In his native country of Iraq, Mohammed was a successful theatre performer and an exhibiting artist with his own photography studio. He completed a college degree in theatre performance. He appeared in a number of stage and radio productions before he was forced to flee Iraq and seek asylum in Australia in 2013.
Mohammed was supported by SSI’s Status Resolution Support Services program, which provides essential assistance to people living in the community while their application for refugee status is assessed.
It was through his SRSS case manager that Mohammed first became aware of SSI’s Arts and Culture program, which supports newly arrived artists by identifying relevant networks and providing professional development and performance opportunities while they are seeking asylum or during their early stages of settlement.
“SSI helped me to start my life in Australia,” Mohammaed said. “When I came, I didn’t know anyone, but SSI helped me to form a network with artists, people and friends.”
“Someone who was a director saw my artwork in my first SSI exhibition and then read my biography in the catalogue. She wanted me to take photos of an upcoming play, but I told her that before I was a photographer, I was an actor. I applied for her play and won an acting role where I told my story about how I came to Australia.”
The show, Origin-Transit-Destination, was an immersive theatre experience that took theatre-goers on a journey into issues facing people seeking asylum. Mohammed has gone on to co-create a short film, The Suffering of the Asylum Seeker and land an Arabic-speaking role in the 2016 film, Ali’s Wedding.
“I like being a photographer, but I feel most myself on stage and in films,” he explained. “If I hadn’t done that first exhibition, I would never have met the director and gotten to continue on with my artistic culture and meet other people. The first step was SSI.”
Mohammed now runs his own photography business, which he established with the support of SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups, and he recently took out first place in the contemporary category of the Fisher’s Ghost Art Award.
Since participating in SSI’s Art is Our Voice exhibition in 2014, Mohammed has also created works for Home: Between Here and There and last year’s New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival, where his artwork, which was sold on the opening night, centred on the tree of life – a symbol for his intention to continue on in life regardless of the struggles he faces.
SSI is holding the New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival again in 2017, and there are a number of ways to get involved with this celebration of hope, unity and new beginnings.
Click below for more information about sponsorship opportunities and becoming a festival partner.
Sandy Haig and Jorge Perez from the University of Wollongong are part of the Ignite resource team.
Ignite works with the support of business mentors and a Resource Team made up of volunteers from local businesses, councils, individuals and academic institutions that can share their business knowledge and skills. UOW’s Business Internship Program provides Ignite with students who can assist entrepreneurs in the areas of accounting, finance, marketing or human resources, giving students a practical stint in the real world of business and increasing their chances of finding a job once they finish.
“We tell our students that only having a degree isn’t enough anymore in the current highly competitive workforce,” said UOW Business Liaison Manager Sandy Haig.
“Undertaking an internship with Ignite provides them with the opportunity to face professional challenges that any businessperson or entrepreneur has to deal with, making them more work-ready and ultimately more employable.”
UOW students on placement at Ignite have to have completed the second year of their degree, have a minimum of a credit average mark and go through a selection process and an interview like for any other job position, Ms Haig said.
The Business Internship Program receives numerous applications from students eager to enhance their resume outside the university walls. The key, however, is to match the right person with the type of business where they can better fit in, especially in the case of Ignite.
Internship and Business Liaison Coordinator Jorge Perez said the type of students who are matched with Ignite are those who go beyond expressing an interest for the business and corporate world, but that want to connect with other cultures and people.
“Ignite is also a very interesting opportunity for those who have in mind starting their own business in the future, so they can see how it’s done from scratch,” Mr Perez said.
Students who have completed their internship at Ignite are usually very satisfied with the experience as they get to perform hands-on work and make business decisions, something that is less common at a big corporate organisation, said Mr Perez.
Ignite Initiative Coordinator Dina Pertarkis said having the UOW’s Business Internship Program on the Resource Team has been extremely positive for Ignite and that both organisations now had an efficient program that works well and benefits both parties.
“The staff at the Business Internship Program are amazing at selecting the students who are more fitted for Ignite,” said Ms Petrarkis.
“We are really happy with the partnership.”
Since 2015, around 30 business students from the UOW have successfully undertaken an internship with Ignite.
Ignite Small Business Start-ups
Rahaf Alrifai arrived from Syria in 2016
“I was supposed to come here three days a week and develop a plan with my assigned recruitment officer to look for a job,” Ms Alrifai said.
“They asked me what type of job I would like to do and when I told them about my background, they offered me the data entry assistant vacancy they had. It was incredible!”
