About The Rights Path (TRPP) project
This project is designed to deliver robust choice and control focused outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) people with disability through an approach that draws on their own experiences. SSI will work closely with NDIS participants and providers across NSW, Queensland and Victoria to consult, co-design, test and disseminate resources.
The purpose of this project is to develop resources in Vietnamese, Khmer, Punjabi, and Urdu to:
- Strengthen NDIS participants’ understanding of their rights and the quality they should expect of NDIS service providers.
- Improve participant knowledge of how to make a complaint when they are not satisfied with services they receive.
- Work with NDIS providers to assist in meeting their responsibilities under the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework.
- Encourage providers to connect, collaborate and form partnerships, share best practice, to strengthen their feedback and complaints pathways and promote participants rights by using the resources developed in this project.
Share your experience

Working with SSI and NDIS service providers, you will help create resources to clarify your rights as a person with disability, and effectively address support and service-related concerns.

This project aims to strengthen NDIS participants’ understanding of your rights, understand what to expect of services, and how to raise concerns.
Apply now
Thank you for your interest in The Rights Path Project (TRPP). If you are a person with disability, speak one of these languages (Vietnamese, Khmer, Punjabi, and Urdu) and are based in Melbourne, Sydney/Newcastle, or Brisbane, please complete this form and our team will be in touch with you.
About the opportunity
You will be working with SSI as a lived experience consultant to help create in language resources to be aware of your rights as a person with disability and share support and service-related feedback.
*As a lived experience consultant, you will be paid for your time and expertise.
Your commitment will look like:
- You will be invited to take part in a 2-hour consultation and 1-2 co-design workshops (2-3 hours each) in person or online.
Or:
- You will be invited to test the developed resources in May 2024 as a member of the Resource Advisory Group.
Get in touch
Consultations will take place in Melbourne, Sydney/Newcastle, and Brisbane.
Email: trpp@ssi.org.au
This project was funded by the Australian Government through the Support for NDIS Providers Grants Program administered by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
About In My voice
Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) can manifest differently in different migrant communities, highlighting the importance of culturally appropriate support services that recognise the diverse experiences of migrants and break down barriers to accessing support. In My Voice is a series of vignettes that tell the stories of DFV in different migrant communities in order to help start conversations amongst communities and service providers and inspire change.
Each vignette tells a different story by Supporting U women leaders, painting a diverse picture of DFV in migrant and refugee communities. By amplifying the voices and experiences of survivors and women leaders, In My Voice helps to empower women survivors in diverse migrant communities.
How we help



We invite you to hear the stories on DFV from Africa, East Asia, Middle East, South-East Asia, South Asia, and Regional Australia. The videos are provided in English and other languages for your viewing.
In My Voice vignettes
Showing 1 – of 6 program resources





Starting a conversation using the vignettes
After viewing the videos, we suggest using the prompts and questions in our In My Voice Training Package to start and guide discussions in communities and among DFV organisations.
The vignettes give us ice breakers and starting points for women who are not confident enough to start the conversation or those that need a softer way to deliver the message in a very clear manner” – Community Leader
If you feel triggered by this material or would like advice around urgent DFV response or for DFV related counselling, you can call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).
If you would like general mental health or crisis support, you can call LIFELINE (13 11 14)
If you would like to use this material for commercial purposes, please seek permission from SSI.
Get in touch
NSW, QLD, VIC
Should you have any comments, feedback, or questions about the vignettes, please contact us.
About Multicultural Gambling Harm Prevention
Our free, trusted service supports individuals from migrant, refugee, and multicultural backgrounds to overcome the negative effects of gambling.
Our counselling services consider the whole individual. We focus on behaviour change and use culturally sensitive planning to meet the person’s unique situation and needs, including culture, religion, language, and community.
If you or someone you know is having problems with gambling, we can help. Funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, our service is free, confidential and can assist anyone in Victoria experiencing difficulties with gambling.
How we help



