About MSW
We offer organisations an opportunity to book a wide range of highly skilled in-language and in-culture professionals. Our 170+ Multicultural Support Officers build trust and rapport through lived experience and shared culture. This enables them to connect more meaningfully by offering enhanced levels of support across 50+ different languages throughout NSW and Queensland.
Our 170+ Multicultural Support Officers (MSOs) build trust and rapport through lived experience and shared culture. This enables them to connect more meaningfully by offering enhanced levels of support across 50+ languages throughout New South Wales.
How we help
Benefits to your organisation
Embracing diversity and building cultural responsiveness is integral to every business and organisation. Developing and promoting engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) empowers your participants by establishing their autonomy to help them thrive and realise their full potential. In addition, your business or organisation can tap into the knowledge and understanding derived from our long history of serving multicultural communities and established relationships.
Support provided by Multicultural Support Officers
In-language and in-culture services for activities such as:
- Supporting individuals and families in the CALD community: including settlement orientation, form filling, building digital literacy and connecting communities with services and activities
- Engagement, transport and supervision of children and young people in care
- Workshop facilitation or support
- Co-designing services, programs, and projects
- Community Engagement: supporting business to connect to community
Specialist services
Our Multicultural Workforce includes Multicultural Support Officers who have acquired additional skills developed through study and experience in Australia and overseas.
Our wide range of specialised skills includes:
- Administration and customer support
- Research and data collection (NSW only)
- Case management
- Accredited interpreting and translation
- Tech support for online events
- Events support
- Complex case support
- Specialised children and young people support (NSW Metro and Victoria Metro only)
How are our services offered?
There are several flexible ways that our Multicultural Support Officers can be engaged, including in-person and online, as well one-off or as an ongoing arrangement. They are based on an hourly rate, with a minimum engagement of three hours for in-person services and one hour for remote services.
Get in touch
Contact us to find out more about how we can be of value to you: workforcebookings@ssi.org.au.
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About Workforce Australia Local Jobs
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people’s lives can be long-lasting. The federal government’s Workforce Australia Local Jobs program aims to reskill, upskill and develop employment pathways that assist people to move back into jobs as the economy recovers
SSI provides job coordinator services under the program across the Sydney South-West, Gold Coast and Wivenhoe regions in New South Wales and Queensland. We connect employers and training providers with job seekers.
How we help
Get in touch – for employers and employment service providers
If you are an employer or employment service provider interested in learning more about how Workforce Australia Local Jobs can support you, please contact the relevant job coordinator:
Jodi Brackenbury – Gold Coast region
M: 0474 774 007
E: Jodi.brackenbury@localjobsprogram.org.au
Jodi is a perceptive and visionary leader with an eye for opportunity. With over 25 years of experience within the Employment, Training and Community sector, Jodi offers high level negotiation skills and solution-based strategies for internal and external stakeholders within the Employment and Education sector. With a passion for empowering people, changing lives and giving back to the community, Jodi is dedicated to supporting people to overcome barriers and provide opportunity for social and economic participation.
Join the Gold Coast Local Jobs Communities on social media:
Natalie Whitton – Sydney South West region
M: 0401 373 746
E: natalie.whitton@localjobsprogram.org.au
Natalie has over 23 years of experience within the employment services industry and four years in management. During this time, Natalie has built positive relationships with employers, training organisations, community providers and government organisations. Natalie is enthusiastic about supporting people to achieve their goals. She has spent 23 years working in the Sydney South West region.
Join the Sydney South West Local Jobs communities on social media:
Local Jobs Sydney South West Facebook Group
John Perry – Wivenhoe region
M: 0418 719 795
E: john.perry@localjobsprogram.org.au
John has decades of experience in building successful projects and teams in the employment, education and training sector. He has an unmatched knowledge and understanding of this sector and how economic and labour market conditions of the day impact businesses, communities and people. John’s approach to the Local Jobs Program is to understand the staffing needs of business and to work with the employment services provider network to best prepare unemployed people to meet the requirements of these opportunities in a sustainable way.
Join the Wivenhoe Local Jobs community on social media:
Join our communities on social media
Get in touch – for job seekers
Eligible job seekers on a jobactive, New Employment Services Trial or Transition to Work caseload may be able to participate in the Workforce Australia Local Jobs program. Please contact your employment service provider to be referred to one of our job coordinators.
Workforce Australia Local Jobs Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Employment Facilitators support the delivery of the program across 51 Employment Regions.
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 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 2026 academic year are now closed.
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 on other sources of income.
