The Government announced this week that it would create at least 100 public sector jobs for refugees over the next year, in a bid to accommodate the additional national intake of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees the Federal Government announced last year.
The roles will be open to any refugees who have recently settled in NSW, and the Government has also called on the corporate sector to contribute to improving labour market outcomes for refugees.
Settlement Services International (SSI) CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the NSW Government’s decision to prioritise jobs for refugees sent a strong message about the contribution these individuals could make to Australia.
“The refugee community has untapped potential that will only strengthen the existing skills and knowledge in the NSW public sector,” she said.
“The only attribute shared by people who come to Australia as refugees is that they have been forced to flee their homeland. Teachers, engineers, doctors, students ¬¬– war and persecution do not discriminate on the basis of a person’s occupation or education.
“Many refugees are skilled, educated and hard-working people, and our country has benefited greatly from their economic, social and cultural contribution. The Government should be applauded for its positive thinking.”
Ms Roumeliotis said the move to open up jobs for refugees would also increase the speed with which these new arrivals settled into the Australian community.
“Employment is a critical first step that supports refugees to achieve their full potential and achieve economic and social independence,” she said.
A recent research paper from SSI points to shows, however, that existing barriers in the Australian labour market that can funnel refugees into low-skilled, low-paid jobs, regardless of their skills.
“A stronger focus on identifying and realising the employment potential of refugees and temporary protection visa holders is needed so that Australia can avoid athe missed opportunity,” it says.
“The evidence clearly indicates that over time, labour market outcomes for refugees improve and, by the second generation, employment outcomes among people from refugee backgrounds are higher than for those who are Australian-born.”
Formally trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Ms McDonald developed an appetite for Middle Eastern music and the mesmerising sound of the oud – a traditional stringed instrument – and she couldn’t resist the desire to embark on a new project incorporating world music.
After meeting Kurdish refugee Mustafa Karami five years ago, the project slowly started taking shape in the form of the Mythra Ensemble, a band which combines eastern modes and rhythms with western influences..
“We met and we got together to play some duos, which worked really well,” Ms McDonald said. “We started talking about the type of group that we envisaged and we both wanted to do something that brought East and West together.”
Mr Karimi, who had been awarded Iran’s best daf player consecutively from 2005 to 2007, arrived in Australia in 2009 determined to continue with his music.
“I was an avid singer since the age of 12 and I soon started playing the daf, a Persian type of drum, and the oud” Mr Karimi said. “All my life has been about music.”
By then, the Mythra Ensemble was already on track, but it would still take a couple of years to gather the final line-up.
Today, the Mythra Ensemble is completed by Metin and Adem Yilmaz – two Kurdish brothers from Turkey who play the kaval and the darbouka respectively – Armenian pianist Zela Margossian and Australian Elsen Price, who plays the double bass.
“We combine traditional Middle Eastern instruments like the daf, kaval, kemancheh, darboukah and the bendir, with Western classical instruments such as piano and violin,” Ms McDonald said.
“We play music from traditional roots of Iran, Armenia, Turkay and Kurdish origin, arranged in original ways, as well as new works composed by our members.”
The Mythra Ensemble explores concepts such as inclusivity, unity and joyful conversation through the language of music, Ms McDonald added.
“We want to symbolise the power of music to unite people regardless of their background, language or religion,” said pianist Zela Margossian.
In fact, the name of their band comes from a search for a common bond, which resulted in the mythological god Mithras, present in the collective imagination of countries where some of the members are from. They decided to adopt it to symbolise the friendship between cultures that they represent.
“At The Mythra Ensemble we are the living proof that it doesn’t matter where you come from, we are all humans and we use music to find this common ground that you need to connect when you arrive in a new place, as it is the case of people with refugee background.”
“This is why we want to participate at New Beginnings festival, to show how music can bring people together.”
The New Beginnings: Refugee Arts & Culture Festival is a free, family friendly event that will be held at a number of locations throughout Sydney as part of Refugee Week. Starting with a one-day festival at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour on June 18, New Beginnings will also feature an art exhibition at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Marrickville from June 17–26.
For more information about New Beginnings, visit the festival website.
New Beginnings 2016 is produced by SSI and supported by Marrickville Council, Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, Multicultural NSW and Allianz
The day will kick off with the Heartdancers – a multidisciplinary charity organisation that delivers yoga and relaxation sessions to vulnerable communities. For New Beginnings, they will present a unique workshop called ‘Guwing Bayabuba’ – a term used by the Gadigal people to describe sunrise as a new beginning. Binowee Bayles, a proud Gadigal storyteller from Redfern, will lead the workshop in a sacred practice to welcome new arrivals to Australia and align their spirits with those of her ancestors and the land the new arrivals now walk on.