For free, confidential support
call 1800 329 192.
Get in touch
If you or someone you know is experiencing negative effects from gambling, call our dedicated gambling support number on 1800 329 192 or email us at gamblingharmprevention@ssi.org.au
About SSI Allianz Scholarship Program
People with refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds can face considerable barriers to participating in Australia’s education system. Supported by financial services company Allianz and other donors, the SSI Allianz Scholarship program aims to make things a little easier.
Through the program we provide one-off scholarships of up to $5000 to students preparing to undertake study or have their existing skills recognised in New South Wales, Queensland or Victoria.
How we help



Applications for the 2024 academic year are now CLOSED
Key dates
Applications open: 4th September 2023
Applications close: 2nd October 2023
Successful applicants notified: Applicants notified mid – late January 2024
Applicants receive funding: Mid-January – mid February 2024
Eligibility criteria
To be successful for support, applicants must:
- Be from a refugee or asylum seeker background on the listed visa numbers: 117, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 449, 786, 790, 842, 851, 866. Applicants on bridging, SHEV 790 or TPV 785 are also eligible to apply but must consider individual circumstances regarding visa obligations and any potential impact to other sources of income.
- Have been living in Australia for five years or less, (from 2018 this year). Except for eligible bridging visa holders and 851 visas who now have no time in country limit
- Reside and study in NSW, QLD or VIC.
- Meet eligibility criteria specific to each scholarship category (see application forms for more details).
- Not have previously received an SSI Allianz scholarship.
*No more than one scholarship will be awarded in each immediate family in the same household per year.
*People living with disability that meet the criteria are encouraged to apply.
Additional resources


Outlines the purpose of the SSI Allianz Refugee Scholarship program, eligibility criteria, application process, required documents, and application questions for various categories of applicants.
More about SSI Scholarships
The Educational categories available and the amounts awarded are as follows:
* Secondary Education – $1500
* Vocational Education and Training – $3000
* University – $5000
* Skills & Qualification Recognition – $5000
Persecution, war, political instability and displacement are all factors that lead individuals and families to leave their homes to seek permanent protection elsewhere, including Australia. Refugees who come to Australia face many challenges during settlement, such as financial hardship, dealing with experiences of torture and trauma, and family separation.
Australia is a nation built on immigration. We have a long history of providing safe asylum to refugees, many of whom have gone on to make great civil, social and economic contributions to Australian society.
SSI and Allianz aim to continue that tradition by providing targeted scholarships to those who are most in need and willing to overcome social and economic challenges.
In response to the various needs of refugee communities, SSI and Allianz offer scholarships to individuals across a range of education categories, including secondary, vocational education and training, university, and skills qualification and recognition.
Applications for scholarships for the 2024 academic year will open and be available here from the 4th September – 2nd October 2023.
Applicants must:
– Be from a refugee background or asylum seeker background on the listed visa numbers: 117, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 786, 790, 842, 851, 866. Applicants on SHEV 790, TPV 785 and bridging visas with an asylum seeker background are also eligible to apply but must consider individual circumstances, visa obligations and any potential impact to other sources of income.
– Have been living in Australia for five years or less, (from 2018 this year). Except for eligible bridging visa holders and 851 visas who now have no time in country limit
– Reside and study in NSW, QLD or VIC.
– Meet eligibility criteria specific to each scholarship category (see individual application form for more details).
– People with a disability who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply.
No, scholarships are open to those mentioned above. If you are unsure, please contact
scholarships@ssi.org.au
Yes, you are eligible to apply but due to the variable and changing visa requirements we advise applicants to consider the scholarships one off payment’s potential, to impact any existing payments as well as any reporting obligations you may have, particularly regarding full-time study.
The websites below may assist but it is advised to speak to an expert to understand any impact to your individual circumstance.
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/topics/income/30376#a4 https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/special-benefit-income-support-tpv-shev-holders/
Please see the key dates listed on this webpage for details on application opening, closing and announcements.
We have no restrictions on you receiving scholarships from other providers but we do advise that
you to check the other scholarship provider’s restrictions.
You will find a document on this webpage called ‘Alternatives to SSI Allianz Scholarships’ that lists other scholarship and education opportunities that you can explore.
Multiple members of a family household are invited to apply in the same academic year; however, no more than one scholarship will be granted per immediate family household in a single academic year.
The scholarship applications are only available in English and must be completed in English.
You can receive assistance, but the application answers must be the applicant’s own words. Applications may also be submitted by an authorised representative (e.g., Teacher or Case Manager).
No, however documentation will be requested to demonstrate your effort in gaining skills and qualification recognition. It will be assessed by the Review Committee.
No, SSI employees are not eligible for the scholarships.
No. These scholarships are only for applicants living and studying in NSW, VIC, or QLD. Please the see the ‘Alternatives to SSI scholarship’ on this webpage.
No, you must be living in NSW, QLD or Victoria at the time the application is received.
No, you must be studying in the 2024 academic year.
No late submission will be accepted for any reason.
It is strongly encouraged that all successful recipients attend the ceremony. It is also strongly encouraged that you invite your family, friends, and referees to help celebrate your achievement. Most importantly this is a chance to celebrate your success and to thank those that made your scholarship possible. The exact date will be advertised by February 2024.
Get in touch
NSW, QLD, VIC
For more information, please contact our Scholarships team at scholarships@ssi.org.au
Address: 2/158 Liverpool Road Ashfield NSW 2131
About Work + Stay
Australia’s regions are in dire need of workers in a range of sectors. At the same time, many people in cities – including newcomers – are looking for employment. SSI’s Work+Stay business aims to bring the two together, helping to solve challenges for regional employers and to build stronger communities.
The program has a focus on right-fit employment and lifestyle solutions for newcomers considering relocation, and the right long-term workforce for employers in the regions.
How we help



