Elevations and Wrinkles, 2015, photography prints on wood, 100x65cm. Photo: Graeme Wienand.

Mohammed’s photographs have been exhibited widely throughout Iraq. Since his arrival in Australia in 2013, Mohammed has been involved in various projects, festivals and exhibitions.

Highlights of his work in Sydney include: a short film that he co-directed, The Suffering of the Asylum Seeker, aired at festivals in Sydney; art and photography exhibitions with SSI; performance in ‘Origin, Transit and Destination‘ with Australian Performance Exchange; theatre projects with the Iraqi community; photography exhibition for Sydney Writers’ Festival; and performance in ‘Little Baghdad’, an immersive experience held at Powerhouse Youth Theatre.

“For a personal reason, I chose the Australian poet Bill Tibben as the subject of my picture to embody the theme of homeland. I saw in Bill’s face my father’s. My father had always been the homeland I resort to when I am exhausted. I sharpened the wrinkles to refer to my personal suffering due to migration and search for safety after losing my father.

“I have mixed elevations with wrinkles to manifest the extent of fusion of history and destiny of the father, the symbol of homeland for me, with those of the son, myself.”

Details: See Mohammed’s work at “Home: between here and there”

Where: Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown, NSW

When: August 19-22

Opening: 6pm, August 19

Register for opening night.

They make up a group of SSI clients who have signed up to volunteer in a program established in partnership with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS), which aims to regenerate bushland and restore a WWII fort located at Middle Head, Mosman.

“Most of the volunteers are asylum seekers who don’t have working rights here in Australia and they are waiting on the outcome of their refugee visas,” said Catherine Sell, Special Projects Officer at SSI. ‘Meanwhile, they have signed up for this project as a way to contribute to Australian society, keep active and busy, and learn new skills at the same time.”

“The way this project is structured provides them with a sense of achievement: they have the goal of clearing the whole area, and the goal gets closer every week as they get rid of unwanted weeds,” Ms Sell adds.

Shukrullah, from Afghanistan, explained the benefits he had received from participating in this project: “I like coming here because if I stay at home the whole day I think too much and I feel too stressed,” he said. “Here you get to meet new friends and spend the whole day in a nice place.”

The project started last year as a pilot program. “The group of asylum seekers who attended worked so hard, that we decided to run another program,” said Margaret Bailey, a former manager and now a volunteer with NPWS.

The area around Middle Head had been used by the Defence Force since before WW1 and through to WW2, when the vegetation was cleared for military purposes.

“After that, it was abandoned and weeds took over,” Ms Bailey said. “NSW NPWS wanted to regenerate it by getting rid of all the weeds and maintaining the native plants, so it could be turned into a nice lookout.”

In this program, NPWS and their partners Landcare NSW and Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, pay for the cost of transport fares for volunteers and provide them with equipment, gloves, hats and lunch. “They have cleaned up a very big area that now is free of weeds and it will be replanted with native species next week,” explains Sydney Harbour National Park Ranger Mel Tyas. “We are very happy with the work the volunteers are doing and we are keen to repeat the project next year.”

Similarly, the participants expressed their pleasure in taking part in this program, which allows them to spend time outdoors and get their hands dirty, while enjoying the beautiful views over Sydney Harbour.

“I like coming here because I get to spend the day in nature instead of just being at home, waiting,” said Babak, from Iran. “This park reminds me of back home, of a place you could reach after driving for an hour from my hometown. There were similar trees and vegetation, it reminds me of my home and it makes me feel happy.”

Last Friday, the volunteers and staff planted a Port Jackson Fig tree to commemorate their work together. “This tree also represents the ties we have established with our new land, Australia,” said Abdul from Iraq. “Now I have something of mine here, I can come and water it and see it grow.”

  Atoosa Nooralizadeh (left) with her family

“When they told me I was going to receive this scholarship, I was so happy I started to cry,” said Ms Nooralizadeh. “I really needed it to continue with my studies.”

Supported by SSI, Atoosa and her family live in the Western Sydney suburb of Fairfield, where she is in Year 12 at Prairiewood High School. Ms Nooralizadeh, her parents and her younger brother are asylum seekers who arrived in Australia three years ago, after fleeing Iran.

