Refugee Week, from Sunday 16 to Saturday 22 June, celebrates the contributions refugees and people seeking asylum make in our communities.
The week-long program of events and activities aims to raise awareness and educate people about who refugees are, the challenges they face and how we can create a welcoming culture.
The theme this year is Finding Freedom: Family. It invites us to explore the stories of refugees who, despite the challenges they encounter, discover a source of freedom within the embrace of their biological or chosen families.
Here are 5 ways you can get involved and show your support this Refugee Week.
1. Hear a refugee share their story
We’re hosting free events at our community centres throughout the week.
Ambassadors from the Refugee Council of Australia will talk about leaving their home and the challenges of starting a new life in Sydney.
Make a connection over morning tea or an evening of delicious food, live music and dance. Find an event near you to celebrate Refugee Week.
Can't make it to one of our events? Invite a refugee ambassador from the Refugee Council of Australia to speak at your workplace, school or community, as part of its Refugee Stories for Change program.
2. Find refugee stories at your local library
Our library members have access to a huge collection of books, ebooks and eaudiobooks. The City of Sydney Libraries’ Refugee Week reading list includes Kurdish journalist Behrouz Boochani’s No Friend but the Mountains, an account of his 6 years of incarceration on Manus Island. In The Ungrateful Refugee, Dina Nayeri weaves together her story of fleeing Iran as a child with the experiences of others making their own journey today.
Join the library to access our free streaming services with an amazing collection of Australian and international films.
There’s also a recommended list of films, documentaries and shows about refugees and people seeking asylum you can watch and share with others on the Refugee Week website.
Heading to the library with young children? Share a special themed storytime for 3 to 5 year-olds at Surry Hills, Darling Square or Glebe libraries. Enjoy a fun morning of songs, rhymes, stories and crafts.
3. Share a meal
Break bread at Colombo Social, Kabul Social or Kyiv Social and support these social enterprise restaurants that offer training and employment to refugees, people seeking asylum and other vulnerable groups. For each meal or set menu ordered, these restaurants donate 2 meals to people in need – one in Sydney and one in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan or Ukraine.
Parliament on King will offer a tasty treats prepared by refugees and people seeking asylum at our Refugee Week speaker event at Ron Williams Community Centre.
4. Donate your time, skills – or a device
The Refugee Council of Australia has opportunities for volunteers to help with research, events, communications, campaigns and advocacy work. It also provides contact details of member organisations who need volunteers.
These include organisations like the Asylum Seekers Centre, where you can also donate a device. Give a mobile phone, tablet or laptop to someone seeking asylum in Sydney and help them to study, find work and stay in touch with loved ones.
5. Shop with impact
From food and fashion to arts and services, there are many refugee-powered businesses in Sydney and across Australia.
Shop ethical and sustainable fashion at The Social Outfit. Garments are made by refugees in a Marrickville workroom, often with excess, leftover fabrics from brands, manufacturers and textile mills.
Social enterprise the Welcome Merchant makes it easy for you to shop with intention, connecting you to a directory of refugee and asylum seeker entrepreneurs.
Refugees and people seeking asylum are welcome in our city
We’re one of the country’s most diverse cities and home to refugees and people seeking asylum from around the world. As an official refugee welcome zone since 2005, we're committed to upholding human rights, demonstrating compassion and enhancing cultural and religious diversity.
Refugees and people seeking asylum have free or low-cost access to many of our facilities and services, including libraries and community centres. Residents can apply for an access card that provides a reduced rate to our aquatic and fitness centres and tennis courts.
Published 3 June 2024