- Have been living in Australia for five years or less (from and including 2020). The five-year country entry limit does not apply to 851, bridging, TPV 785 or SHEV 790 visa holders.
- 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 to each immediate family in the same household per year.
*People living with disability who meet the criteria are encouraged to apply.
What scholarships are available for 2026?
In 2026, the SSI Allianz Refugee Education Scholarships will provide financial support across a range of study pathways, helping students from refugee backgrounds reach their education and career goals:
- 10 x Secondary School Scholarships – $500 each
- 8 x Vocational Education & Training (VET) Scholarships – $2,000 each
- 6 x Skills Recognition Scholarships – $4,000 each
- 8 x University Scholarships – $4,000 each
- General Stream: open to all fields of study and career pathways
- Resilience Stream: for applicants pursuing careers that promote environmental or social resilience
The number of university scholarships in each stream will be determined based on applications received.
Key dates
Applications open: October 17th 2025
Applications close: 5pm November 21st 2025
Notification of outcome for: Secondary, Skills Recognition and Vocational Education & Training: Applicants notified late January 2026
Notification of application outcome for the University category: Late-January / February 2026
Successful Secondary, Vocational Education & Training, Skills & Qualification Recognition receive funding: Late-January / February 2026
Successful University applicants receive funding: February / March 2026 (confirmation of enrolment must be received)
Scholarship Ceremony: Mid-2026
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
In 2026, the SSI Allianz Refugee Education Scholarships will provide financial support across a range of study pathways, helping students from refugee backgrounds reach their education and career goals:
– 10 x Secondary School Scholarships – $500 each (total $5,000)
– 8 x Vocational Education & Training (VET) Scholarships – $2,000 each (total $24,000)
– 6 x Skills Recognition Scholarships – $4,000 each (total $24,000)
– 8 x University Scholarships – $4,000 each (total $32,000)
University scholarships will be awarded within two streams:
General Stream: open to all fields of study and career pathways
Resilience Stream: for applicants pursuing careers that promote environmental or social resilience
The number of university scholarships in each stream will be determined based on applications received.
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.
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 and including 2020). The five-year country entry limit does not apply to 851, bridging, TPV 785 or SHEV 790 visas holders
– 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.
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 2026 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.
New South Wales and ACT
Australian Catholic University (ACU): https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships
ACU Refugee Scholarship: https://www.acu.edu.au/study-at-acu/fees-and-scholarships/find-a-scholarship/acu-refugee-scholarship
ANU Humanitarian Scholarship: https://study.anu.edu.au/scholarships/find-scholarship/anu-humanitarian-scholarship
ANU: Ben Williams Student Support Grant: https://study.anu.edu.au/scholarships/find-scholarship/ben-williams-student-support-grant
Australian National University (ANU): https://study.anu.edu.au/scholarships/find-scholarship
Charles Sturt University (CSU): https://study.csu.edu.au/apply/scholarships-grants
CSU Refugee and Asylum Seeker Scholarship https://www.csu.edu.au/scholarships/scholarships-grants/find-scholarship/foundation/any-year/csu-refugee-and-asylum-seeker-scholarship
Macquarie University (MQ): https://www.mq.edu.au/study/admissions-and-entry/scholarships
MQ: Asylum Seeker Fee Waiver Sponsorship: https://www.mq.edu.au/study/admissions-and-entry/scholarships/international/asylum-seeker-fee-waiver-sponsorship
MQ: The Salaam Foundation Leadership Scholarship: https://www.mq.edu.au/study/admissions-and-entry/scholarships/domestic/the-salaam-foundation-leadership-scholarship
Southern Cross University: https://www.scu.edu.au/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/
University of Canberra (UC): https://www.canberra.edu.au/scholarships/
UC Foundation Scholarship for Refugee Students: https://www.canberra.edu.au/scholarship/uc-foundation-refugee
University of New England (UNE): https://www.une.edu.au/scholarships
University of New South Wales (UNSW): https://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/
UNSW Sanctuary Scholarship for People Seeking Asylum and Refugees with Temporary Protection: https://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/scholarships/id/1583
UNSW Scholarships for Asylum Seekers and Refugee Students: https://www.scholarships.unsw.edu.au/scholarships/id/1897
University of Newcastle: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/scholarships
University of Newcastle Scholarship for Asylum Seekers Program: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/research/centre/ceehe/university-programs/the-university-of-newcastles-scholarship-for-asylum-seekers-program