“Body painting traditionally carries a deep spiritual significance for Aboriginal people,” said Ms Bayles. “In our workshop, I will use white paint for the face, which is the colour used to acknowledge and call our ancestors. It also leads to the mindfulness of thoughts. We’ll start by applying it on the head first and around the eyes to think and see good things.”
A powerful combination of cultural practices will emerge from the encounter between the sacred Aboriginal songs and stories; the music from the Afghani bandora played by Hazara refugee Hakimi; and the guitar sounds from Patricio Lara – a passionate Chilean musician. Attendees will go on a transformative and powerful journey as this soundtrack unites with the movements of yoga and kalari – a martial art from Kerala in India. In the background, Colombian visual artist Carlos Agamez will be building a live art installation.
After the Heartdancers, calm will give way to the storm as Lucky African Dance takes to the stage for a dancing and drumming workshop, where the audience will be invited to connect with the animated rhythms of West Africa.
Dance practitioner and choreographer Lucky Lartey will facilite the free-form, unstructured session, which he says is open to anyone keen to have fun.
“You get to be yourself. I’ll teach you how to do something but you can express yourself in any way you want. You don’t have to look like everyone else,” Mr Lartey said. “The music is amazing and the drumming makes you feel alive.”
But the body won’t be the only thing attendees will exercise at New Beginnings workshops. The Sydney Story Factory (SSF), a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people, will be holding a writing workshop to explore identity and community for children aged seven and above.
“We will be hosting a session where participants will be encouraged to create a collection of fantastic and strange ‘Robot Birds’ representing the ideas of unity, hope and new beginnings,” said Richard Short, Storyteller-in-chief at the SSF.
“Each participant will design their own Robot Bird and write a short poem investigating the themes of the festival.”
The SSF will also hold a stall where attendees of any age will be able to contribute to three never-ending shared poems about what the concepts of unity, hope and new beginnings represent for them.
Rounding out the workshops will be a Japanese Origami session from Humble Creatives, a social enterprise belonging to SSI Employment Services. With sessions running every two hours, participants will have the opportunity to learn and create their own origami crane with the art of paper folding.
“The crane is one of the most popular and classic forms of Japanese Origami and is an international symbol for peace and hope,” said Sarah Webber, Arts & Craft Supervisor at Humble Creatives. “We feel that this is a very important and appropriate symbol for a festival like New Beginnings.”
This workshop will be delivered with the assistance of volunteers from SSI’s Work for the Dole program.
Humbles Creatives will be also hosting a stall where attendees will be able to purchase some of the products they make, such as natural soy wax candles with essential oils or large coloured lanterns with leather handles. All benefits will go to support SSI programs and causes, including Humble Creatives.
A country built with the help and effort of people who arrived from all corners of the world to join our Indigenous brothers and sisters the traditional owners of the land, contributing to making Australia the safe and prosperous place that is today.
But it is equally incumbent on us to remind ourselves that the multicultural Australia we enjoy today, with its amazing blend of people, traditions and beliefs, would not exist without the great contributions made by refugees who came from dire situations to find a place where they felt welcome and could become full members of society.
More than 700,000 refugees have settled in Australia since the end of World War II, enriching our society in a number of ways. For instance, prominent Australians such as South Australian Governor Hieu Van Le, billionaire businessmen Frank Lowy and Harry Triguboff, and scientist Karl Kruszelnicki, to name a few, initially arrived on our shores as refugees.
Indeed, research shows that people of refugee backgrounds have brought new skills and experience to Australia and that, with the right support, their entrepreneurial potential can translate to economic growth.
Last year, SSI published an enlightening evaluation report prepared by Professor Jock Collins from UTS Business School about SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative. Among other data, it included research that highlighted how people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds have a higher degree of entrepreneurialism when compared to the average population. In fact, the 2006 Census showed that 18.8 per cent of humanitarian arrivals operated a business, compared to 15.9 per cent of the general population (source).
At SSI, we know very well that refugees are typically strong and resilient people who are determined to make the most of their opportunities. We know this because we work with them every day and we are lucky to hear stories first-hand of men and women who work hard to make their new country a better place.
SSI client Reza Heidarzadegan and his family are a remarkable example of this. Having arrived in Australia with his wife and two adult children in June 2015, after spending several years in Malaysia awaiting resettlement, the whole family secured employment in just four months. Mr Heidarzadegan, an English teacher in Iran, obtained casual teaching work at Macquarie University, while his son and daughter started working as sales consultant and a retail assistant respectively. His wife is currently in the process of starting up her own business.
