Settlement Services International (SSI) and the Usman Khawaja Foundation (UKF) have joined forces to launch a dynamic new partnership using the power of cricket to support children and young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.

The initiative kicked off on 22 April 2025 at Woodridge North State School in Queensland, where students were treated to a special cricket clinic led by Usman Khawaja himself, alongside trained coaches. The school oval was awash in green and gold as students practiced batting, bowling and fielding — for many, their first introduction to the game.

This innovative collaboration aims to use sport as a bridge to connection, wellbeing and community inclusion. Through a series of joint cricket clinics across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, young people will develop skills both on and off the field — fostering resilience, physical and mental wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said the partnership reflects a shared commitment to inclusion and opportunity.

“Both SSI and UKF are strongly aligned in their values of empowering youth from refugee and migrant backgrounds to fulfil their aspirations and help shape a more socially cohesive Australia,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“Sport has always been a powerful way to bring people together. Initiatives like this transform lives by creating pathways for children to connect, grow and thrive.”

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja knows first-hand the power of sport to unite and inspire. Having arrived in Australia from Pakistan at the age of four, he became the first player of Pakistani descent to represent Australia in cricket.

“Cricket has long been an iconic Australian sport and an integral part of our culture,” Mr Khawaja said.

“Education and community sport play an important role in helping young people from migrant backgrounds engage and connect with Australian life and feel a true sense of belonging. Cricket is not just a game — it’s a bridge to new beginnings.”

The new partnership will also extend beyond the pitch. Over time, it will expand to include youth mentoring programs, community events such as Multicultural Cups, and an innovation hub where young people from refugee backgrounds can co-design solutions to the unique challenges faced by their communities.

The program builds on the successful work of the Logan-based SSI Multicultural Sports Club which provides accessible sporting opportunities for diverse communities and promotes inclusion through structured physical activity.

Ms Roumeliotis said: “The values and dedication shown by the Usman Khawaja Foundation perfectly align with our vision of a unified, thriving Australia where every newcomer feels at home.”

Mr Khawaja added: “I’m thrilled to be part of a partnership that not only inspires children to play cricket but gives them confidence, resilience, and hope for the future.”

By combining SSI’s community-based programs with UKF’s leadership in sport-led inclusion, the partnership sets the stage for a new era of youth empowerment and cultural connection — one cricket clinic at a time.

Settlement Services International (SSI) welcomes the Albanese Government’s 2025-26 Federal Budget and continuing measures to address cost of living pressures and promote social cohesion which goes some way to delivering stronger inclusion and integration for multicultural communities.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said, “SSI commends the government’s investment of $178.4 million over five years to support social cohesion, which includes vital funding for multicultural organisations to deliver tailored programs and services to the communities they serve and continuing to address the recommendations of the Multicultural Framework Review.  

SSI welcomes $3.5 million over three years (and $1.2 million per year ongoing) to embed the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement program following the conclusion of a pilot. We recommend this critical stream to Australia’s humanitarian response is in addition the current overall humanitarian intake.   

SSI acknowledges the extension of the Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration program to boost refugee employment and a raft of sector-specific measures to address skills shortages in health, construction and energy. However, SSI is disappointed at the lack of action by the Government for urgent reforms to unlock the skills of 620,000 permanent migrants already in Australia as one in three professions face critical skills shortages.  

“Since the launch of the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign, over 100 organisations and fourteen of Australia’s most influential leaders have called for urgent reforms to the skills and qualification recognition system” says SSI CEO, Ms Violet Roumeliotis AM. “Our campaign has provided costed, ready to go solutions for systemic reforms and place-based employment hubs to remove persistent barriers impacting refugees and migrants which could inject $9 billion annually into Australia’s economy. A piecemeal and sector-specific approach to skills shortages is not the most meaningful investment to unlock the skills of migrants.”  