In Aleppo, Syria, Ms Alrifai was a computer engineer teaching at university and doing research. War, however, forced her family to leave Syria and she, her husband and three children waited in Lebanon for two years before being granted a humanitarian visa.
Aware that things would probably not be easy in Australia at the beginning, Ms Alrifai prepared herself for a tough life and studied English to give herself a good head start.
However, with the support of SSI, things have been much better than what she expected and after just four months her family are settled and very happy in their new home, she said.
“My children have been enrolled into mainstream school, and I already have a job that I enjoy, where I can keep improving my English, which is my main objective at the moment.”
“Besides my technical skills, it is also an asset that I speak Arabic so that I can act as an interpreter when it’s needed for many of the clients that come to the SSI Employment offices.”
“SSI helped me to be able to dream again; now I can dream of a better future here in Australia.”
Mr Elgey is putting his business experience to use helping young refugees and migrants.
Mr Elgey is one of dozens of mentors giving flexible career support to refugee and migrant youth as part of SSI Youth@Work – an innovative program that helps these young workers to overcome the unique workplace barriers they face and retain employment.
“The importance of having a job is enormous – it does so many things above providing money, which is of course important. It gives you contact and conversations with other people, shared experiences, social events and friendships. And the pride you get from doing a good job and earning your pay can do wonders for your self-esteem,” he said.
Young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds face unique challenges that can affect their ability to secure and retain work, such as disrupted early education, separation from family, language barriers and a lack of knowledge about the local employment environment and employers’ expectations.
“Navigating the workplace can be daunting, particularly for a young person new to Australia. It’s inspiring to be part of their growth and development,” Mr Elgey said. “I feel tremendous pride for my country and know that I am lucky to have been born in such a society. It’s a great feeling to lend a hand to those who now chose to call Australia home and want to work to be part of it.”
For the past two months, Mr Elgey has been mentoring Sayed – a young man from Afghanistan who came to Australia as a refugee last year.
“In a very short period of time, he has found and kept a job in construction, and his English skills are improving. He enjoys his work and knows many suburbs and transport options around Sydney already due to the locations he gets to work in – more places than some people who have lived in Sydney for a very long time!” Mr Elgey said.
While the pair were both a bit nervous during their initial meeting, they’ve now settled into a relaxed mentoring routine.
“So far, we have exchanged a few texts – checking that everything is okay and there are no issues or questions regarding his work, pay, holidays and so forth, Mr Elgey said. “We have met over coffee also and started to talk a little about career planning and perhaps some training in future.”
“I hope it has given him confidence to know he has someone he can turn to if he has questions about Australian workplaces.”
While Mr Elgey has volunteered in a range of areas in the past, his experience with Youth@Work has been unique in that it has enabled him to pass on his own knowledge and skills.
“It’s a great, tangible way to use the experience I have gained in different workplaces, applying for jobs, working with others, managing my training, and to share those experiences with someone who is not as familiar with the Australian way of working and show them how to make the most of (and enjoy!) their job,” he said.
“Being able to help someone experience the positive outcomes from work, improving yourself and forming friendships, is a privilege and a responsibility.”
Youth@Work is currently open to young people of refugee or migrant background who are interested in getting one-on-one support and advice to help them to reach their employment goals.
Participants must be:
- Aged 15–24 years
- Living in the Greater Western Sydney and South Western Sydney area
- Employed or completing an apprenticeship or traineeship
- From a migrant or refugee background and have lived in Australia for less than 10 years
- Facing vocational or non-vocational barriers
Service providers and employers are encouraged to refer participants who are likely to benefit from the program.
Contact:
T: (02) 8799 6700
M: 0487 680 207
Click the link below for more details.
Dr Sirolli, Founder and CEO of the Sirolli Institute, led 18 attendees through a mix of theory and practice, discussions about psychology and relationships, observations of interviews with entrepreneurs and shared anecdotes.
A modified and tailored version of the Sirolli model of enterprise facilitation has been applied by SSI for over three years through the self-funded Ignite initiative, which assists newly arrived refugees in Sydney to establish or consolidate a business of their own.
Since 2013, Ignite has supported almost 60 people to establish a small business.
Due to the success of Ignite with people of refugee background, SSI has committed to expanding the model in 2017 to help other members of the community who would benefit from an enterprise facilitation model based on a person-centred approach.
Acting SSI Ability Links Operations Manager Mick Fallon said SSI was very confident in the strength of the Ignite model and has chosen to include Ability Links participants in the initiative.
