Refugee Week 2020: What's on

Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. 

During Refugee Week we: 

• reflect on the needs faced by millions of people forced from their homes 

• come together to celebrate the courage of refugees resettling in Australia 

• recognise the generous acts of welcome displayed to refugees by so many caring Australians 

RCOA Ref Week 2020 poster 1 1

Key SSI events for Refugee Week

The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) has named is SSI as its key event partner for this year’s virtual Refugee Week. Visit the RCOA page to see more: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

SSI Connecting through Welcome virtual exhibition 

What does welcome mean to you? In celebration of Refugee Week 2020, our online exhibition showcases submissions from the community about what welcome means to them. Check them out here.  

Voices from the front line: Refugee women and
COVID-19 

Refugee and asylum-seeking women and leaders of frontline services share their experiences of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here.

The forum includes:

  1. The National Context - How has the national community responded and what still needs to be done?
  2. How are refugee women responding across Australia to COVID-19?
  3. What refugee women need, capacity gaps and advocacy priorities? 

Date and time: Wednesday 17 June 2020 12pm-2pm AEST

RSVP: https://action.refugeecouncil.org.au/women_and_covid_19_forum

 

Foundations for Belonging: A snapshot of newly arrived refugees

SSI launches new research for Refugee Week 2020. An enlightening snapshot of newly arrived refugees. 

Thursday 18th June

Successful settlement and integration is a goal shared by refugees, the communities where they settle and government at all levels. Join Settlement Services International for the launch of new research that shines a light on the social and civic dimensions of integration. Hear of the perspectives of refugees themselves and their everyday experiences of welcome, participation and belonging. Learn of actions that governments, policymakers, service providers and civil society can pursue to strengthen their contribution to settlement and integration. 

Hosted by Australia at Home ABC News reporter Lydia Feng will moderate an online panel discussion featuring research Co-author and Senior Research Fellow at Western Sydney University Shanthi Robertson, SSI Settlement Services Manager Dor Achiek and Refugee Council of Australia Policy Officer ShufukaTahiri. 

When: Thursday 18 June 

Where: Australia at Home online 

RSVP: https://australiaathome.com.au/upcoming-conversations/ssi


Refugee Week: Celebrating the 'Year of Welcome' Online Sessions 

SSI is co-hosting a series of online webinars during Refugee Week from Mon 15th Jun 2020- Sat 4th July. Click here to secure your spot! 

Bringing stories and conversations into your home and work, this series of five engaging online sessions around refugee issues will be presented during Refugee Week. The one-off cost ($15)covers all sessions. 

BM Refugee Week promo 1

 

Events hosted by member and partner organisations 

Focus Connect  

Due to Covid 19, Focus Connect will celebrate the contributions that refugees make in Australia digitally via their Facebook page. Click here to connect to Focus Connect content.  

Western Sydney MRC 

Join Welcome from the Heart.

Refugee Week 2020 theme is Welcome. To honour this theme, we want to highlight the work undertaken by many of the volunteer communities across Australia. Whether you are an individual volunteer or are connected to community groups, we want to recognise the amazing welcome that you offer and your contribution to those that come here as refugees. 

Stand together as one, as we Welcome from the Heart. Click here to register.  

 
SydWest – Poetry submission call-out  

SydWest is calling for your poem to celebrate Refugee Week 2020. Click here to submit a 5-line poem about what it means to be in Australia to you, starting with Now I call Australia Home.RW poetry call for entries 01-1.png

 

Advance Diversity Services - Refugee Week Live Stream

Filmmakers Bebi and Liz Zekirovski shot the three short videos aware of the complexities of refugee issues and informed by a recent trip to Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, where more than a million Rohingya refugees are living in cramped and unsanitary conditions after fleeing violence and abuse in neighbouring Myanmar.

The Zekirovski’s will feature as part of a Facebook Live event hosted by ADS on Thursday June 18 at 4pm in which the videos of the refugees’ stories will also be shown. The event will also be an opportunity to hear local refugees’ stories, learn about life in a Bangladeshi camp, and the legal services available to refugees in Sydney.

Join the event live via the ADS Facebook page here. Registration not required.

Quality services and support

SSI is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. We work with all people who have experienced vulnerability, including refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

SSI draws on its expertise and experience to advocate for the people and communities it serves. Through the work we do, we empower people to change their lives. Through our advocacy and representation, we influence ideas and policy.

Our vision is to achieve a society that values the diversity of its people and actively provides support to ensure meaningful social and economic participation and to assist individuals and families reach their potential.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)