SSI also cautiously welcomes the announcement of $364.5 million for foundational supports for people with disability and the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building program. We know that people with disabilities from multicultural backgrounds are significantly under-represented in the NDIS and we also know that they also struggle to access mainstream services, like health, delivered by states and territories. SSI is calling for more detail on how a long-term agreement for foundational supports to access mainstream services will be struck with states and territories.  

In terms of cost of living, SSI welcomes the government’s measures to increase bulk-billing incentives for GPs, establish more urgent care clinics, make PBS medications cheaper, provide energy bill relief and subsidise certain medications and treatments under a new women’s health package.  

SSI also welcomes the commitment of the Albanese government to increase funding for public schools, cut student debts by 20% to address intergenerational unfairness and build a universal system of early childhood education and care ensuring that every child has the right to three days of subsidised early education to ensure they don’t start school behind.  

While this moves Australia closer to universal access to early childhood education, SSI sees that it will not address the financial and non-financial barriers we see multicultural families face in accessing early childhood education.  

SSI’s and UniSA research, Stronger Starts, Brighter Futures II (2024), found that children from multicultural backgrounds in Australia are much less likely to participate in early childhood education and start school behind. SSI calls for governments at all levels to improve access by multicultural children and families through a mix of targeted and place-based interventions that complement universal approaches like those announced in this budget.  

Ms Roumeliotis added, “This Budget represents meaningful progress towards building stronger, cohesive communities across Australia, but we urge the government to act decisively on unlocking migrant skills, improving employment pathways, and progressing disability and early childhood education reforms in ways that ensure greater equity. True social cohesion can only be achieved when every Australian – regardless of their background – has the opportunity and support to fully participate in our society and economy.” 

Media enquiries:
Sharon Lanyon, Group Head Strategic Communications & Engagement
M: 0413 595 946 E: slanyon@ssi.org.au

Sandy Fitter, Group Head Stakeholder Relations, Research & Policy
M: 0402 771 390  E: sfitter@ssi.org.au

Migration is an incredibly complex and personal experience, often shaped by conflict, trauma, and loss.

For women like Ukrainian counsellor Olga, this journey also intersects with a range of unique challenges tied to personal challenges and specific of her qualification and profession. That was a place where she transformed individual refugee experience into a powerful tool to help other newcomers.

In 2022, after the war broke out, Olga fled her home with her family. Seeking safety for her children, she arrived in Australia and began rebuilding their lives in a new country.

Her journey was not easy, like that of many women refugees, but her new life required and highlighted the importance of an attentive and gentle approach in resettlement services.

Olga said she felt less alone after she began working with her case manager through SSI’s Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP), which provides tailored services designed to meet the unique needs and strengths of individuals and families resettling in Australia as refugees.

“My case worker, Munira, gave me a lot of attention and time, offering everything I could possibly need. I felt supported in everything I did through the program,” she said.

Olga found that participating in the programs’ orientation sessions not only helped her learn about the new country her family now called home but also helped her to connect with other members of the Ukrainian community in Australia, fostering a better sense of belonging.

“These sessions were incredibly helpful; I still remember the knowledge I gained from them years ago. It was an amazing start for my professional growth in Australia,” she said.

As an experienced counsellor, who was waiting for her qualification being recognised, Olga was happy to facilitate and deliver groups about domestic, sexual, and family violence (DFSV) awareness for the Ukrainian community where support for newly arrived women was a key focus. She was also grateful to have the opportunity to share her expertise and facilitation skills to support other refugees during the orientation sessions and groups for the families in culture transition.

“It’s essential for newly arrived refugees to have a platform where they can address issues and learn how to protect themselves and their families. Everyone deserves to be safe, especially at home, even if it’s very new,” Olga said.

She secured employment opportunities with the support of SSI’s Refugee Employment Support Program, along with her dedication and ability to navigate her networks and community.

Olga worked tirelessly to have her overseas qualification recognised and secure the right to work as a counsellor in Australia. All while studying and managing full responsibility for her family.