“SSI’s delivery of Ability Links NSW is based on a person-centred approach so we are excited to expand the Ignite model to help support people with disability to establish a small business,” Mr Fallon said.
“Directing entrepreneurial participants to Ignite will mean our Linkers are better able to support their goals and further promote genuine inclusion and opportunities within communities.”
Other Sirolli training participants included members of the Ignite Resource Team and four staff from Access Community Services Ltd in Brisbane, who were interested in learning how the Ignite uses the Sirolli to underpin its successful program.
Backed by musical mentors from the Sirens Big Band, they interspersed rousing renditions of well-known songs with inspiring reflections on their personal journeys of settlement in Australia.
Members of Women in Harmony access Core Multicultural Communities’ Women’s Settlement Project.
Through community consultation, Project Manager Rowena Assaad identified a need for an activity that would help develop the women’s skills and confidence. She formed a partnership with Sirens Big Band — some of Australia’s strongest and most innovative young female jazz musicians and improvisers — which for the past 18 months has been facilitating weekly music classes with the women.
The project would have concluded sooner if the participants had not requested a continuation so they could learn keyboard skills and songwriting. That was made possible with support from the NSW Settlement Partnership’s Settlement Innovation Fund.
Women in Harmony sought to make music an instrument of empowerment, for self-expression and feeling, a means of developing and maintaining cultural identity, and of acquiring new skills, social interaction and participation.
It included four terms of eight weeks with topics including rhythm notation and keyboard skills, learning to play a musical instrument, pitch notation, breathing skills, expressing ideas through music, and collaborative participation.
Multicultural Communities Manager Clement Meru spoke of the physical, emotional and social advantages that music could bring.
He said the Women in Harmony project brought people together from diverse backgrounds and offered companionship and the opportunity to form social connections.
He said Sirens added another dimension: a link with the mainstream. Members of the big band helped the women learn more about Australian culture and music, enabling them to better interact with wider society.
Following a guest appearance by Mohamed Youssef on oud, the Women in Harmony showcase proceeded with the “Women in Harmony” song (written by the group to a traditional Arabic Andalusian melody), “Ode to Joy”, “Surprise Party” and a song often considered an alternative national anthem, “I am Australian”, to which the women added two verses:
I came from a distant land, I bid my home adieu,
But carried in my heart a dream to build my life anew
And now I can speak as I choose, to each and every one,
I’m a woman full of courage, I am Australian.
I have a chance to learn here, my sisters go to school
I bring these gifts straight from my heart, I’d like to give to you
I’ll be a doctor, or a teacher, a neighbour or a mum,
I’ll show you how to celebrate, ’cause I’m Australian.
The finale, with spontaneous dancing, was “No Woman, No Cry”.
Multicultural Communities is a service of Core Community Services. It delivers Settlement Services to newly arrived migrants, refugees and humanitarian entrants to improve access to services, address special settlement needs and help develop skills and confidence.
Sirens Big Band formed in 2009 as a direct response to the under-representation of women in the jazz music community. Under the direction of bassist Jessica Dunn, Sirens Big Band has a unique Australian voice that explores the intersection of traditional Australian jazz with the rich musical traditions of our multicultural society.
NSP – NSW Settlement Partnership
But 2016 also brought positive change. One interesting trend that developed over the year was the emergence of the private sector as an important player in the international humanitarian settlement space.
It was inspiring and gratifying to see more than 50 leading companies pledge to offer long-term, sustainable assistance to refugees around the world, following a call to action from US President Barack Obama.
One innovative initiative came from the professional networking site LinkedIn, which piloted its ‘Welcome Talent’ initiative in Sweden to connect newly arrived refugees with interested employers, resulting in more than 1,000 job postings.
Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson committed an additional $US1 million to partner with Save the Children in offering “resilience activities” for people affected by the crisis in Syria, including children’s educational and life skills programs and mental health support for children and families.
We also saw a lot of local support from Australia’s private sector, where employers including First State Super, Harvey Norman, Australia Post, and Woolworths have signed up to a NSW Government initiative to help refugees find jobs.
The Australian-based staff at multinational tech company Google donated $60,000 to SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups to help people from refugee backgrounds establish small businesses or expand an existing one.
SSI’s partnership with Allianz Australia resulted in new educational and employment opportunities for refugees during 2016, and in December, the insurance company took its support to another level, when Allianz staff volunteered more than 200 hours of their time to support SSI activities.