But they are not alone. In February, we published a story on the SSI blog about Arash Bordbar, a 22-year-old University of Western Sydney student who arrived in Australia as a refugee a year ago and whose passion for helping others will take him to Geneva in a few weeks to speak at the Annual UN Consultations with NGOs. After his experience, Arash is aware of the importance of education for young refugees and wants to become an advocate to help other young people have a shot at a better future.
These are just two examples of many, which I’m sure do not go unnoticed by the Australian community. I say this because despite sometimes being the target of media and public criticism, generally, Australians have positive perceptions of refugees.
In fact, I was impressed after reading the Refugees Welcome Index recently released by Amnesty International, which showed that Australia ranks in the top five countries where people are willing to let refugees live in their countries, towns, neighbourhoods and homes.
According to this survey, 85% of Australian respondents said they would personally accept people fleeing war or persecution into their country, and 13% would take refugees into their homes if needed.
Reading this report made me feel especially proud of my Greek heritage, as Greece came in third position in terms of the proportion of people who ‘strongly agree’ with the right of anyone to seek refuge in other countries.
This highlights once again the open and welcoming attitude towards refugees that has marked Australian history and that we need to reinforce to rise up to the occasion in the current global refugee crisis.
Violet Roumeliotis
SSI CEO
New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival
The New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival is a chance for people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and celebrate the talents, skills and cultural diversity of people from refugee backgrounds.
New Beginnings will kick off on June 18 at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour with a one-day festival featuring an eclectic mix of live entertainment.
The family-friendly event will have a full program of music and dance performances; art and craft displays; workshops for both adults and kids; and food stalls showcasing Vietnamese, African, Middle Eastern and Sri Lankan cuisines. Check out the New Beginnings website for the full line up.
New Beginnings art exhibition
For the past 10 weeks, award-winning artist Miriam Cabello has been mentoring a group of artists from the refugee and asylum seeker community to create works exploring the concept of ‘New Beginnings’. This incredibly talented group of artists is made up of former and current SSI clients.
These works will feature in an art exhibition at the Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown from June 17 to 26, which SSI is hosting as part of the New Beginnings festival thanks to the support of Marrickville Council and Open Marrickville.
You can also enjoy the art exhibition during a special closing event on Sunday June 26 from 3 to 6pm that will include food and live music. Click here for details.
Documentary screening
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Rounding out the New Beginnings festivities will be the premiere screening of Faraway… So Close to Homeland on June 23 from 6.30 to 9pm.
The documentary, directed by independent Syrian film and documentary maker Maher Jamous, shows the plight of 10 Syrian refugees who fled in 2013 to neighbouring Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. Thinking they would be away from their homeland for just a short time, they find themselves isolated and alienated, with no return date in sight.
Click here for details on the event, which is guaranteed to show a side to the refugee crisis rarely seen in the Australian media.
Official Refugee Week launch event
SSI is working with the Refugee Council of Australia and a number of other organisations to organise the official NSW launch of Refugee Week.
The event will feature inspiring refugee voices; captivating live music and performances; and the 2016 NSW Humanitarian Awards.
The launch will be held on June 17 from 10am to 12pm. RSVPs are essential as seating is limited. Click here for details.
The business is a dream that’s been three years in the making and is a testament to the drive and entrepreneurial spirit of Ali and his wife Sam, who arrived in Australia in 2012 but did not initially have the right to work.
Originally from Iran, Ali had spent the past 19 years in Malaysia where he founded the Jaam-e-Jam Restaurant in a nod to his Persian roots.
With the support of family and friends overseas, the couple raised funds to open the Shahrood Restaurant in Ryde in March, where they serve traditional Persian cuisine including koobideh – a type of barbecue kebab – and qaliye mahi – a fish and vegetable stew.
“Some of the food is from my hometown. I want to show it to people so they know about Persian food,” Ali said.
“I’m very glad to come to Australia because now I’ve opened a restaurant I can work here. It’s a very free country. I’m very happy here.
“Our Settlement Services International (SSI) case managers have helped us with everything. They’re always helpful.”
Ali hopes to expand Shahrood Restaurant into multiple locations in the future.
“I want to do something to help create more jobs for other people so they can work as well,” he said. “I hope I can make roots in Australia using my cooking. Eventually, I would like to branch into farming and run my own winery.
“When I was young, I spent 15 or 16 years farming, so I know a lot about farming and grapes. My parents owned a big farm. My hometown in Iran is famous for the grapes, and you can’t find some of them in Australia. I would like to bring some of those grapes out and grow them in Australia in my own winery.”