University of Sydney (USYD): https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/
USYD: The Gregg Humanitarian Scholarship for Asylum Seekers and Refugees: https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/e/the-gregg-humanitarian-scholarship-for-asylum-seekers-and-refuge.html
USYD Humanitarian High Achiever Scholarship: https://www.sydney.edu.au/scholarships/e/the-humanitarian-high-achiever-scholarship.html
University of Technology (UTS): https://www.uts.edu.au/for-students/admissions-entry/scholarships
UTS Humanitarian Scholarship Program: https://www.uts.edu.au/about/uts-vision/initiatives/social-justice-uts/uts-humanitarian-scholarship-program
University of Wollongong (UoW): https://www.uow.edu.au/study/scholarships/
UoW Humanitarian Scholarship: https://www.uow.edu.au/study/scholarships/international/humanitarian-scholarship/
Victoria
Deakin University: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships
Deakin Sanctuary Scholarships: https://www.deakin.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/deakin-sanctuary-scholarships
Federation University Australia: https://federation.edu.au/scholarships
Federation University Asylum Seeker / Refugee Scholarship: https://federation.edu.au/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/foundation/refugee-scholarship
La Trobe University: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/scholarships
La Trobe Humanitarian Scholarship: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/study/scholarships/other/la-trobe-humanitarian-scholarship
Monash University: https://www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships
Monash Humanitarian Scholarship: https://www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/monash-humanitarian-scholarship-7004
RMIT University: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/careers-opportunities/scholarships
RMIT Study Opportunities for People Seeking Asylum: https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/applying-to-rmit/local-student-applications/application-methods/study-opportunities-for-people-seeking-asylum
RMIT: Sam and Nina Narodowski Asylum Seeker Scholarships: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/careers-opportunities/scholarships/coursework/rmit-welcome
RMIT Humanitarian Visa Scholarship: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/careers-opportunities/scholarships/coursework/rmit-humanitarian
Swinburne University of Technology: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/options/scholarships/
Swinburne University Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/life-at-swinburne/student-support-services/asylum-seeker-refugee-support/
The University of Melbourne: https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/
The University of Melbourne Humanitarian Access Scholarship: https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/melbourne-humanitarian-access-scholarship
The University of Melbourne: Stock Family Access Scholarship: https://scholarships.unimelb.edu.au/awards/stock-family-access-scholarship
Victoria University (VU): https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/fees-scholarships/scholarships
VU Asylum Seeker Scholarships: https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/fees-scholarships/scholarships/bachelor-degree-honours-postgraduate-scholarships/asylum-seeker-scholarships
Queensland
The University of Queensland (UQ): https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/
UQ Refugee and Humanitarian Scholarship: https://scholarships.uq.edu.au/scholarship/uq-refugee-and-humanitarian-scholarship
Queensland University of Technology (QUT): https://www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships
QUT Asylum Seeker Tuition Fee Scholarship: https://www.qut.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships/scholarships/qut-asylum-seeker-tuition-fee-scholarship
Griffith University: https://www.griffith.edu.au/scholarships
Griffith University: Rachel Hunter Refugee Scholarship: https://www.griffith.edu.au/scholarships/scholarship-listings/rachel-hunter-refugee-scholarship
University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)” https://www.unisq.edu.au/scholarships
Central Queensland University (CQU): https://www.cqu.edu.au/study/prepare/scholarships
University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC): https://www.usc.edu.au/study/scholarships
UniSC Asylum Seeker Scholarship: https://www.usc.edu.au/study/scholarships/equity-scholarships/unisc-asylum-seeker-scholarship
Western Australia
Curtain University General scholarship information: https://www.curtin.edu.au/students/essentials/scholarships/
Edith Cowan University (ECU): https://www.ecu.edu.au/scholarships/overview
ECU Humanitarian Scholarship: https://www.ecu.edu.au/scholarships/details/humanitarian-scholarship
Murdoch University: https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/scholarships
University of Notre Dame Australia: https://www.notredame.edu.au/study/fees-costs-and-scholarships/scholarships/scholarship-list
University of Western Australia: https://www.uwa.edu.au/study/fees-and-scholarships
Tasmania
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
https://www.utas.edu.au/study/scholarships-fees-and-costs/domestic-scholarships