“I was going through my half-year exams and my parents told us we were going on a holiday trip. I didn’t find out what was going on until we reached Malaysia, where they told us we were not returning to Iran. I never got to say goodbye to my friends and family,” she explained.

Despite the massive change experienced in her life, Ms Nooralizadeh continued with her education and quickly adapted to the Australian education system. However, her academic performance suffered a setback last May when she underwent open heart surgery, which was followed by a two-month recovery period. Ms Nooralizadeh said she could not afford the support she needed to help her catch up with her studies.

“When I returned to school after my operation I felt completely lost and confused. All my classmates were preparing for the HSC and I was just trying to catch up on what I had missed,” she said. “With this scholarship I will be able to pay for textbooks and especially for a tutor, who can help me understand what they did in class while I was recovering.

“I need to prepare very well for my HSC in order to fulfil my dream of going to uni to study medicine, and one day become a brain surgeon” she added.

The scholarship was the result of an ongoing relationship between The Hills branch of Soroptomist International and SSI.

In particular, SSI Quality Assurance Coordinator Nasiba Akram has a close connection with the Soroptimists, and has previously facilitated other avenues of support for SSI clients.

After hearing the story of Ms Nooralizadeh, Ms Akram felt compelled to help Atoosa continue her education. “I approached The Hills group who immediately understood the situation and generously organised this scholarship for her.”

The Soroptimist’s scholarship presentation took place on July 20 at Bulkham Hills. “Atoosa spoke so beautifully and from the heart,” said Bev Richardson, President of The Hills District branch of Soroptimist.  “Her determination and strong spirit shine through.”

The Hills community club also invited Ms Nooralizadeh to join a Youth Science Program and expressed their interest in providing further funding to help her go to university next year.

Soroptimist International is a worldwide organisation that works at all levels of society towards advancing human rights and the status of women.

 SSI staff and volunteer participants at a public Speakers’ Series event.

Located in primary schools and a number of community organisations, Community Hubs support migrant and refugee parents and children to navigate the education system, build parenting and family capacity, and promote links between those families and local services and networks. Services within Community Hubs are delivered by part-time hub workers.

The program aims to strengthen social cohesion and inclusion within local communities and deliver outcomes for children, families, schools and the wider community.
Community Hubs is funded by the Australian Government in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation, the Migration Council Australia and the Refuge of Hope. Support Agencies are the link between the national program and the hubs.

There are currently 42 Community Hubs operating in three states (Victoria, Queensland and NSW). In NSW, there are 15 hubs, five in each of the LGAs of Blacktown, Parramatta and Bankstown, located in 11 public schools, one Catholic school and three community centres.

In announcing the partnership today on behalf of SSI, CEO Violet Roumeliotis said: “This exciting new partnership will enable SSI to extend our existing work to support migrant and refugee families in their settlement and adjustment to a new country. We look forward to working under a partnership model with the Scanlon Foundation, government, participating schools and community centres, and other stakeholders in NSW to connect and strengthen these families.”

In a NCHP media release, the National Community Hubs Program Manager, Tony Fry, said: “We are excited to build on SSI’s impressive track record of working with volunteers, community organisations and other stakeholders to provide support and links to activities that help clients to successfully integrate into the Australian community.”

The NCHP release said the Minister for Social Services, The Hon Scott Morrison, recently announced grants to help newly arrived migrants and refugees become active and fully participating members of the community, providing $3.3 million to the National Community Hubs Program over the next three years. The Scanlon Foundation will be providing an ongoing contribution of $1.6 million over this same period, the NCHP said.

The NCHP release included an endorsement of the program by Brent Kunkler, Principal of Chester Hill Public School, who said: “Having been in education for over thirty years I have found that this support strategy engages those who need it the most and gives the “best bang for your buck. Situating it within a public school has enabled the shared use of government re-sources to really make a difference to these families.”

For more information on the hubs, follow this link.
For information about SSI’s involvement in this initiative contact Thanh Nguyen, SSI Senior Project Manager on 0402 771 390.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis and SES Chairperson Cathy Quinn said they were confident that the combining of resources would improve reach and employment outcomes for potential social entrepreneurs throughout Sydney.

SSI agreed to acquire the assets and intellectual property of the western Sydney-based social enterprise following the conclusion of a three year funding period.

