World Refugee Day in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
World Refugee Day in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific
What is World Refugee Day?
World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.
World Refugee Day 2023
This year, World Refugee Day focuses on the power of inclusion and solutions for refugees. Our tagline is:
Hope away from Home. A world where refugees are always included.
Including refugees in the communities where they have found safety after fleeing conflict and persecution is the most effective way to support them in restarting their lives and enable them to contribute to the countries hosting them. It’s also the best way to prepare them to return home and rebuild their countries, when conditions allow them to do so safely and voluntarily, or to thrive if they are resettled to another country.
What can I do?
Inspiration for ways to get involved in celebrating World Refugee Day this year
GIVE
Support the creation of scholarships for young refugees by donating to our Aiming Higher campaign.
You can also support our everyday work by making a general donation.
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CREATE
Join our global art contest in collaboration with UNIQLO, and get a chance to design shirts that will raise funds for refugees.
Teaching about refugees
Looking for ways your school can mark World Refugee Day this year? Teachers and schools play a key role in equipping children and young people to make sense of the topic, helping them to separate facts from fiction and opinion.
In the school environment, it can contribute to better mutual understanding between displaced learners and their host communities, helping to create an inclusive environment and learning in diversity.
Events
Join in on celebrations happening around the region this year
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Displaced People: Global Challenge, Australian Response
Join us for a thought-provoking talk by Prof. Peter Shergold AC, chair of Australia for UNHCR and NSW Coordinator General for Settlement. “Displaced People: Global Challenge, Australian Response.”
With his vast expertise in humanitarian affairs and public policy, Prof. Shergold will delve into the pressing issue of displaced individuals worldwide and shed light on Australia’s approach to this global challenge. Through an engaging discussion, he will explore the complexities surrounding forced migration, the impact on affected communities, and the Australian response and policy.
We invite you to be part of the conversation.
Location ACT Legislative Assembly
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2023 Homelands Tour featuring Love, Always Love
SSI’s Homelands Regional Arts Tour program aims to raise awareness and understanding of refugee experiences through arts, music and storytelling to increase social cohesion at regional and metropolitan settlement locations in New South Wales and Queensland during Refugee Week. This itinerant roadshow will consist of a multimedia exhibition, comprising short films, photography, painting and digital art, and a performing arts showcase comprising live music, a short film, narration and experimental performance.
The project will embark on a tour for Refugee Week 2023, with stops in Newcastle, Coffs Harbour, Gold Coast and Brisbane, for which SSI is partnering with the Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre (BEMAC), Home of Arts (HOTA), Aquarius Arcade, King Tide Brewery, Newcastle Museum, and University of Newcastle to deliver an impactful multidisciplinary artistic showcase that elevates the voices and experiences of refugees.
Location Queensland Multicultural Centre
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World Refugee Day Fair: Showcasing the skills and contributions of refugees in Australia
Celebrate World Refugee Day with a showcase of the rich skills and contributions of refugees! Join us on the front lawns of Parliament House to raise awareness about the systemic barriers that hold back many skilled refugees from achieving their full career potential in Australia.
Hosted by Settlement Services International (SSI), the Fair will feature stalls from a range of refugee-led businesses and organisations, refugee service providers, and employers who have enriched their workforces with skilled refugees.
Come for an immersive experience where you can visit stalls, buy lunch, listen to music, and enjoy a great lineup of speakers.
Location Parliament House
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World Refugee Day @ UC with Companion House 2023
World Refugee Day provides the UC community with an opportunity to demonstrate our support and to recognise the strength, resilience, and courage of those with refugee backgrounds, both locally and around the globe.
Students of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds are an underrepresented group in higher education within Australia, with higher education attainment rates at 12.7%. The diversity, knowledge, and educational aspiration developed through students’ life experiences must be celebrated and the rich contribution made to our institution and to society recognised.
To mark the day, several UC students with refugee backgrounds will share their success stories with us. We will also hear from UC executive staff, UNHCR and Companion House.
Location Inspire Centre (Building 25)
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Finding Freedom for Humanity - World Refugee Day in Conversation with UNHCR
World Refugee Day globally highlights the rights and needs of refugees, this year focusing on how we can create solutions for inclusivity and understanding. This year the theme of World Refugee Week in Australia is ‘Finding Freedom’, a sentiment that is near and dear to many refugees around the world.
Sir Zelman Cowen Centre and HOST International understand that we can do more for refugees in Australia and that we can only take a step in the right direction by hearing from the community and Aid organisations.
We invite you to join us to hear from UNHCR Deputy Regional Representative, Nai Jit Lam, regarding the UN Refugee Agency's policies and commitment towards finding freedom for refugees and displaced individuals.
Location Sir Zelman Cowen Centre
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The Anniversary of Community Sponsorship in Australia
Join us in a momentous celebration as we commemorate the one-year milestone of the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot (CRISP), a purpose-built program that marks a significant chapter in Australia's refugee migration narrative. Launched in May 2022, the CRISP program, inspired by the successful Canadian refugee sponsorship program, has allowed everyday Australians to play an instrumental role in the warm welcome and successful settlement of refugee newcomers.
This event presents a unique opportunity to hear individual refugees' and community members' inspiring success stories first-hand. These narratives of resilience, transformation, and integration are a testament to the power and potential of community-led programs like CRISP.
Location Zoom (online)