South Australia
University of Adelaide
General scholarship information:
https://scholarships.adelaide.edu.au/
Adelaide Refugee & Humanitarian Postgraduate Coursework Scholarship
University of South Australia (UniSA)
https://i.unisa.edu.au/students/scholarships/
UniSA Refugee Grants
https://i.unisa.edu.au/students/scholarships/refugee-grants/
Flinders University
https://www.flinders.edu.au/scholarships
Torrens University Australia
https://www.torrens.edu.au/how-to-apply/fees-scholarships/scholarships
Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University (CDU)
https://www.cdu.edu.au/scholarships
Charles See Kee Scholarship
https://nt.gov.au/learning/student-financial-help-and-scholarships/charles-see-kee-scholarship
New South Wales
TAFE
https://www.tafensw.edu.au/scholarships
Service NSW: Smart and Skilled Program
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/referral/enrol-in-the-smart-and-skilled-program
Victoria
RMIT University: Study Opportunities for People Seeking Asylum https://www.rmit.edu.au/study-with-us/applying-to-rmit/local-student-applications/application-methods/study-opportunities-for-people-seeking-asylum
Chisholm Institute: VET Funding for Asylum Seekers https://www.chisholm.edu.au/students/fees/help-with-fees/asylum-seeker-and-trafficked-persons-funding
Victorian Government: Asylum Seeker VET program
Queensland
Queensland Government: Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance Program https://www.dwatsipm.qld.gov.au/our-work/multicultural-affairs/programs-initiatives/funding-programs/asylum-seeker-refugee-assistance-program
Queensland Government: Support for Migrants and Refugees https://dtet.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/support/migrants-refugees
Other scholarships
Country Education Foundation
Chief Executive Women (CEW)
https://cew.org.au/programs/scholarships#CEW-Scholarships-Progra
Open Society Grants and Fellowships
https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/grants
Public Education Foundation
https://www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au/scholarships/
Ukrainian Scholarships
https://ukrainians.org.au/education-university-scholarships/
UNHCR Scholarship Opportunities for Refugees
https://services.unhcr.org/opportunities/
Refugee Council of Australia: Scholarships for People Seeking Asylum and Refugees https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/scholarships/
Australia-wide
Beyond Disability: https://www.bdi.org.au/
Computerbank Victoria: https://www.computerbank.org.au/
Connecting Up: https://www.connectingup.org/about/what-we-do
Green Collect: IT & Electrical: https://greencollect.org/collections/electrical
LiteHaus International: https://litehausinternational.org/australia
One Education: https://www.one-education.org/pages/about-us
The Werx Foundation: https://werx.com.au/shop/
WorkVentures: https://workventures.com.au/low-cost-computers/
New South Wales organisations
Asylum Seeker Centre: https://asylumseekerscentre.org.au/
Brotherhood of St Laurence: https://www.bsl.org.au/
Cool Australia: https://cool.org/
Education NSW: https://education.nsw.gov.au/
House of Welcome: https://www.houseofwelcome.org.au/
Jesuit Refugee Service: https://jrs.net/en/home/
Multicultural NSW: https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/
Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.au/
Salvation Army: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/
Scarf Support: https://www.scarfcommunity.org/
STARTTS: https://www.startts.org.au/
SydWest: https://sydwestms.org.au/
The Smith Family: https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/
UNHCR Australia: https://www.unrefugees.org.au/about-us/#
Water Well Project: https://www.thewaterwellproject.org/
Victoria organisations
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre: https://asrc.org.au/
Eastern Emergency Relief Network: https://easternemergency.org.au/
Edmund Rice Community & Refugee Services: https://ercs.org.au/
Enable IT Recycling: https://www.enableaustralia.org.au/it-recycling
Foundation House: https://www.foundationhouse.net.au/
The Bridge: https://thebridgeinc.org.au/
Queensland organisations
ARMIA: https://armia.com.au/home
BRASS Network: https://www.facebook.com/brassnetwork/
Centacare FNQ: https://www.centacarefnq.org/
Ethnic Communities Council of QLD: https://eccq.com.au/
Inala Community House: https://ich.org.au/
Mercy Community: https://mercycommunity.org.au/
Multicultural Australia: https://www.multiculturalaustralia.org.au/
Multilink: https://multilink.org.au/
Pushing Barriers: https://pushingbarriers.org/
QPASTT – Torture & Trauma Survivors: https://qpastt.org.au/
QPASTT Homework Club: https://qpastt.org.au/homework-club/
Refugee Council of Australia (QLD services): https://www.refugeecouncil.org.au/services-qld/
Refugee Health Network QLD: https://www.refugeehealthnetworkqld.org.au/
Refugee Connect: https://refugeeconnect.org.au/other-resources/
Refugee Tutoring Club (UQ): https://www.uqrtc.org/
Romero Centre: https://romerocentre.org.au/
St Vincent de Paul (nationwide): https://www.vinnies.org.au/
Townsville Multicultural Support Group: https://www.tmsg.org.au/
Get in touch
NSW, QLD, VIC
For more information, please contact our Scholarships team at scholarships@ssi.org.au.
