Media Releases

SSI partners with Allianz on employment program for young refugees

Details: Published: Friday, 15 September 2017 09:21

A new program that aims to teach young refugees basic business skills and help them find a job was announced in Sydney today.

The ‘Allianz Ladder’ program will familiarise refugee youth with business environments and help them develop the core skills and confidence they need to find their first job in Australia.

Regional centre of Armidale to welcome refugees

Details: Published: Monday, 14 August 2017 15:40

Community support will play a critical role in the successful settlement of an estimated 200 refugees in NSW regional hub Armidale, according to leading humanitarian settlement not-for-profit Settlement Services International (SSI).

Minister for Social Services, Christian Porter, announced on Friday that SSI had been contracted to provide on-the-ground settlement services to an estimated 200 refugees who will settle in Armidale in 2018 as part of the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP). SSI was recently successful in obtaining the contract for two of the 11 HSP contract regions: Sydney and NSW regional, which includes Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and the newly defined Armidale refugee settlement area.

SSI secures new refugee settlement contract

Details: Published: Thursday, 27 July 2017 10:30

Settlement Services International (SSI) will provide settlement services to refugees and humanitarian entrants under the new Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), continuing its long-term work in this area.

In Canberra today, the Australian Government announced SSI was successful in two of the 11 newly defined contract regions across Australia: Sydney and NSW Regional, which covers northern NSW.

Festival gives refugee artists a new beginning

Details: Published: Wednesday, 14 June 2017 09:26

The New Beginnings Festival for Refugee Week brings together new and established communities for a program of visual arts, film, installations and workshops.

The festival will include the Singular/Plural art exhibition, featuring established contemporary artists Lindy Lee, Aroha Groves, Alex Seton and Garry Trinh exhibiting alongside newly arrived artists from refugee backgrounds, including Sameer Dakhil — an expert engraver from Iraq.

Freedom of expression vs cultural appropriation

Details: Published: Thursday, 01 June 2017 14:20

Journalists, comedians and writers will explore the blurry lines between freedom of expression and cultural appropriation at an event that will tip the traditional debate format on its head.

Cultural appropriation controversies continue to dominate headlines, targeting everything from festival wear to the hairstyles of the Kardashians, but critics argue these continual outcries are stifling the creative expression. Should artists be restricted by cultural boundaries when creating their work?

Refugee entrepreneurship making million-dollar economic contribution

Details: Published: Wednesday, 29 March 2017 10:57

A report to be released on Thursday March 23 finds evidence that, with the right support, refugee entrepreneurs provide significant economic benefits to Australia.

The report, From Refugee to Entrepreneur in Three Years, looks at the existing and potential contribution of refugee entrepreneurs to the Australian economy and society. It was prepared by Professor Jock Collins of UTS Business School and will be launched by the Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, the Hon Craig Laundy MP, in Canberra.

SSI's response to Multicultural Australia – United, Strong, Successful

Details: Published: Monday, 20 March 2017 17:35

With today’s release of the Multicultural Australia – United, Strong, Successful, Settlement Services International welcomes the Federal Government’s strong and unequivocal endorsement of a multicultural Australia and the highly successful humanitarian settlement and migration programs that have been the centre of that success for more than 70 years.

Inclusive celebration captures International Women’s Day spirit

Details: Published: Friday, 10 March 2017 08:48

An International Women’s Day event has embodied the inclusive spirit of the day with a celebration involving women, men and children of all ages and backgrounds.

Not-for-profit humanitarian organisation Settlement Services International (SSI) hosted the event for Auburn locals, community groups and individuals and families who are new to Australia.

Report finds Ability Links NSW is making a social and economic difference in our community

Details: Published: Monday, 06 March 2017 14:04

Ability Links NSW (ALNSW) has heralded a new approach to supporting people with disability, their families and carers, and is making a significant economic and social impact across the state, according to a newly released independent report.

Syrian arrivals in Fairfield: sorting fact from fiction

Details: Published: Tuesday, 21 February 2017 11:25

A number of media reports since the start of 2017 have claimed communities in western Sydney are concerned about the arrival of the extra cohort of 12,000 Syrian and Iraqi refugees, using figures that are not supported by facts.

As one of the largest settlement services providers, we know that the main reasons our humanitarian clients choose to settle in an area are: affordability, availability of suitable housing, access to services such as schools, IEC, SSI, and proximity to family.

Success stories

Arash Bordbar has a global ambition for helping young refugees

Arash Bordbar, 22, is in front of a garden. Arash Bordbar, who came to Australia as a refugee, is taking his passion to help others to an international level in a bid to shed light on the issues affecting young refugees and people seeking asylum.