As a single woman, you may think that she does not fit the mold of your typical foster carer. But when Victoria talks about the children she supports through the SSI Multicultural Foster Care program, one thing is abundantly clear—she is a born carer.
With the emergence of COVID-19, it would be easy to forget that more than 70 million people globally are still living displaced from their homes. Although we have adjusted the way we work, SSI’s reception team has continued to support newly arrived refugees in their settlement journey through this hard time.
Six months ago, we could not have predicted the immense impact the COVID-19 pandemic would have on our lives, businesses and economy.
Read more: Why we need value-driven leadership during crisis
Four participants in an SSI refugee employment program have joined a workforce constructing Australia’s first purpose-built coronavirus testing centre for use by governments here and around the world.
Read more: Refugees help build testing centres as part of COVID-19 response
Some refugee families attempting to home-school during the COVID-19 lockdown are finding it particularly difficult without access to suitable technology.
Read more: Newcomer family faced with special challenges during COVID-19 lockdown
An information session for those in the Latin American community in Melbourne has helped over 30 people understand more about Australian protection visas and migration pathways.
Read more: SSI hosts migration pathways event for Latin American communities in Melbourne
Driven by their own experience of migration, two SSI staff have developed a community group for refugee and migrant women to combat barriers to social and economic participation.
Read more: Going above and beyond to support refugee and migrant women
SSI Arts & Culture have collaborated with PYT Fairfield to present a special work-in-progress showing of ‘Carpet Stories,’ a multidisciplinary theatre performance that facilitates creative conversations within Sydney’s multicultural LGBTIQ community.
Read more: Refugees and migrants in the LGBTIQ community supported through powerful storytelling
From the first day I arrived in Australia, it felt like home. Everyone gets homesick sometimes, but if you have goals and dreams, it constantly drives you forward and takes your mind off the past.