And it’s not just big businesses getting behind refugees. In 2016, the owners of Sydney restaurant Almond Bar, Carol and Sharon Salloum, began working with SSI to use their hospitality industry networks to identify ways to connect refugees with training and jobs. In the lead up to Christmas, the culinary duo also volunteered to cook a meal for refugees and people seeking asylum at SSI’s final Community Kitchen for the year, and a week later, the sisters generously donated lunch for newly arrived children and families at our annual Children’s Christmas Party.
What’s inspiring about these examples is that the businesses are not just throwing money at a problem. They’re working with both refugees themselves and frontline not-for-profits to identify and find solutions for the unique challenges facing the forcibly displaced.
Ground-breaking research released last year suggests that the economic outcomes of refugees’ lives are shaped by individuals’ capacity to innovate – to transform the challenges they face into opportunities.
One of the researchers, Alexander Betts, delivered a TED Talk where he delved into the case study of Uganda, which is unique among countries that host a significant refugee population in that it has given its 420,000 refugees rights to work and freedom of movement.
If you have the time, I’d encourage you to watch the talk in full. He gives some great examples of just what refugees can achieve when allowed some freedom to innovate. In Uganda’s capital city, for example, 21 per cent of refugees own businesses that employ other people and 40 per cent of those employees are Ugandan nationals. Mr Betts argues that the support provided to refugees must go beyond basic emergency assistance to include “connectivity, electricity, education, the right to work, access to capital and banking”.
SSI has long recognised the need to offer refugees support in addition to the essential assistance and information we provide during the early stages of settlement. We have a suite of complementary services that help refugees to find and retain employment, engage with their new communities, and start new businesses, with the aim of enabling new arrivals to successfully settle in Australia and make a meaningful social and economic contribution.
Last year, SSI partnered with Thrive Refugee Enterprise to fast-track refugees’ entrepreneurial plans by providing microfinancing and mentoring support to aspiring business owners from refugee backgrounds. The initiative was co-founded by philanthropists John and Anna Curtis, and businessman Huy Truong.
As a founding member of Thrive, SSI has provided the charity with eligible applicants for its micro loans along with the on-the-ground expertise that will help Thrive to provide thoughtful, informed and appropriate support to refugee entrepreneurs.
But this innovative arrangement would not have been possible without the cooperation of partners in the private sector. Westpac is on board as the principal banking partner, providing loan capital to the tune of $2 million, in addition to credit management and administration input. Thrive had also engaged corporate partners to provide legal, audit, insurance and recruitment services – everything it takes to run a successful not-for-profit.
This is just one of many great examples of the contribution the private sector is making to assist some of our newest community members. I look forward to seeing what new and innovative ideas emerge in the coming year.
Violet Roumeliotis
SSI CEO
SSI Linker Li Hua Chu and Ability Links participant Ming Zhong.
When Mr Zhong met SSI Ability Linker Li Hua Chu, his family of six lived in a small two-bedroom unit and the situation had become unsustainable. The lack of space at home added to the increasingly violent behaviour of Mrs Zhong and was having an effect on all of them. Mr Zhong felt lost and didn’t know who to ask for support.
As an SSI Linker in the Ability Links NSW (ALNSW) program, Ms Chu had experience in similar situations. ALNSW helps people with disability, their family and carers by linking them to activities and services that move them closer to achieving their goals.
After her meeting with Mr Zhong, Ms Chu identified the issue of living in a crowded house as one of the main issues in the family. To solve this, Ms Chu connected Mr Zhong’s daughter with a counsellor at Transcultural Mental Health Centre, an organisation that works with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities and health professionals across NSW to support good mental health.
The counsellor assessed her case and found her circumstances made her eligible for a social housing unit in Burwood, not far from her parents place. In just two days, the family completed the move and the overall situation immediately improved for everyone.
However, Ms Chu knew her job as an Ability Linker wasn’t finished yet. In further meetings with her participant, she learned Mr Zhong had never accessed any services available for people with disability and carers due to lack of knowledge about them. His low level of English language also made it difficult for him to understand what was available for people in his situation.
Ms Chu has continued supporting Mr Zhong to understand how to access the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the possibilities it offers for his family. Following his Linker’s suggestion, Mr Zhong has attended an NDIS focus group at Metro Assist and he feels now much more comfortable in his role as a carer.
“I’m incredibly grateful to SSI and to Ability Links, especially Li, for the help I received in the last months,” Mr Zhong said. “The situation at home has improved a lot and now I know there is someone out there to help me, which is a great relief.”