Later she secured a role as an employment facilitator with RESP and found out that SSI’s gender-sensitive services also include wellbeing assessment tools designed to identify potential trauma experiences, such as DFSV, and assess the risks women may face during resettlement. It was important to have those tools in her work. “By identifying such risks early, our specialists can intervene and provide appropriate support and resources,”she said.

Like many refugee women leading their household, Olga’s economic goal to gain employment was crucial to building her sense of independence. However, despite her extensive background in psychotherapy, she initially struggled to find employment due to her visa status.

With support from SSI’s Ignite Small Business Start-ups, Olga’s combined her skills and networks to establish her own business, OK Club, running mindfulness workshops for refugees online and in person, including a Women’s Circle retreat for Ukrainians.

“What I was trying to achieve was difficult, but with the support I had at the time, it was possible,” she said.

In 2024, Olga began working full-time with NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) as a therapeutic counsellor, offering therapeutic support to other people who have navigated forced displacement.

“Such a beautiful place we call our new home. I adore the equality of genders in Australia. It is amazing that as professionals we have programs like Gender Equity Strategy to support our clients. I take a gendered approach to migration and resettlement, ensuring everyone receives the support needed to thrive, rebuild their lives, and contribute meaningfully.” Learn more.

New funding announced in this week’s Federal Budget will offer some support to families fleeing the conflict in Gaza, many of whom are currently at risk of homelessness and poverty, according to non-profit organisation, Settlement Services International (SSI), which provides human services to around 50,000 people a year.

SSI welcomed the Federal Budget announcement of a $900k injection to extend Medicare eligibility to 30 June 2025 for Bridging Visa E holders arriving from affected areas of Israel and Palestine.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said families had escaped the crisis in Gaza only to arrive in Australia and find themselves largely reliant on charities like SSI, which is currently supporting close to 70 families.

“The situation in Gaza has worsened and worsened. With no hope of return, families are now navigating the process of applying for asylum in Australia, but in the meantime, their visa types mean they are mostly unable to work and ineligible for government support.

“At a time of rising costs of living, this has translated to families sleeping in cars, or living with 14 people in two-bedroom apartments,” she said.

“We welcome the extension of Medicare eligibility, noting however that most of the families we work with are currently not on visa types that are eligible for this support. More needs to be done so that refugees from Gaza receive the same support as people fleeing conflict in places like Ukraine.”

Ms Roumeliotis said it was encouraging to see broader measures to support people who are building new lives in Australia, such as a $120.9 million investment to strengthen the settlement sector and enhance outcomes for refugees and migrants.

“Robust on-arrival and settlement support is critical to ensuring newcomers are positioned to realise their full potential in Australia. It was welcome to see measures to this effect, including a modest increase in funding for some of the core settlement programs that support these outcomes,” she said.

“Disappointingly, the humanitarian intake will remain static at 20,000 places, despite record-breaking global numbers of people who are currently forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, conflict and persecution.

“A scale-up of our humanitarian intake is needed to meet the massive shortfall in resettlement places globally. It would also open up more opportunities for refugees already settled here to be reunited with family and, critically, allow Australia to demonstrate its credentials as a strong global citizen.”

Ms Roumeliotis said a strong theme of the budget was women’s safety, ranging from economic security to targeted violence prevention measures and more.

“It is a scary time to be a woman in Australia. An average of one Australian woman is violently killed every week, a significant portion of which occurs in intimate and family settings. There is no panacea for this, but this budget includes significant investment to make women’s lives safer and more equitable,” she said.

Ms Roumeliotis said SSI welcomed a number of other budget measures designed to improve access and equity in Australia, including:

• $27 million over three years to extend targeted support for Youth Transition Support services, which assist refugee and migrant youth to access education, employment and government services.
• $253.6 million over five years to reform employment services and supports for people with disability.
• $468.7 million over five years to support people with disability and get the NDIS back on track.
  $925.2 million over five years to improve financial support, safety assessments and referrals to support services for victim-survivors leaving a violent intimate partner relationship.