Ms Roumeliotis said that by joining up with SES it would also add significant capacity to the organisation’s existing small business initiative – Ignite Small Business Start-ups. Ignite facilitates business creation for refugee clients keen to establish or consolidate a small business.

Ms Roumeliotis said: “The agreement recognises the fact that both organisations are united by a common business culture.”

Ms Quinn said: “SSI and SES both have a proven track record of using business models to solve economic and social challenges. The acquisition is an ideal next phase for Ignite and SES.”

SES was established in July 2011 as an important step for social enterprise development and capacity building in the greater Sydney region, with particular focus on western Sydney. 
It was established as a practitioner-led, membership-based social enterprise that aims to support and promote the success of social enterprises with a focus on connecting and developing practitioners. It is based on the successful Social Enterprise London model and was established in response to identified need in the region.

The social enterprise will begin operating from SSI’s Parramatta office from July 1, after the approach to SSI was initiated and the terms approved by core members of SES and the Board of Directors.

The project is funded by beyondblue with donations from The Movember Foundation and was unveiled this month to coincide with Men’s Health Week, June 15 to 21.

The STRIDE (Stigma Reduction Interventions: Digital Environments) project is comprised of six smaller projects that focus on refugees, former Australian rules footballers and fly-in-fly-out workers. The UNSW Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program has partnered with SSI and Black Dog Institute on one of the projects, called Tell Your Story, which will develop an online education program for refugees to address the stigma of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

All six projects will use technology, such as apps and websites, along with evidence-based techniques to show men that taking action on mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the project was a great initiative that targeted groups of men who were too often overlooked by support services.

“Men coming to Australia from the experiences of being refugees fleeing war and conflict zones or persecution and discrimination go through a spectrum of emotions and states of wellbeing while adjusting to settlement,” Ms Roumeliotis said. “This project’s focus on stigma is a very positive step towards greater support that will help these men reach their potential in Australia.”

beyondblue CEO Georgie Harman said STRIDE was a response to the shocking number of men, from all social demographics, who die by suicide in Australia each year, which is almost double the number who die on Australia’s roads.

“Nearly 2000 men die by suicide each year, with men three times more likely to die this way than women,” she said. “This is a national tragedy and is fuelled by the fact that men don’t seek help for mental health problems as much as women because they don’t want to be seen as weak or as a burden on others.

“In recent years there have been increases in awareness about depression and anxiety but we now need to focus on using digital tools to reduce the stigma that prevents men from seeking support and keeps the suicide rate high. I have no doubt this project will save men’s lives, while teaching us the best ways to reduce the stigma of mental health conditions among men.”

The Movember Foundation’s Executive Director of Programs, Paul Villanti, said STRIDE’s scope meant it would include a wide range of at-risk men.

“Each of these six projects will drive men within the target communities to confront any negative or stigmatising attitudes they hold about mental health conditions,” he said. “Stigmatising beliefs can be the biggest barriers to men getting help but STRIDE will aim to remove these barriers and save lives.

“In the Tell Your Story project, 600 refugees with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will hear stories in their first language, from fellow refugees with PTSD who have sought support. Participating men will learn why their fellow refugees sought help and how it made them feel better. The program will challenge common myths, support men to reach out for assistance and to tell their own story.”

More detailed information can be found here: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/stigma

The six projects that comprise STRIDE are:

Title: Y Fronts

Partners: CGA Consulting, Indigenist Consulting, Sydney University, Terem Technologies, Led By Design, Mr David McGrath

What it is: An app for regional and rural workers including fly-in fly-our workers

Title: Tell Your Story

Partners: UNSW Refugee Trauma and Recovery Program, Settlement Services International, Black Dog Institute

What it is: An online education program for refugees

Title: The Ripple Effect

Partners: Deakin University, National Centre for Farmer Health, Victorian Farmers Federation, AgChatOz, Mental Health Fellowship North Queensland, Western District Health Service, SandPIT

What it is: An online education program for farmers affected by suicide

Title: Contact & Connect

Partners: Incolink, McCaughey VicHealth Centre for Community Wellbeing, Deakin University, Publicity Works

What it is: An education program for unemployed construction workers delivered by SMS which is linked to a website

Title: Real Courage Partners: AFL Player’s Association, La Trobe University, Mates In Construction, AFL Coaches Association, Keepers

What it is: An online education program for past AFL players, past coaches and construction workers

Title: Out of the Blue

Partners: Victorian AIDS Council, Centre for Social Research in Health, ACON Health, Gay & Married Men Association, Living Positive Victoria, Liquorice

What it is: Dedicated websites for both men living with HIV and for gay men in heterosexual relationships.