One of Ali’s favourite things about Sydney is its proximity to the renowned Hunter Valley winery region.
“I love the beach, I love playing golf and swimming, and I love that it’s near to the Hunter Valley because I want to open my own winery there,” he said.
Ali – who is supported by SSI’s Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program, which provides support to asylum seekers living in the community – said he was grateful for the support he had received from SSI and the Australian Government.
“SSI supported us through our business. We want to thank SSI, the government and Centrelink for helping us during these years. We appreciate them and hope to help and work with them in future also.”
“To be a foster carer is such a wonderful feeling,” said Ms Kumru, “and I recommend it to everyone.”
Ms Kumru has cared for more than 40 children over the past seven years and is now the permanent carer for an eight-year-old girl.
As a Turkish speaking foster carer with SSI, Ms Kumru is able to provide care for children and young people of Turkish background in out-of-home care (OOHC) and to help maintain their cultural identify while they are in care.
There are many reasons why it may not be safe for some children and young people to live with their birth families. This may be the case for just a short period but can also be a long-term or permanent situation.
There are more than 18,500 children and young people in OOHC in NSW and foster carers play a vital role in helping to provide a stable home and family for many of them.
Research shows children in foster care who are supported to learn about and maintain a connection to their culture, religion and language have better outcomes as they grow up than those who are not supported in this way. These connections help children to understand where they have come from and to develop their sense of belonging, and cultural, religious and linguistic identity.
SSI Manager OOHC Program, Kathy Karatasas, said the SSI Multicultural Foster Care model had a strong focus on helping children to maintain these connections.
“Together with the support of a caseworker, our foster carers are committed to helping the child placed with them to learn about and remain connected with their culture, religion and language,” said Ms Karatasas.
“However, while SSI has a focus on recruiting foster carers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, we are interested to hear from people of any background who have a genuine interest in providing a safe, caring and stable home for these children and young people.”
Ms Kumru said she had cared for children from many different backgrounds, including Bangladeshi and Arabic, and the feeling was the same.
“Being able to give them a future and what they need so that they don’t feel lonely; this is what is important.”
When carers are not from the same cultural background, SSI works with the them, the child, the birth parents and, where needed, culturally specific workers, to develop and put in place a cultural care plan that will assist the carer to meet the child’s cultural needs.
Ms Kumru admitted it was not always easy and that some children had challenging behaviours that needed extra time and care to manage.
“Believe me, with all the children that come into my care, you try to do whatever you can for them. If children feel happy then you feel happy too.”
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer with SSI, visit the foster care page for more information.
Laith, Roopa, Mr Patel
In 1972, under the orders of the new Ugandan President Idi Amin, Mr Patel’s family together with 80,000 other Asians who were mostly born and raised in Uganda, were given 90 days to leave the country.
“Although not refugees by the UNHCR definition, we had to leave everything we owned behind. We left the country with 50 (English) pounds in our pockets,” said Mr Patel.
“It was a very sad and traumatic time for us, but we were lucky to be British citizens and be able to settle quickly in a new country.”
Mr Patel, together with many hundreds of other Indian Ugandans settled in Leicester, in the East Midlands of England.
Mr Patel said that they quickly created a community organisation so that they could stay connected and help each other, and to also help maintain their culture and traditions.
“A committee of volunteers was formed to help do the maintenance work that was needed in the community centre and cook for festival and celebrations,” he said.
“Cooking was a hobby of mine so I chose to volunteer in the kitchen.”
Soon Mr Patel was cooking for hundreds of people at Diwali celebrations, weddings and other community events.
In Australia this month visiting his daughter Roopa who works in SSI’s People & Culture team, Mr Patel kindly volunteered to cook chicken curry, assisted by Roopa.
Chicken Curry Recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients
500g chicken breast (skinned and cut into roughly 2cm cubes)
2 finely chopped large brown onions
1 can of crushed tomatoes (blend into a puree)
4tbsp Cooking oil
1-2 fresh green chilli (chopped if you want to make a hotter curry)
2-3 tsp chopped coriander
Ground spices
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1/2 tsp garam masala powder
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1/2 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
1 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
Whole spices
½ tsp cumin seeds
4 cloves
4-5 black peppercorns
1 small cinnamon stick
1 dry red chilli
Method
In a medium saucepan, heat oil and fry all the whole spices until they turn slightly darker (but be careful not to burn them).
Add the finely chopped onions into the saucepan, and on a medium flame stir the onions till they turn golden brown
Once golden brown, add the ginger and garlic paste and cook for a further minute on a low flame stirring constantly. If it sticks to the pan add 1 tbsp of water.