Get in touch
Find out more at www.workandstay.com.au
About Multicultural Foster Care
When a child’s own family is either temporarily or permanently unable to care for them, foster care can help. Foster carers take children into their own homes, providing a safe, nurturing and caring environment.
We connect children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with foster carers who can help them maintain their cultural identity and sense of belonging. Types of care include respite, emergency, short-term and long-term.
How we help



Get in touch
SSI operates our Multicultural Foster Care program in NSW and VIC. In NSW, the program is active in parts of metropolitan Sydney as well as the Hunter region and Central Coast. In Victoria, it is operated in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.
NSW
P: 1800 960 976 or 02 8713 9200
VIC
P: 1800 955 774
FAQs
What is foster care?
Foster care offers children a home while their own family is unable to provide them with a safe or caring home environment. Children in foster care are aged from 0 to 18 years (up to 21 years in Victoria).
Depending on their circumstances, a child may be in foster care for a few days, a few weeks or for many years. Sometimes they may remain permanently in the care of foster carers.
In NSW, there are about 20,000 children not able to live with their birth parents. In Victoria, this number is over 11,000. Of these, about 15% are from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background.
Why do children need foster care?
Many children who need foster care have experienced trauma and various forms of abuse and can’t continue to live with their birth family. Wherever possible, the intention is to get children back living safely with their birth families.
Foster care is required when there are no extended family members or other suitable people to provide immediate or long term care.
When a child has been separated from their family because of ongoing child protection concerns, the Children’s Court and the relevant state government department are involved in making the decisions about children’s care.
What are the types of foster care?
There are four main types of foster care:
- Respite foster care is regular periodic care. Children are looked after for short periods of time to provide birth parents or foster carers with a break, for example over school holidays or weekends.
- Emergency or crisis foster care is required when there is immediate concern for a child’s safety. The duration can be from one night to a few weeks, or until another foster care arrangement is available.
- Short-term foster care is required when there is a possibility that the situation that caused a child to be removed from their birth family may be resolved and they will be able to return (called restoration) or until another carer is found who is committed to providing long term care for the child.
- Long-term foster care refers to caring for a child who is not expected to return to their birth family, and who will therefore need long-term care and be part of your family.
What is a foster carer?
Foster carers care for children and young people who can’t live safely with their family. They provide safe and caring homes for these vulnerable children. By providing guidance, support and encouragement, foster carers make a real difference to the lives of children in care. Foster carers are trained, assessed and authorised to provide foster care.
Who can be a foster carer?
Anyone can apply to become a foster carer as long as they meet the conditions set out below. Applicants must be:
– over 21 years of age
– an Australian citizen or permanent resident
– in good physical and emotional health without any medical condition that may affect their ability to care for a child or young person
SSI recognises that foster carers can have different personal and family circumstances. Foster carers can be:
– single, married or in a de facto relationship
– renting, buying or you may own your home
– working or not working
– a parent or someone who has a strong interest in helping children
Check your eligibility with our quiz!
What qualities make a good foster carer?
The important qualities of a foster carer include:
– Empathy and good listening skills
– Perseverance and adaptability when things get tough
– Flexibility, patience and humour
– Ability to provide a safe, loving and caring home environment
– An ability to guide and discipline children without the use of physical punishment
– A willingness to work with other people in the child’s life such as birth parents and caseworkers
– A willingness to support the child to develop a sense of identity that includes their culture, language and religion, where appropriate.
– Be willing to learn and understand the impact of trauma on a child
– Able to balance your family’s needs, finances, interests and supports with the needs of the child
– Happy to participate in meetings and training
How do I apply to become a foster carer?
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer with SSI please contact us on:
For NSW –
P: 1800 960 976 or 02 8713 9200
E: fostercare@ssi.org.au
For Victoria –
P: 1800 955 774
E: vicfostercare@ssi.org.au
You can also check your eligibility and get in touch by completing our quiz.
What does the assessment process involve?
Once you complete our quiz or get in touch, we will arrange a time to speak with you and your family about foster care, what it involves, and how to apply.
You will be provided with written information about our service and an application form. Once you have gathered the information you need and you decide you want to proceed, the next step will be to submit the application form to us.
You will then be invited to participate in an assessment process that will help us determine whether you can become a foster carer with our service.
The process includes:
– You and all adults in the household will have to complete a Health Check, Police Check, a Working with Children Check and referee checks
– Participating in training (Shared Lives) which covers nine topics and usually takes about 20 hours in total, either on weekends or evening sessions, in person or online