The awards ceremony held at Mural Hall, Parliament House recognised recipients from across the country that provide inspiration, have shown great personal achievements or created innovations for Australians who need a road back into the workplace and a brighter future. The ceremony was attended by the MPs, CoAct members, Federal Ministers, leaders in the NFP sector, and representatives from the United Nations and OECD.

Hikmat Shah, a budding entrepreneur being assisted by SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative, said he was humbled by the experience of winning an award and was honoured by the acknowledgement.

“I feel so privileged to be given this opportunity to come to Canberra today and receive this award,” Mr Shah said.

Mr Shah came to Australia in 2010 and sought refuge from the persecution and violence he and his family experienced in Pakistan.

In Karachi, Mr Shah was a businessman, employing thousands of people across a variety of businesses, including a social enterprise that supported underprivileged women in rural areas with employment and regular income.

Mr Shah said he was working hard to establish himself again as a businessman in Australia, starting with his taxi business.

“With the support of SSI and Ignite I feel more confident and knowledgeable, and I hope that soon I will be able to fulfil my dreams of business and one day provide employment opportunities again.”

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the Ignite Small Business Start-ups initiative was established to support the entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and experience of refugees as they navigate the Australian business environment and to help them reach their full potential.

“I congratulate Hikmat for this well-deserved recognition today,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“Hikmat has demonstrated incredible courage and determination during his settlement and it has been wonderful to witness the successful transformation and empowerment of another human being.”

Matt Little, CoAct CEO, says that the Hikmat’s achievements are a prime example of what can be achieved when organisations collaborate for the greater good and benefiting the whole community.

“At CoAct, we deliver opportunities for everyday Australians regardless of disadvantage. All of the Local Heroes recognised today are perfect examples of people and organisations who, despite some difficulties, worked hard to achieve their goals and provide a role model for others.”
The awards ceremony is part of the CoAct conference in Canberra (June 23-24)

Media enquiries:
SSI Marketing & Communications Manager, Angela Calabrese 0401 284 828
Images available on AAP One or contacting Stieve De Lance 0431 139 681

About SSI: Settlement Services International is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing a range of services in the areas of humanitarian settlement, accommodation, asylum seeker assistance, foster care, disability support and employment services in NSW. SSI is the largest not-for-profit humanitarian settlement organisation in Australia. Our vision is to achieve a society that values the diversity of its people and actively provides support to ensure meaningful social and economic participation and to assist individuals and families to reach their potential.

About CoAct: CoAct (formerly Job Futures) is a national network of locally embedded community service providers working together

I had some group and solo exhibitions, but I had lots of problems getting permission to show my artwork. Art is one of the biggest crimes in Iran. There are lots of [censorship] filters you have to pass.

There are no particular rules about anything in Iran because of the different powers; there are religious powers and so many other filters. Randomly, they come to you and they restrict what you’re going to do.

Even after you get permission to exhibit your artwork, powers can come into the gallery and do other weird things, after you’ve passed the filters. There will be other filters you don’t know about.

Because of this, I was [attracted] to abstract photography, instead of figurative photography and social documentary, because social documentary is a big issue in Iran. Some of the powers come to you and, depending on the power, they hurt you.

For part of that period I had my own fast food shop, and I started to do mobile phone photography of abstract things. You know, of rusted plates, of heaters. I liked to capture them with my low-resolution mobile.

I’ve been in Australia for just under two years. At first I was in detention and now I live in the community on a bridging visa while waiting for a decision on my refugee status.

I’m a criminal in my country because I’m an artist. How can I live in a land where my skills, my art, my emotions are crimes?

I’ve exhibited at Art Is Our Voice, an exhibition by refugee and asylum seeker artists. And I’m showing at the New Beginnings Refugee Arts and Culture Festival on World Refugee Day 2015.

