Settlement Services International (SSI)
SSI is a national not–for–profit organisation whose purpose is to help create a more inclusive society in which everyone can meaningfully contribute to social, cultural, civic and economic life. We work towards this goal by delivering life–changing human and social services on behalf of governments and other nongovernment organisations and also using our own funding channels.
SSI was founded in 2000 by 11 member organisations with the aim of helping newly arrived refugees settle in Australia. Over time, our expertise working with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds (CALD) enabled us to expand into other social services and geographies.
Today, we are a leading provider of human services and social sector insights, working with over 67,000 people a year. SSI stands for equality of life – for everyone. We believe in supporting and working with multicultural and diverse communities to inspire people’s lives and provide hope, create real opportunities, and strive for a fair and inclusive society.
Our approach to our work and to achieving social change has been firmly anchored in the belief that strength comes from collaboration. We partner with federal and state government departments and agencies, community-minded businesses and individuals. And we build relationships with domestic and global human-services-led organisations and NFPs.
While we have maintained our initial focus on assisting people on humanitarian visas, we today work with a wider group of people experiencing vulnerability to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality. These include refugees, people seeking asylum, migrants, CALD communities, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, women, youth, families and children, and LGBTIQA+ communities.
Community is in our DNA. SSI delivers services tailored to the unique needs of these communities by working closely with community members to draw on local strengths. Our workforce is an extension of these communities, and we place great value on lived experience, combining it with professional expertise to deliver culturally responsive, high–quality services.
With community at the heart of everything we do, our purpose is to create a world in which everyone has access to equal opportunities.
