Forging Connections in the West: SSI Leads Cross-State Mission to Strengthen Multicultural Services and Combat Family Violence

PERTH, WA – In a significant push to expand national collaboration on migrant integration and social support, a delegation of senior leaders from Settlement Services International (SSI) recently concluded a strategic multi-day mission to Western Australia. The visit, centered on relationship-building and knowledge exchange, highlighted a shared commitment to enhancing services for multicultural communities across state lines.

The delegation, which included SSI CEO Violet Roumeliotis AM, alongside senior colleagues Brad Chilcott AM, Gulnara Abbasova, and the author, traveled to Perth to support their newest WA-based colleague, Tharanga De Silva, and engage directly with key stakeholders on the ground.

“This was a mission of listening, learning, and laying the groundwork for stronger partnerships,” the delegation noted. “The insights gained from stakeholders in Western Australia are invaluable as we work to tailor and improve national service delivery.”

The itinerary underscored the trip’s high-level strategic nature. A major highlight was being hosted at WA’s Parliament House by the Hon Klara Andric MLC. The delegation also held productive meetings with federal and state parliamentarians, including Senator the Hon Sue Lines, Sook Yee Lai MLA, and Tania Lawrence MP, Member for Hasluck, appreciating their openness and commitment to community-focused policy.

Moving from government to grassroots, the week featured a series of impactful meetings:

• With the City of Stirling, where officials including Janeice Carrascalao and Elizabeth Richard exchanged vital program knowledge and local government perspectives.
• With the Western Australia Multicultural Association (WAMA), engaging with Mr. Simon Lee and Mrs. Helen Job to understand the local multicultural landscape.
• With Ramdas Sankaran, CEO of the Multicultural Services Centre of WA (MSCWA), and Louise Giolitto, CEO of the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS), discussing systemic support and collaboration.

A key focus of the visit was SSI’s innovative work in combating Family and Domestic Sexual Violence (FDSV) within multicultural communities. This culminated in a Community & Faith Leaders Forum, generously hosted by the Hon Ayor Chuot MLC. The forum, attended by over 18 leaders, showcased a new e-learning module developed by SSI in partnership with the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). The module is designed to equip community leaders with the tools to identify signs of FDSV and respond appropriately, a critical step in early intervention.

“We were particularly grateful for the opportunity to present our FDSV prevention tools,” the delegation shared. “Empowering community leaders with this knowledge is essential to creating safer environments for all.”

The visit also served to highlight SSI’s specific service offerings, such as a productive discussion with Caroline Speirs, Director of Community Engagement Projects at the Department of Communities, regarding SSI’s Multicultural Foster Care services.

The SSI delegation expressed profound gratitude to all stakeholders for their warm welcome and candid discussions. The trip has firmly established a foundation for future collaboration, with a shared goal of strengthening support systems and fostering more inclusive, resilient communities across Australia.