Add all the ground and fresh green chilies if you want more heat. Stir the spices for 1 minute. Add the blended tomatoes and cook on medium flame stirring constantly until the oil starts to separate from the curry.
Now add the chicken pieces into the saucepan and turn the flame on high to seal the chicken.
Once sealed turn the flame down to medium-low and cover the saucepan with a lid. Then simmer for ten minutes until the chicken is cooked.
Add fresh chopped fresh coriander as a garnish and serve with either basmati rice or naan bread.
(Cook’s Tip-Mr Patel adds one crushed chicken stock cube to the curry to enhance the flavour!)
The mothers, who are seeking asylum in Australia or living here as refugees, came together for an afternoon of music, dancing, henna and high tea at Lachlan’s Old Government House in Parramatta Park.
The celebration was about acknowledging the importance of a mother’s role in the family, particularly to her children, said SSI’s Humanitarian Settlement Services Service Delivery Manager Yamamah Agha in an address to the event.
“On Mother’s Day we honour the bonds of motherhood and we celebrate our mothers for everything they have done to support and provide for us,” she said.
Ms Agha acknowledged the strength and tenacity of mothers from refugee backgrounds and made a special mention of their resilience adjusting to life in a new country.
“Being a mother in your homeland and being a mother here in Australia can be very different at times. Your children will go to Australian schools, make Australian friends, and become Australian kids. And no doubt, they will all adjust to this differently – possibly even faster than yourselves,” Ms Agha said.
“No matter where you are in the world the role of a mother is always the same; to be there for your children, and Mother’s Day provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of all mothers who give so much of themselves to support their children.”
The event was made possible by the efforts of SSI staff and volunteers, including the Heart Dancers, who led the audience on a sound healing session with relaxation, conscious breathing and gentle movements, accompanied by the viola.
The Heart Dancers, who will be performing at the New Beginnings: Refugee Arts and Culture Festival next month, regularly conduct workshops for corporate and social groups, but agreed to do the event free of charge
Zeynab, who arrived in Australia from Iran with her daughter Mobina in 2013, has never liked the idea of working for someone else. In her home country, she ran her own business for many years and this mindset hasn’t changed in her new country.
“My mum started working as a hairdresser when she was 21 and hasn’t stopped,” said 17-year-old Mobina, who was interpreting for the interview. “Back home, she owned her own salon and used to teach hairdressing students, as well.”
However, after arriving in Australia, Zeynab realised how different her profession is over here. In Iran many women wear a scarf (hijab), so not a lot of attention and efforts is placed on the hair, everyone focuses on make-up, she said.
She knew that she had to learn everything she could about hairdressing in Australia if she wanted to open her own salon one day. Given she was still waiting for her working rights to be approved, she decided to volunteer at different stores, where she learned the basic vocabulary of her profession in English and the Australian preferences for styles.
Determined to achieve her dream, she also started studying a Certificate III in Hairdressing, which she completed in January this year. Then, with the local experience and qualifications under her belt, Zeynab opened her beauty salon in the Merrylands a month later.
However, the business did not grow as she hoped and Zeynab admitted they were struggling. Despite opening seven days a week and putting in all the hours of the day, her lack of knowledge about the local industry and how to run a business in Australia became a major problem.
One day, she went to see her Case Manager at SSI and she told her about Ignite Small Business Start-ups, an initiative that facilitates business creation for people from refugee backgrounds. Ignite enterprise facilitators can help entrepreneurs who are keen to establish a small business or expand an existing one, as in Zeynab’s case.
Through her Case Manager, they organised a meeting with Ben, one of the initiative’s facilitators.
“When she was referred to Ignite, the business was already open but we detected several gaps that explained why it wasn’t running properly,” Ben explained.
“Payments were only available in cash, so we linked her to a bank that provided her with an EFTPOS machine and a savings account free for the first 12 months.”
Over the next weeks, Ignite volunteers, who have a experience in areas such as marketing and business, assisted Zeynab in creating a marketing plan for her salon and in organising her statements to keep track of her earnings and expenses.
“We are so grateful to Ben and to the Ignite team,” said Zeynab in English. “We feel very lucky to have them close to us, as we had no idea of how these things worked here in Australia.”
When asked about the future of her business, her daughter steps in quickly.
“In a few years, I’ll be managing the salon and my mum will be finally able to rest,” she said. “I’m now studying to become a make-up artist at TAFE. I have many innovative ideas of what I want to add to a traditional beauty salon like this one, so that it is more appealing for people of my generation.”
“She’s right,” said Zeynab nodding her head. “I am building this business for her, so she can be an independent woman and contribute to society, without depending on anyone else.”