– A series of one on one interviews at your home to focus on your interests, skills, strengths and ability to take on the foster care role.
What should I expect as a foster carer?
Being unique and different is part of what makes every one of us special. Every child and their birth family is different. Foster carers make a significant contribution by caring for vulnerable children in need of care and stability. Some children may show signs of stress, worry and uncertainty. Some may seem quiet, others may seem troublesome.
Child abuse causes trauma and harms how a child’s brain and emotions develop and how they learn to behave and react to situations.
Some children may show their anxiety, fear and confusion by not wanting to be a part of a family and withdrawing. Others may show behaviour that could be described as difficult or
challenging such as talking back, being angry, not listening, not eating or sleeping, not being able to regulate their emotions, throwing tantrums or running away.
Some children have never had routine in their lives and will need extra amounts of love, understanding and patience to help them learn new ways of behaving. The longer a child has not had stability and emotional support, the more time they will need to accept a different way of being cared for.
Will there be direct contact with the child’s biological parents?
Maintaining or rebuilding relationships between children and their biological parents, siblings and family is continued when it is safe for the child. Many parents struggle to understand their roles when they are not caring for their children and this can raise many emotions including anger, loss, confusion and hope. How carers talk about children’s biological parents will influence how a child sees their family.
It is important that visits are safe, helpful and a good experience. It is also beneficial for children to see their carers have contact with their birth family. It gives them positive messages about people’s ability to communicate despite the situation.
What is SSI Multicultural Foster Care and what makes them different?
SSI provides foster carers and casework support for all children, with a strong focus on children from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
We deliver a specialist out-of-home care service that provides a culturally appropriate model of foster care for children and young people from CALD backgrounds aged 0-18 years in NSW, and up to 21 years in Victoria.
While SSI has a strong focus on recruiting foster carers from CALD backgrounds, we recruit carers from any background if they have a genuine desire to provide a safe and caring home for children.
We are staffed by bilingual case workers and managers with cross cultural and out-of-home care casework skills and knowledge. We also work closely with community organisations, community leaders, women’s groups, religious organisations and other relevant services, in the recruitment and support of foster carers.
Why is it important to help children maintain a connection to their culture?
At SSI, we believe children in 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 identity.
Helping children stay connected with their ethnic background, language and religion can also help children maintain positive relationships with their birth parents, extended family and community. This is important should children be returned to parental care, and in staying connected into their adult years.
What support does SSI provide to children in care?
Our service provides:
– General foster care and case management to meet the full needs of the child
– Foster carers from the child’s cultural background where possible
– Bilingual and bicultural case managers
– Cultural care planning to promote connections with their culture, religion, language and community
– Access to counseling and support services for children from refugee backgrounds
What support does SSI provide to foster carers?
SSI Multicultural Foster Care works closely with foster carers to ensure they have the support they need.
A range of support services are available including:
– Carer assessment processes conducted in either English or community languages
– Initial and ongoing training conducted in English or community languages
– A professional caseworker to support you and the child
– Bilingual caseworkers who understand the child’s culture
– Monthly visits and regular phone contact with your caseworker
– Access to 24-hour on-call phone support for crisis situations
– General and culturally specific support groups for example, Vietnamese carers group, Arabic carers group
– Respite foster care
– Financial support to meet the day-to-day cost of caring for the child through a foster care allowance (for NSW carers, please refer to the DCJ website, and for Victorian carers, please refer to the DFFH website)
– Referrals to a range of support services for you and the child
Where does SSI foster care operate?
In NSW we cover parts of metropolitan Sydney and the Hunter/Central Coast area and in Victoria we cover the northern suburbs of Melbourne.
How do I apply to become a foster carer with SSI?
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer with SSI please contact us on:
For NSW –
P: 1800 960 976 or 02 8713 9200
E: fostercare@ssi.org.au
For Victoria –
P: 1800 955 774
E: vicfostercare@ssi.org.au
About Ignite® Small Business Start-Ups
Small business creation is a powerful pathway to meaningful employment, providing financial stability, a sense of belonging, identity, and social and economic participation. Yet, people from marginalise communities often encounter social, economic, and institutional barriers that impede their ability to start and sustain a small business, despite their entrepreneurial spirit.
SSI’s social enterprise, Ignite® Small Business Start-Ups, facilitates small business creation and expansion for people from a refugee or migrant background, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from other communities who face barriers to entrepreneurship. With Ignite®’s help, fledgling entrepreneurs are empowered to unleash their potential and take greater control of their lives through business creation, to create meaningful employment and income for themselves, their families and potentially, over time, others.
How we help



