Mr NATHAN HAGARTY (Leppington) (20:51): I acknowledge the twenty-fifth anniversary of Settlement Services International—better known as SSI—one of Australia's most respected community organisations and a leader in inclusion, opportunity and belonging. This year marks 25 years of empowering individuals, strengthening communities and building a more inclusive country. It is a milestone worthy of recognition in this Parliament not just for the scale of its work, but for what it represents—a belief that everyone, regardless of background, deserves the chance to belong, contribute and thrive.
SSI was founded in 2000 by a coalition of 11 migrant resource centres from across New South Wales. At the time, it had no staff, no revenue and just one program. But it had a clear vision—that settlement services should be guided by empathy, informed by lived experience and rooted in community. From those humble beginnings, SSI has grown into one of Australia's largest and most diverse human services organisations, delivering more than 50 programs across several States with a workforce of over 1,100 people. Over 25 years, SSI has supported hundreds of thousands of people—new arrivals, refugees, people with disability and families escaping violence—fostering inclusion, dignity and hope along the way
In 2016 alone, SSI supported more than 12,000 refugees from Syria and Iraq as they began new lives in Australia and partnered with Legal Aid NSW to connect culturally and linguistically diverse communities with legal services—the first initiative of its kind in the State and probably in the country. The best measure of SSI's impact is found in the people it has helped. One such story is that of Olga, a counsellor who fled Ukraine with her family in 2022 following the Russian invasion. Through SSI's Humanitarian Settlement Program, she was paired with a caseworker who helped her navigate Australia's systems, attend orientation sessions and rebuild her career. Today Olga works as a counsellor in Sydney, helping other refugees rebuild their lives—proof that when people are supported they can transform hardship into opportunity.
Similarly, through SSI's Ability Links NSW program, a network of multilingual linkers has helped people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds build confidence, make community connections and access opportunities that were once out of reach. SSI has also led in innovation. Its Ignite small business startups initiative has helped countless migrants and refugees start their own businesses, unlocking economic potential that benefits the whole community. The Multicultural Child and Family Program and the Adira: NSW Multicultural Centre for Women's and Family Safety continue to provide culturally responsive support to those most in need.
Beyond service delivery, SSI has shaped national conversations on migration, settlement and inclusion. Its advocacy highlights the Billion Dollar Benefit program, which I have spoken about in this House a number of times. It is about the social and economic value that is created when migrants and refugees are supported to use their skills and talents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, SSI established vaccination hubs for multicultural communities, ensuring that people could access care and reliable information in their own languages. From its early days in Ashfield to offices across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, SSI's reach is remarkable, yet what stands out most is its consistency of values—empathy, respect, accountability and inclusion.
I had the pleasure of being on the board of SSI before I was elected to this place, and a story that sticks with me demonstrates the impact that you have being part of this organisation. I was invited to an event held by the Afghan community one year after the Taliban took over in Afghanistan, and I was sat next to someone from that country. I told him who I was and where I was from, and he was literally brought to tears. The name "SSI" had an incredible impact on him because when hundreds of people jumped onto planes and fled Afghanistan to come to Australia SSI pulled an enormous amount of resources together and helped those refugees to get on their feet. SSI took them to Kmart in Penrith, for example. I know that many of those people are thriving now. I thank chair Peter van Vliet and CEO Violet Roumeliotis for their incredible work. I also thank everyone who has had a hand in that organisation over the past quarter of a century. May it continue to thrive for many more years.