Media enquiries:
Hannah Gartrell, Head of Executive Communications and Media
M: 0423 965 956 E: hgartrell@ssi.org.au

Ahlam, Ana, and Emad all arrived in Australia as refugees and today, they are giving back by supporting newcomers settle in Australia as part of SSI’s Immediate Services team.

We caught up with them at the Sydney Airport arrivals hall to hear more about their first steps on Australian soil and what those moments taught them to better support others.

Emad recalls his first moments in the arrivals hall he sits today as deeply emotional.

“This was the moment when someone waited for me and, upon my arrival, said, ‘Okay, welcome to Australia. A new life awaits you here.’ Immediately, I forgot everything I left behind in my country. All the suffering turned to excitement,” Emad reflected on his experiences from 15 years ago.

Today, Emad is part of a tight-knit team of staff from refugee backgrounds and other SSI staff who make the SSI Immediate Services team, who have the responsibility and privilege to be the first people Australia’s newcomers meet and build connections with when they first land in their new home.

“When our clients arrive at the airport, usually there are family and friends waiting so often it feels like a party. Because some families are waiting for five to eight to 10 years for approval for a loved one to come to Australia,” Emad said.

“We get very excited when we see our clients happy and getting hugs from their relatives. It’s especially moving when we welcome families and kids.”

Ahlam came to Australia as a refugee 16 years ago. When she first arrived, she didn’t speak English and had no money.

“I was so scared to come out of the airport, wondering who will be out there waiting for me. I had no idea what was going to happen next. When I came out, the SSI staff made me feel good, safe and so happy,” she recalled.

Since that day, Ahlam has become part of the SSI team and one of the ‘locals’ of Sydney Airport – she comes to greet and welcome newcomers so often, she is well-known and liked by staff in the arrivals hall.

“I think about my own experience when I landed at the airport; when I see them searching for someone who can help give them a home. I know what a good feeling it is to see someone waiting, holding your name on a sign. It is a feeling you can’t describe,” Ahlam reflected.

“Because I was a refugee myself, I don’t mind as long as I’m helping people because I know how they feel. Because they’ve suffered to come here; they’ve come from such a long way and they don’t know anyone. So to be here for them, I can see in their eyes how much it means.”

Anastasiia, or Ana for short, arrived as a refugee from Ukraine two years ago. At first, she didn’t interact with SSI but soon connected with the team to get assistance with renting an apartment, furniture and everything else she needed for the household.

“My case manager was always checking up on me how I’m going and what’s happening. And the moment I was ready to look for a job, she referred me to SSI to become a Multicultural Support Officer,” she said.

This is how Ana ultimately landed a full-time permanent position in SSI’s Immediate Services team, whose responsibility it is to meet new arrivals at the airport, get them set up for life in Australia, and provide them with suitable temporary accommodation.

“My role is the ‘backstage’ person behind the curtains, providing information to our Multicultural Support Officers around what time they should be at the airport, who we’re meeting, how big the family is, what languages they speak and so forth.”

Almost all refugees and asylum seekers who come to our shores have survived personal trauma and social upheaval. SSI’s Humanitarian Services Program (HSP) aims to provide them with the structured support they need to adjust to life in Australia and successfully settle into our communities. SSI delivers HSP services on behalf of the Federal government in several locations across NSW.

Our case workers work closely with newcomers, connecting them with the skills, support and resources they need to find their feet and develop into independent members of society.

In the last year, HSP’s diverse team supported over 3,000 newcomers feel welcome and secure in their new home country.

Watch what our clients, Nargis and Cecilia, had to say about the support they received on the first days in Australia and meet some of our expert ‘welcomers’ supporting newcomers:

Learn more about HSP Immediate Services Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP) here:

Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP)