26,975 people came through the doors of SSI’s main offices in the 2017-18 financial year to receive support.
Highlights
Aug
2017
Support for Newcomer Families
SSI’s Cultural Shift conference explored new and innovative measures to maximise the chances of successful settlement for refugee and migrants families.
Oct
2017
Jobs for refugees
More than 500 job seekers of refugee background received employment advice and guidance at the Refugee Job Start: Information Expo, organised by SSI, the Federal Department of Employment, the NSW Department of Industry and Multicultural NSW.
Jan
2018
Community Innovation Fund
SSI awarded a total of $50,000 to the first six recipients of grants from its ground-breaking Community Innovation Fund, which honours the unsung heroes who offer grassroots support to newly arrived communities.
Apr
2018
Conference addresses disability challenges
The DiverseAbility NDIS Inclusion Conference brought together more than 200 delegates to tackle the big issues and challenges facing people with disability from CALD backgrounds.
Inaugural SSI Mosaic Gala
Over a night of entertainment, food and music, the SSI Mosaic Gala raised awareness and funds for SSI programs that help people to overcome education and employment barriers.
Sep
2017
SSI CEO receives top honour
SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis was named as the 2017 Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year – beating out finalists from across Australia who are achieving great things in their respective fields.
Nov
2017
International Women's Day at SSI
An SSI event for International Women's Day brought together people from all walks of life for a day of food, dance, music and celebrating the achievements of women from around the world.
Mar
2018
SSI’s local knowledge goes global
At the annual UNHCR NGO Consultations in Geneva, SSI’s Yamamah Agha played a pivotal role in influencing global refugee policy through her role as Rapporteur.
Jun
2018
Sep
2017
People with disability shine in storybook
The voices of people with disability were at the heart of an Ability Links NSW (ALNSW) storybook, launched by NSW Disability Services and Multiculturalism Minister Ray Williams on behalf of SSI.
New Beginnings Festival in Spring
Sydney’s newest community members took centre stage at Darling Harbour for the SSI New Beginnings Festival in Spring, where hundreds gathered to enjoy the talents of people from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
Nov
2017
Sep
2017
Mar
2018
SSI expands
New England MP and former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce opened SSI’s office in the new refugee settlement region of Armidale.
Sep
2017
Refugee Week launch
Ashod Paloulian, an entrepreneur supported by SSI on arrival in Australia, shared his story with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton at a special Refugee Week event in Canberra, supported by SSI.
Jun
2017
Sep
2017
What We Do
SSI is a sustainable social business with a local, national and international footprint. We take an integrated approach to supporting newcomers and other vulnerable Australians to realise their potential. Through collaboration and innovation, our services wrap around individuals and families to capitalise on their strengths, identify their priorities and meet their current and future needs.
Each person we support has a different journey through SSI because the support we offer is tailored to their unique strengths and requirements. Working hand-in-hand with governments, corporations and communities, we supported the 26,975 individuals who came through the doors of SSI’s main offices in 2017-18, along with thousands of others who engaged with our members and partners.
We provide services that level the playing field for people who are at a point in their lives where they are experiencing a vulnerability, such as forced displacement or unemployment. The voices of the individuals and families SSI supports influence our work at all levels of the organisation. By operating efficiently, we reinvest our surpluses in new and innovative initiatives that meet gaps we’ve identified through feedback from service users.
We work with vulnerable communities to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality. SSI is an advocate for the people and communities it represents and serves. Through the work we do, we empower people to change their lives. Through our advocacy and representation, we influence and shape ideas and policy, and we change people’s minds.
The people our organisation works with don’t just survive — they prosper.
SSI’s support has increased my wellbeing and helped me to become more resilient. It has enabled and empowered me to gain experience and knowledge to reach my goal of supporting other people with disability and working in the sector.
I wish people would understand that refugee is just a label and underneath it all we are all humans, we are all equal, and refugees have dreams and hopes for a better future like everyone else does.