STARTTS is proud to congratulate our staff member on her nomination for the 2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award.
Yassmen is herself a refugee from Iraq. As a member of a persecuted ethnic minority called Mandaeanism, she is only too aware of the trauma experienced by those fleeing persecution in their homeland.
Yassmen was nominated for her work with the Mandaean Women’s committee, where she works to assist and encourage larger participation of ethnic women in the community. She understands the fear and dislocation of those in her community, and is committed to helping her community to settle safely and happily in their new home.
Yassmen first came to know STARTTS as a client, and is now a valued member of staff. The staff of STARTTS are proud of her achievements, and applaud her dedication to supporting and enhancing the lives of others in need.
Read more about the
2016 Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Community Individual Award here.
Young children who have experienced trauma will now be able to benefit from one of STARTTS’ most successful projects combatting trauma in early childhood. Thanks to funding from the Commonwealth Bank at Fairfield, STARTTS is revamping the popular ‘Monkey Tales’ program which has proved very successful in helping children in their recovery from trauma. 
Refugee Week celebrates the great contribution that refugees make to enrich Australian society. On Friday 12 June 2015, STARTTS launched Refugee Week 2015 together with the Refugee Council of Australia, Settlement Services International and Illawarra Multicultural Services, with Janice Petersen from SBS as the MC. For the first time ever, the launch event was held in the Illawarra, a major population centre of NSW. 