Mr Baluchzada took out the top spot on Pro Bono Australia’s 2016 Impact 25 – a list of the most influential figures in the social sector as decided by more than 18,500 votes.
“It was quite surprising for me that I made the list and it really gave me a lot of energy to focus and give more to the community,” he said. “Seeing the people that have been on the list in previous years, they’re all so influential. For example, our CEO Violet Roumeliotis, Rosie Batty, Tim Costello, Penny Wong – they’re all such great and well-known people.”
Mr Baluchzada works as a team leader in SSI’s Humanitarian Support Services program and is in the process of completing his masters in human services. It was his experience of coming to Australia as a new migrant that inspired him to achieve everything he has.
In Afghanistan Mr Baluchzada was a qualified engineer but upon migrating to Australia in August 2010 to join his wife, Khadija, he discovered that no employers recognised his overseas qualifications and experience.
“I got a job as a traffic controller, and on my first day, I worked a 12-hour shift,” he said. “I was standing the whole time, I didn’t get breaks and wasn’t able to stop to eat properly, so it was exhausting. When I went home that night, I was disappointed. Back home, I was well established and recognised.
“On that night, I said to myself, ‘Romal, you can do it – you can prove yourself, you can build yourself again, and you will contribute in positive changes in Australian society’. That’s why I decided to move forward. I started researching more about my passion for human rights, and I found that Australia is a country full of opportunities.
“I decided to change my career because I wanted to put aside resolving mathematical issues and come to resolving social issues.
“Fortunately, I found SSI. I applied and began working as a bilingual guide in 2011. SSI has given me the opportunity and recognised my strengths, experience and abilities.”
Mr Baluchzada was soon promoted to a case manager and then a team leader. At the same time, he completed a diploma in community services, then one in case management, before moving on to university, where he acquired a degree in human services and began his masters.
“I’m inspired by all the frustration and the challenges I faced coming here,” he said. “I don’t want other people who come to Australia with qualifications to give up. They shouldn’t just rely on labouring and government benefits. I want to inspire and encourage those people, and to share my experience.”
Not content with devoting his professional life to supporting vulnerable communities, Mr Baluchzada also began a radio show on 2SER where he discussed human rights and ways to engage the community in discussions about them.
“For refugees and migrants, I really want to inspire them, I really want to give them energy and show that Australia is a country full of opportunities but it depends on how individuals use those opportunity,” he said.
“SSI is a wonderful organisation that creates a lot of opportunities for everyone. I would like to thank my CEO, my program manager, and my coordinators, because they are the ones that really supported me in every step. They guided me. I also want to convey my appreciation to all HSS team members. They are doing an amazing job.
“I believe that this award that has been given to me belongs to all my colleagues and all my friends. I don’t want to accept this as an individual achievement because I didn’t get the achievement by myself. It was all as a team, all my organisation, all my friends and my family.”
The annual Children’s Christmas Party in December was enjoyed by kids from all corners of the world who have come to Australia with their families in search of safety. The celebrations included face painting, balloon twisting, a reptile zoo, sports, arts and crafts, and a special appearance from Santa himself.
Adding to the fun of the day was a performance from a magician who was himself supported by SSI on arrival to Australia and now runs a magic business established with the assistance of SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative, which facilitates business creation for people from refugee backgrounds.
The families and children also enjoyed a Christmas lunch generously provided by Sydney restaurant Almond Bar, which is run by sisters and regular Community Kitchen supporters Sharon and Carol Salloum.
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the festivities gave newly arrived families and children the opportunity to build new community connections, which helped them to adjust to life in Australia.
“At SSI, we provide the essential practical support to help new arrivals begin their lives in Australia,” she said, “but we also realise the need for new arrivals to feel welcomed in their community, which sets the tone for their future in Australia and helps to improve feelings of community connectedness, confidence and personal wellbeing.
“There is a strong community in Australia that’s willing to offer friendship and welcome, and Christmas is a great chance to highlight that support.”
Ms Roumeliotis said the Christmas season at SSI was made extra special thanks to the generosity of SSI volunteers and supporters including Lindt, Anglicare, Wesley Mission Australia Ministry & Mission, Hillsong Church, Ferrero Rocher, Bethlehem College, Uniting Church Blacktown, Naima, Aqua Fit, the Grange Public School, Supersonics and Friends, Orchard Marketing, the Salvation Army and Nathaniel Bennet.
“These kinds of celebrations wouldn’t be possible without the food, gifts, supplies and time donated in order to offer a warm welcome to our new community members. Thank you to everyone who made this wonderful day possible,” she said.