for the first time this year; PACE is a 16 week mentoring program run by Australian Network on Disability (AND) that connects job seekers with a disability with mentors from leading businesses. This year, three SSI managers hosted three mentees in the Ashfield and Bankstown offices.

“PACE mentoring at SSI was a highly enriching and enjoyable experience. We met fortnightly to engage in a range of discussions and activities that helped me grow personally and professionally”, said Celine, a mentee.

“I joined the PACE program to give me insights into the HR Business Partnering world, as this is my career aspiration. The PACE program was a wonderful experience and allowed me to work with someone who has incredible knowledge in HR”, said Joanne, a mentee.

“It has been great to be part of this program on behalf of SSI. It has helped us mentors to build our own leadership skills, and has been a great opportunity to work with someone one-on-one and see them build self-confidence and work towards their goals”, said Elissa Trafford, one of the SSI mentors.

Externally, a number of community leaders who completed the Disability Inclusion Leaders Training project delivered by SSI in May, organised and delivered events to their communities to honour IDPwD.

One of these events saw Japanese community leaders host an event called “Tomoni”, meaning ‘together’. “Because of the resources and my better understanding about the social model of disability, we in the Japanese community feel more confident and motivated to continue to make our community more inclusive for people with disabilities”, said Chie Nakatsuka, Japanese community leader who completed the training.

Wafa Zaim, a leader in the Arabic community, led a presentation about her learnings from the SSI inclusion training and how the community can make a difference by understanding and promoting inclusive attitudes.
On a separate event held in Arabic, a recently arrived community member held back her tears whilst stating that “I feel I am freer to take my child who has autism to the community activities because I know that he is not sick, just different”.

Disability-inclusive attitudes and behaviours are embedded into a number of initiatives led by SSI. Acknowledging the social, financial and emotional benefits of an inclusive society will continue to support our work internally and externally.

Sharing this message throughout our communities, workplaces and businesses is key to building a society where everyone can feel they belong.

For more information about PACE, visit: https://www.and.org.au/pages/mentoring.html
For more information on the Disability Inclusion Leaders Training Project, please contact Javier Ortiz on jortiz@ssi.org.au

We are finding exciting and innovative ways to make Coffs a home for people who have newly arrived.

Community News will be a bimonthly opportunity for you to see the projects and initiatives we are pursuing, and to keep you in the loop for opportunities to get involved in. As a Coffs Harbour local myself, I know just how amazing and supportive our community can be.

Let’s take a look at the past year – here’s a snapshot!

Fusion Festival

This was the first year SSI has had the opportunity to participate in Fusion Festival, and what a day it was! This amazing celebration of diversity and culture truly reflected our community values and its capacity to welcome those seeking to build a new life in Australia.

The SSI Coffs team were excited to use the event to build more relationships in the multicultural sector of Coffs Harbour. It was an important opportunity to invite newly arrived families and reassure them their culture and heritage will be respected and appreciated in their new home.

Roja Resh – The Yazidi day of remembrance

‘Roja Resh;’ translated as ‘Black Day,’ marks the day ISIS attacked the Yazidi community in the Sinjar district, Northern Iraq, in 2014.

On the day of ‘Roja Resh,’ August 3rd, SSI together with STARTTS and Coffs Harbour City Council, assisted in creating a space for our Yazidi families to gather and bring together members of the wider Coffs community who were interested in learning the significance of “Roja Resh” and why it should not be forgotten. A sombre ceremony, we had tea and coffee as the community stood and told stories, shared photographs of loved ones and lit candles.
It was so heart-warming to see families establish their voice and share their story with the Coffs Harbour community.

Freedom Feast

Even though it was in June, I can’t fail to mention the spectacularly successful ‘Freedom Feast’ held during Refugee Week – a council initiative and the brain child of Andrew Davis – Sustainable Living & Community Programs Coordinator Coffs Harbour City Council.

The community came together as one big family, sharing a long table sit down meal, complete with live entertainment, stories and a community performance. Over 600 people brought a plate to share, making it a community feast of mouth-watering authentic home cooked food from all over the world for everyone to enjoy.

The SSI team attended steering group meetings, circulatied information and organised and coordinated a children’s activity that contributed to a public art installation at the mall.

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New SSI Volunteers

SSI wants everyone to work together to assist our newly arrived families achieve incredible goals- and volunteers are a critical part of making amazing things happen.
We’ve recently welcomed a number of new volunteers into our Coffs Harbour team, but there’s room for plenty more! From providing housing assistance, to creating fun kids activities, we have a huge variety of volunteer opportunities, click here to check them out.

CommuniTEA

The SSI Coffs team is thrilled to announce a new ongoing community led initiative… CommuniTEA!

The project is about supporting newcomers to develop a positive sense of community, to have a voice and find home in their new community. Eritrean coffee will be served by the lovely Martha, while Syrian tea and coffee will be served by Zozan and Kamiran. CommuniTEA is about creating a space for individuals to build social networks, develop a sense of belonging and to share their skills and stories.

Come and join us at the Harbour Markets on Sundays to celebrate “CommuniTEA”.

This initiative is made possible through the support of the incredible Kim, from the Happy Frog and the Frog 500 fund. The fund gives 100% of the profit raised from specially marked in-store products back to our local community raising $500 to put towards various local projects and worthwhile causes.

By purchasing the products shown in the link you are making a donation to the Frog 500!

Check it out here ……http://thehappyfrog.com.au/frog-500-fundraiser/
Together with Bec at STARTTS the first Potluck in the Park was held on Thursday 22 November. It’s a potluck, which means you bring a meal with you and share with others if you’re keen. Essentially it’s about providing a platform for people to gather, connect established community members with people who are newly arrived and have a huge amount of fun!

The evening was so well attended by all that we’d like to have another “POTLUCK” on 24 January 2019!

Culturally Responsive Practice Training

On Thursday 15 November SSI Coffs Harbour offered professional development opportunities to valued community partners in our fundamentals workshop, aiming to assist them build upon their capability to work more effectively with diversity.

Our culturally responsive practice training was developed to support our own diverse workforce. This highly interactive workshop assists participants to be able to:

Thank you to all who participated, I very much enjoyed spending the day with you and building on our connection

Settlement Outcomes in Regional Australia

Jock Collins (UTS) and Carol Reid (Western Sydney Uni) visited Coffs Harbour in November to complete research on the integration of refugees in regional Australia areas.
Their research included interviewing 15 families from various back grounds, who arrived in 2015, 2016 and 2017. A longitudinal study will be conducted over the next 3 years to learn what life is like for new comers in Australia..

During this time we employed 4 Bilingual Research Assistants (BRA) from our local community. A big Thank you to Meena, Hasan, Warda and Khider for acting as a bridge between the researchers and families – I value your skills and cultural knowledge.

If you would like more information about the research project please contact me.

New Families

Over the past couple of months we’ve had a number of new families arrive from Syria Iraq Burma Congo Afghanistan and Eritrea!

WELCOME TO ALL

Have a happy and safe holiday everyone!!

It has been an amazing year working together and I look forward to next year.

 

Highlights from the year at SSI.

Many of the people we work with are far from their native countries, friends and family ― an absence that is particularly acute at a time of year when so many of us are reuniting and connecting with loved ones.

These gifts from everyday Australians are a reminder for vulnerable individuals that someone out there in the wider community is thinking of them over the holidays.

The holiday season is also a time to reflect on our challenges and achievements from the year. In 2018, SSI rolled out select services and initiatives in Queensland and Victoria, and launched several new offices in regional NSW. One particular success story is our office in the new settlement region of Armidale ― now a prime case study for successful regional refugee settlement.

The federal government has recently announced an independent review of employment, settlement and integration outcomes for refugees taking place in the coming months. I look forward to sharing our experience of what has been effective and where there is room for improvement. Lately, there has been a lot of policy talk about regional settlement, and I welcome the opportunity to recommend greater coordination from all levels of government to deliver the best settlement outcomes for refugees.

In 2019, SSI will also be bedding in our merger with Access Community Services, a not-for-profit community organisation based in Queensland. Like us, Access is committed to community support, development and capacity building. Our organisations have had a strong partnership for a number of years, most recently with the rollout of our Ignite Small Business Start Ups initiative across Queensland.

It’s still early days, but I have no doubt that, this time next year, I’ll be reporting to you on the many doors that have opened to us as a result of this collaboration and the numerous benefits to our members, clients and communities.

In the New Year, SSI will officially launch our Melbourne office and, in combination with our merger, this will give our organisation an on-the-ground presence stretching across Australia’s eastern seaboard.

As always, our growth has been undertaken thoughtfully, responsibly and with respect for other services on the ground. We’re not looking to reinvent the wheel or duplicate services. We’re looking for gaps and opportunities to support vulnerable individuals and families.

Our newly released 2017-18 Annual Report shows that, over the course of a single year, SSI staff made a positive difference in the lives of nearly 27,000 people who came through the doors of our four primary offices.

In the same year:

These incredible figures are indicative of the sheer hard work and professionalism of our staff. They also illustrate the benefits of collaborations achieved through partnerships, consortiums, MOUs and other alliances.

Our continued success is thanks to our staff, community, members and partners. As the year draws to a close, I want to take the opportunity to thank you for your support in 2018. This time of year can be stressful on many fronts ― whether it be negotiating family politics, balancing finances or managing long periods of travel ― so please take the time for some self-care, and have a safe and fulfilling holiday season.

In the last financial year, SSI supported more than 4,200 refugees through the early stages of settlement, connected nearly 10,000 families with their community through Community Hubs Activities, and supported more than 4,700 people with disability towards their goals, according to SSI’s recently released 2017-18 Annual Report.

“More than 1,000 people found work with our help – including 700 people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds who were supported into paid employment,” said Ms Roumeliotis.

“This work was achieved through the sheer hard work and professionalism of our staff. It was also achieved through the wonderful mechanism called collaboration also known as partnerships, consortiums, MOUs and alliances.

“SSI has always recognised its growth and success is embedded in its relationship with the community, its members and partners, and we thank and acknowledge them once again today.”

During the year, SSI made inroads into new geographic areas, including the opening of its first interstate office in Victoria and the launch of several new offices in regional NSW.

“One particular success story is our office in the new settlement region of Armidale. Almost a year down the track, Armidale is a prime case study for successful regional refugee settlement,” said Ms Roumeliotis.

“This is thanks to our fantastic HSP team, strong community support, and solid engagement with civic leadership and other local stakeholders.”

And much more has also happened at SSI since the conclusion of the financial year, including bringing to Sydney the International Metropolis Conference, which saw more than 800 delegates representing 38 countries in attendance.

“Another exciting development that has been many months in the making is our merger with Access Community Services,” said Ms Roumeliotis.

“A merger with Access enables us to build our collaboration, join resources and extend the reach of our services to provide better outcomes for clients, funding partners and key stakeholders in Queensland.”

SSI’s AGM was preceded by an insightful debate on refugee employment and regional settlement featuring Jack Archer, CEO of the Regional Australia Institute; Lulu Tantos, CEO of Northern Settlement Services; Carmen Garcia, Community Corporate Managing Director; and Sera Kebabjian, a skilled white-collar professional who came to Australia as a refugee from Syria

Read SSI’s 2017-18 Annual Report here.

SSI volunteer Ashley Thomas at the Community Kitchen.

“I didn’t feel like I had much to offer [otherwise]. I don’t speak another language fluently, don’t have a background in this area; I didn’t even have a good grasp on understanding the needs of the situation or political charge around the refugee and person seeking asylum,” says the American born and now Australian citizen of 17 years.

“When I first moved to Australia, my manager and co-workers were so kind and welcoming to me. I didn’t know anyone here, but I had a job, a business-sponsored via and a one year plan. But I have never forgotten their thoughtfulness. So to see multitudes of individuals and families arriving to our country after horrific circumstances and after such loss and grief, I feel compelled to show that same kindness.”

Dozens of volunteers give up their time each week to help SSI support refugees, humanitarian entrants and people seeking asylum, and their reasons for doing so are varied. But the most important prerequisite you really need, is an interest in connecting with others.

Community Kitchen Team Leader, Ashley has seen how forming these connections have enriched her own life as well.

“It’s opened up a vitalising part of my life.”

“I’ve always been a believer in the idea that everyone has a story, and every story and every person is important. Despite our vast differences, our stories can still connect us with each other. We all have that need for belonging. I didn’t expect to feel like I could ‘belong’ with others from such different backgrounds, beliefs, experiences, etc. But there really is commonality in our humanity. My Wednesdays have become much more about belonging, than just showing kindness.”

During her two years volunteering at the Community Kitchen, Ashley has built up a large bank of fond memories.

“I love being able to sit with the guests and hear their stories. Even if communication between us may be limited, it’s an honour to serve them a meal and help plan an event they find enjoyable, or given them useful information.”

“One of my favourite memories is sitting with two sisters, their mother-in-law and their children, ranging in age from 6 – 16. They were from Mosul, in Iraq, and had been in Australia for about 6 months. They told me their stories, and told me how they’re finding Australia; their challenges, their schooling, and the dreams the kids had.”

And what is Ashley’s advice for people reading this who think they might be interested in volunteering?

“Take the first step and keep coming. There are moments that can be awkward or intimidating or you can really feel out of your comfort zone, but showing kindness and leaning in to an experience like this can be life impacting, not just for the guests, but for yourself.”

“I love the other volunteers; so capable and creative and caring, each with their own story and viewpoint.”

“And the staff, to work with intelligent and compassionate people in this sphere, has been really refreshing and insightful.”

SSI’s Community Engagement program runs events and activities designed to help refugees and people seeking asylum to connect with their peers and others in the community.

Click here to find out more about volunteering with SSI.

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.

The sensory garden at the Auburn Friendship Garden.

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:

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.