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. Originally celebrated in 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June). In 2017, Refugee Week is held from Sunday 18 June to Saturday 24 June.
The theme for Refugee Week for 2015 to 2017 will be “With courage let us all combine”. Taken from the second verse of the national anthem, the theme celebrates the courage of refugees and of people who speak out against persecution and injustice. It serves as a call for unity and for positive action, encouraging Australians to improve our nation’s welcome for refugees and to acknowledge the skills and energy refugees bring to their new home.
Refugee Week in 2017
To celebrate Refugee Week in 2017, we are sharing the stories of some refugees who have settled in Geelong.
Get to know Geelong’s refugees and their stories by watching this video.
Refugee Week empowers people and organisations to create their own celebrations.
Get involved by trying some of these initiatives:
- Arrange a co-workers shared lunch, where everyone brings foods from their cultural heritage
- Ask a refugee to speak at your shared lunch
- Start a conversation to learn about another person’s journey to Australia or share your own journey
- Ask to learn a cultural dance, music or song
- Volunteer or donate – do something positive for refugees locally, nationally or worldwide
- Let your politicians know that you support the basic human right for all humans to seek asylum
- Give a welcoming smile to a stranger in the street – it doesn’t even have to be a refugee
For more information about Refugee Week and how it’s celebrated across Australia, visit the Refugee Week website .
