Telstra Australian Business Women of the Year, SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis, recently contributed to the 2018 Telstra International Women’s Day panel discussion, reflecting on challenges and offering her three most valuable business tips.

Learning English, connecting with the community, and finding employment and housing will be the key priorities for refugee families arriving in Armidale in the coming months, according to a leading settlement expert. Yamamah Agha, the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) Manager for community organisation and social business Settlement Services International (SSI), said in the 16 years she had been working with refugees, those areas consistently rated among new arrivals’ top goals for life in Australia.

SSI is working hand-in-hand with local communities to resettle refugees in regional NSW, including through a new Coffs Harbour office launched in December.

An innovative not-for-profit organisation has today launched in Coffs Harbour, where it will support newly arrived refugees as they begin their lives in Australia. The federal government has selected Settlement Services International (SSI) as the Coffs Harbour provider of the new Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), which supports refugees from the moment they arrive at the airport until they are established in the community.

It has been a full few days at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement in Geneva. SSI is one of a number of international NGOs attending, to discuss pressing issues in response to the global refugee crisis.

A unique support group is giving newly arrived refugee women a relaxed space to develop social networks and become more engaged with their new communities.

Dozens of newly arrived refugees got up to speed with Australia's social landscape in a series of tailored activities for young people during the school holidays.

Children, volunteers, church groups and families from the Ku-ring-gai community have welcomed newly arrived refugees with open arms, showing their support with a welcome event, donation appeal and more.

Nader Sameer and Nawar Hanna are unlikely friends, but bricks and mortar have brought the two former refugees from Iraq together as they start their bricklaying careers in Australia.

Majed Al Zanad was four years into a medical degree when the war in Syria forced him to abandon his studies. Like many refugees, he is now facing the challenging process of getting his past experience recognised so he can resume his medical studies in Australia.

Several newly arrived refugees have secured full-time work and dozens more have been offered paid apprenticeships as part of a joint venture to help new arrivals develop a career in the construction industry.

Since arriving in Australia with his wife and son less than 12 months ago, Maxeem Georges has begun studying a master’s degree in finance and started working for a large insurance company in Sydney.

The shared experience of motherhood transcends cultural and linguistic boundaries, as demonstrated by a special group of women who celebrated Mother’s Day with Settlement Services International (SSI) this month.

Dozens of young people from refugee backgrounds tackled the major issues facing refugee youth at the inaugural Young Leaders Forum in April, with employment, education and health leading the agenda.

Cultures combined during a recent dance workshop, where a group of female refugees learned how to express themselves through classical Indian dance.

Twenty four refugees have secured employment in the past six months with the support of Settlement Services International’s Humanitarian Settlement Services program.

A group of female refugees and their children came together to socialise and make new friendships on a recent visit to some of Sydney’s historic landmarks.

Through a partnership with Legal Aid NSW, SSI is helping to introduce the subject of family safety and law to newly arrived refugees and migrants through a series of specially designed information sessions across western Sydney. All newly arrived people supported by SSI already take part in orientation sessions that include information on housing, budgeting, transport, caring for children and family and domestic violence; However SSI case managers identified the need to deliver family related information in a more focused way.

Community and sustainability were the focus of the inaugural Auburn Community Friendship Garden Spring Party on October 24, but face painting, rock decorating and a live petting zoo won over the dozens of children who attended. Held at the Auburn Centre for Community from 10am-2pm, the Spring Party brought together more than 200 people from the local community, including many refugees and people seeking asylum who are supported by Settlement Services International (SSI).

The Friendship Garden in Auburn has blossomed recently thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm of former refugees and people seeking asylum, who are supported by Settlement Services International (SSI). Participants have volunteered to nurture the garden with others in the community.