In terms of introducing myself as an artist, they’re great first steps. So that my new society knows I’m an artist. But my art doesn’t communicate the things that have happened to me or what could happen to me if I go back to Iran.

I feel like [the artist community in Australia has] welcomed me. Even in the detention centre I found new hope about being part of the art community because I met an artist – someone who listened to me, even though I didn’t have artwork to show. I couldn’t have a camera in detention.

After leaving detention, it was hard to be in a new land with nothing. I’d had the best quality of photography equipment back in Iran. It was very hard to be in a new land with nothing.

But I made some artist friends who helped me get a camera, helped me in this new situation. I collected some money to buy a computer.

And my case manager at SSI, Archana, was very supportive. She deeply listened to me and found what I needed and found what she could do for me. So I’ve been able to start using my photography skills here.”

See Damon’s work at New Beginnings Refugee Arts & Culture Festival. 

Caring for Children.

Caring for Children is a new resource that will help ease the settlement journey for parents new to Australia.

Launched today in Ashfield by CEO Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies (ACWA), Andrew McCallum, the Caring for Children booklet was developed by SSI to provide information to help parents respond to some of the common challenges of being a parent in a new country.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said that SSI has a special place in its heart for newly arrived families.

“With the support of funding from NSW Family and Community Services, SSI has been able to implement a range of projects to support recently arrived families and services working with those families,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“We know from the coalface work of both our member agencies and from our own, that you can’t over-emphasise the importance of investment in early intervention.”

Australia’s first National Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell, was the guest speaker and spoke about asylum seeking and refugee children requiring special protection and support to protect their human rights.

“These children are some of the most resilient and inspiring young people I have ever met, however they are also at serious risk,” said Ms Mitchell.

“The Caring for Children booklet assists parents to understand and respond to the issues facing children growing up in a new and different culture and environment; an important step in helping parents to navigate their settlement journey as parents,” said Ms Mitchell.

The Caring for Children booklet is available in English, Arabic, Tamil, Swahili, Dinka, Dari and Farsi on the SSI Publications page.

 Mustafa presenting his lamb Ghormeh Sabzi.

I started early, around three or four years old, cooking for my family, not hundreds of people like at Community Kitchen. I have attended cooking lessons in Iran and always wanted to be a professional. I like to learn different national dishes; that’s one reason I’m interested in cooking.

Note: Ghormeh sabzi is a Persian herb stew. It is a popular dish in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan and is often said to be the National Dish of Iran. It dates back up to 1000 years. Ghormeh means stewed and sabzi literally means greens or herbs.

Ghormeh Sabzi  — or Persian Green Stew

 Mustafa’s Ghoreh Sabzi.

Serves 6 – 8

Ingredients

600g lamb (cut in cubes of about 4cm)

1kg basmati rice

2-2.5L water

250g Herbs – a tin of prepared herbs called Ghormeh Sabzi Alvand can be purchased from Persian grocers (or use ½ bunch chopped flatleaf parsley, ½ bunch chopped coriander, ½ bunch spinach leaves roughly chopped, ½ cup fresh or dried fenugreek leaves)

2 dried limes or lemons

1 cup of canned of kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 tsp turmeric

Salt and pepper to taste

60ml (about 1/4 cup) olive or vegetable oil

A pinch of Saffron

Prep 20min. Cook 3 hours.

Method

Put rice in a bowl and wash. Leave to soak in a bowl of water with 2 tsp of salt. Heat a large (heavy-based) pot and add 2 or 3 tablespoons of oil. Add the cubed meat and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the turmeric, tinned Alvand herbs (or fresh substitute), whole dried limes or lemons and water. Reduce to a medium heat, seal with lid and stew for 2 hours.

After 2 hours add the cup of kidney beans and cook for another hour.

Meanwhile, soak saffron in 1 cup of boiled water. Bring 2 litres of water to boil in a large pot and add rice. Cover pan with a lid wrapped in a tea towel (the towel helps  seal the pan and absorb moisture from the steam). Allow steam to build for 1 minute, then reduce heat to low–medium and cook for a further 30 minutes or until rice is tender and fluffy and there is a crisp bottom layer.

Decorate rice with saffron water. Serve cooked Ghormeh Sabzi with rice.

Salad, pickles and flatbread are also traditional accompaniments. 

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