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 on the Work+Stay website.
Passion into possibility
At SSI, we believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive—whether through employment, upskilling, or building their own business. That’s why our Employment Services division offers a powerful and person-centred approach, designed to put your goals at the heart of everything we do.
Ignite, our flagship program, is embedded within Employment Services, bringing together entrepreneurial insights and practical supports to offer real choice and flexibility. From skills development to self-employment pathways, we help you shape a future that’s meaningful to you. With specialisation helping entrepreneurs with disability, and supporting women with aspirations to explore self-employment, our programs are tailored to meet your needs.
Whether you’re ready to step into the workforce, explore a business idea, or gain the confidence and skills to take your next step, we’re here to support your journey—every step of the way.
How we can help
Work at your own pace, learn about the basics of self-employment and download useful tools and templates.
Available to women and people with disability. Receive custom support and planning to explore your business idea.
Apply for 1:1 mentoring
SSI’s Ignite mentoring program is available for individuals who have:
- a solid business idea,
- skills to match their idea,
- passion and enthusiasm for running the business and
- most importantly, have time to develop that idea.
Currently we have a program that is specifically for:
- People with disability interested in starting a business,
- People who are carers of people with disability.
Still needing to know more about starting a business? For all stages and abilities, we recommend Ignite’s Exploring Self-Employment e-learning course. It’s available to anyone interested in self-employment and small business. You can:
- work at your own pace
- learn the basics of self-employment
- access useful tools and templates
You don’t have to do it alone. Join our mentoring program for self-employment support.
Volunteer with us
Our volunteer team consists of business volunteers, low-bono professionals, pro-bono industry mentors/experts and students. If you are passionate about giving back to the community, supporting those with barriers to receiving mainstream support and believe in economic participation for all, we would love to hear from you.
Our goal for clients is to help expand their networks with service providers and supporters that are safe, kind and caring, knowledgeable and invested in helping others to develop their businesses.
Click here to view our volunteering opportunities and to apply.
Visit some of our Ignite client businesses
We’re proud to showcase a range of businesses we’ve worked with. For your convenience, we’ve included links to their websites.
Please note that since we don’t maintain these external sites, we can’t guarantee the links will always be active or up to date. If you encounter a broken link, feel free to let us know.
Get in touch
News
News
04 Oct 2023
Media releases
30 Aug 2023
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
Perfect for building a common understanding among staff of how to respond inclusively in a multicultural context.
Preview or enrol in our courses here:
2-3 hour interactive online or in-person training.
Our interactive workshops are the ideal choice for cultivating staff confidence, promoting critical thinking, and facilitating the practical application of culturally responsive practices.
Specialise in a subject or skill related to their role.
Workshop titles include: Leading culturally diverse teams, Engaging multicultural communities, Working with Language Services, Attracting and recruiting a culturally and linguistically diverse workforce.
Customised workshops or new content design to meet your needs.
We have customised our training to a diverse range of contexts, such as: Child safety, Out-of-home care, Justice, Refugee, Early childhood, Addiction, Mental health, LGBTIQ, Disability.
How we help
Our impact
500
workshops
delivered by SSI
7,000
people
trained
96
of participants
rated our workshops positively in the past two years
Helpful resources
Developing a culturally responsive and inclusive workforce.
Recruiting and maintaining a culturally diverse workforce in aged care services.
Workshops available
We have three online learning courses currently available:
• Introduction to culturally responsive practice: Explores how we can be culturally responsive and inclusive when working with colleagues and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Working with interpreters: Working with professional interpreters is a key skill needed to ensure equitable access to services and quality client outcomes.
• Culturally responsive support in aged care: Designed for workers who provide support services for older people in their home.
Our e-learning courses can be accessed as an individual learner through our online platform. We can also bulk enrol your team or organisation or add the training module to your Learning Management System through a licensing agreement.
Preview or enrol in our courses here:
diversity.ssi.org.au
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.
This workshop builds on our Fundamentals course and examines the critical role of leadership in creating an inclusive work environment to unlock the full potential of a culturally diverse workforce and explore ways to effectively demonstrate inclusive leadership traits.
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 care is easier said than done. This course aims to support practitioners in finding 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.
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.”
“I loved the e-learning! There was a nice blend of empirical and non-empirical information. I liked that it that invited the reader to locate themselves within the narrative and then offered a framework whereby they could challenge and/or build their understanding.”
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.
For more information, you can reach out to us:
Get in touch
Get in contact to find out how your organisation can live and breathe diversity.
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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.
