SSI welcomes establishment of first NSW Settlement Advisory Council

Leading refugee resettlement and multicultural services provider SSI has praised the establishment of the NSW Settlement Advisory Council announced by the Minns Labor Government on World Refugee Day last Friday.

The NSW Settlement Advisory Council will be headed by Coordinator General for Settlement Professor Peter Shergold AC and will provide expert advice and policy support to Multicultural NSW while championing the state's Settlement Strategy.

SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis said SSI is ready and willing to work with the new council, which will be a formal consultative mechanism to the Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper and Multicultural NSW. 

“SSI applauds the NSW government for putting newly arrived people and their lived experience at the heart of policy and process by establishing a body that considers an individual’s entire being, not just their basic needs,” Ms Roumeliotis said. 

“It is vital that new arrivals are provided with wrap-around services and programs that provide the tools they need to live their fullest lives in their new home. We can see this new Advisory Council will be an important part of that approach, helping bridge the gap between lived experience and policy and process. 

“The Settlement Advisory Council is a fantastic step forward for NSW and SSI is looking forward to contributing to its success.” 

SSI has 25 years’ experience working in the settlement space including being a key partner in delivering the Commonwealth Humanitarian Settlement Program, supporting around 28,000 refugees to settle in Australia in the current program that has operated since 2017. 

Ms Roumeliotis said SSI had in the past worked closely with the NSW government on the Refugee Employment Support Program, providing an innovative and successful response to the unique challenges that refugees and people seeking asylum face in finding employment and overcoming economic exclusion. 

According to the NSW government’s announcement, incoming chair Peter Shergold AC said a key focus of the Advisory Council would be to create stronger collaboration with the federal government and other states and territories to drive better outcomes. 

The announcement stated that the Settlement Advisory Council would focus on complex settlement policy challenges and identifying improvements, and ensure a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to delivering settlement services. 

Ms Roumeliotis said the council’s goals aligned very well with SSI’s and programs. 

“For example, SSI has convened an alliance of businesses, unions, social services and community organisations under the Activate Australia’s Skills campaign to advocate for reforms in the overseas skills and qualification system across Australia. This is something that would help address crippling skills shortages and allow new arrivals, amongst others, to utilise their skills and experience in their new home. 

“This is just one challenge the Settlement Advisory Council would be able to work with the sector on – we can see great potential for it to be a fantastic driver for improvement and change for new arrivals.”