Please note that entry into any Ignite program is dependent upon availability.
Get in touch
NSW, VIC
The Ignite® program operates in Greater Sydney, regional NSW and Victoria, Australia.
Location: Hut 6, 142 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204
Email: ignite@ssi.org.au
Phone: 0401 310 648
About SRSS
The Federal Government’s Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) program provides assistance to eligible asylum seekers, including accessing financial support, accommodation, healthcare, employment and education.
We deliver the SRSS program to eligible people seeking asylum living in the community on bridging visas. We are one of two national providers delivering services in NSW, ACT, Queensland, Northern Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.
How we help


Get in touch
National Phone Number: 1800asylum which is 1800 279 586 or 02 9685 0100
Hours of Operation: 9am to 5pm (Monday to Friday)
Program funded by Australian Government Department of Home Affairs
About Diversity Training
Australia is a vibrant, multicultural society, with one in four residents born overseas and over 400 languages spoken. Yet few businesses and organisations fully harness the enormous potential diversity offers.
Based on more than 20 years experience as a leading provider of services to multicultural communities, SSI’s Diversity Training transforms how people respond to diversity in ways that are thought-provoking, inspire curiosity, and build confidence.
We are committed to a diverse and inclusive society where everyone is valued and can meaningfully participate and meet their potential. Through positive learning and sharing stories, we empower people to engage more effectively with people around them – no matter their background.
What we offer
You can choose from our off-the-self products, starting with our e-module and gradually building your workforce capability over time through our online or in-person workshops. Another option is to partner with us to customise training that aligns with your organisational context.
How we help



Why choose us
- We live and breathe diversity with a team that speaks over 100 languages. Our training is grounded in 20+ years of experience of providing services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
- We know how to harness diversity because in any given year, SSI delivers culturally responsive services to more than 50,000 people from mixed cultural and social backgrounds.
- We are a certified social enterprise and training with us will also help you meet your social procurement goals.
- Fuss-free procurement as we are available through supplier lists such as Local Buy and VendorPanel.
Our impact
400 +
workshops
delivered by SSI
6,000 +
people
trained
96 %
of participants
rated our workshops positively in the past two years

Developing a culturally responsive and inclusive workforce.

Cultural diversity training for small to large businesses.

Cultural diversity training for government.

Cultural diversity training for not-for-profit organisations.
Workshops available
This e-module helps organisations support their workforce to grow the capabilities needed to respond to the unique needs of individuals and communities and provide equitable access to opportunities and services.
Learners will grow their awareness of the multicultural context in Australia, understand their responsibilities to uphold the rights of our diverse communities and explore key frameworks and concepts to build their understanding of what it means to work in culturally respectful and inclusive ways.
This e-module can be customised and uploaded to your organisation’s learning management system.
Culturally responsive practice training is a reflective process that will help participants gain an insight into their own organisational culture, behaviours, and practices to make their services more accessible and avoid creating service-related barriers.
We have customised versions of this workshop for different contexts, including disability, aged home care, refugee support services, child safety and out-of-home care, schools, early childhood and volunteer management. Our team can adjust this workshop to suit most contexts or sectors.
This cultural diversity training workshop assists people leading and working in diverse teams to work more effectively and inclusively. There are many benefits of a diverse workforce but this can only be realised when we act to build inclusion, grow self-awareness and cultural humility.
Customer service staff are the first point of contact for customers and clients and have significant influence on the organisation’s reputation. This workshop assists customer service staff to communicate effectively, build trust and be responsive to culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
A key reason why Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities do not access services at the same rate as the broader population is that they are often not aware of the services that exist or what their entitlements are. This workshop will look at community engagement as an approach to build capacity with a focus on minimising barriers experienced by CALD communities.
This workshop provides participants with essential skills to work effectively with interpreters to better engage and communicate with diverse communities.
To attract and recruit culturally diverse workers, organisations must look beyond the traditional recruitment channels and consciously adopt targeted and flexible approaches as well as build supportive and inclusive workplaces.
This workshop will assist non-clinical workers to respond to people in a trauma-informed way, minimising retraumatising people and providing services that support recovery.
Supporting positive cultural identity for children and young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds in your care is easier said than done. This course aims to support carers to find more meaningful and practical ways to support a child’s development of a positive cultural identity.
Free, nationally accredited training to help frontline workers recognise the signs of domestic and family violence, and know what to do next. Organised in partnership with Lifeline. Learn more here.
SSI’s student workshops provide learning experiences that transform how students respond to diversity in ways that are fun, thought-provoking, inspire curiosity, and build confidence to engage with cultural diversity.
What others think
“The sessions were facilitated by a highly skilled trainer and included thought-provoking content, yet with highly practical applications for our employees. The training helped our teams develop greater empathy for others, and we now have a new appreciation for culturally responsive practices.”

“Settlement Services International have provided our organisation with extremely rich and valuable learning.”

Our facilitators
Our facilitators are an experienced, passionate team who have lived experience working in culturally diverse workplaces, and are skilled in the design and delivery of transformative learning experiences that are culturally responsive and trauma-informed.
Get in touch
Get in contact to find out how your organisation can live and breathe diversity
Fields with a * are required
Please tell us about yourself