The following are events for Refugee Week – Sunday June 18 to Saturday June 24 2017 – organised by or in collaboration with members of the NSW Settlement Partnership.
SydWest Multicultural Services
People of all ages and backgrounds are invited to Refugee Week celebrations in Blacktown and Penrith during Refugee Week.
This year, SydWest Multicultural Services and partners are hosting a very large event at the Blacktown RSL on June 20, 10am – 1pm. The event will showcase some leading local talents, as well as hear from young refugees who have made Blacktown their home.
Around 500 people are expected to attend this event and enjoy entertainment, including African drumming from Blacktown Girls High School, cultural performances from local Persian and Arabic speakers and a performance by SydWest’s own new Youth Music Group. Young refugees will also share their story of making Blacktown home.
Refugee Week is being celebrated in Penrith June 22, 10am – 12.30pm at the St Mary’s Community Centre. The program features the Mayor of Penrith, Clr John Thain, and guest speaker Dr Samer Sirri, recent refugee arrival and Penrith resident.
The events are free and will feature entertainment, activities and lunch.
Manning Valley Neighbourhood Services
The Mid North Coast Refugee Support Group will be showing the film Chasing Asylum on Friday June 23, 5.30pm at the Port Macquarie Library. Inquiries to 6581 8755.
The documentary Molly and Mobarak, about an Afghan refugee finding work in a small Australian town and falling in love with a local woman, will screen with a guest speaker at Taree Library at 6pm, Wednesday June 21, and at Forster Library at 2pm Monday June 26. These are free events with refreshments provided but booking are essential through midcoastlibraries.com.au.
Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre
The Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre is holding a special movie night: Constance on the Edge at Western Plains Cultural Centre, June 21, 5.30pm for 6.30pm start.
It is a free event but there are only 60 seats available. To book, please call the Dubbo Neighbourhood Centre on 6882 2100.
Gymea Community Aid and Information Service
Under the Same Sky: With author James Knight. Wednesday, June 21 2017 at 6:30pm, at Sutherland Library, 30-36 Belmont Street, Sutherland.
Cost: Free. Booking required. Inquiries can be directed to Sutherland Library on 02 9710 0351 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Under the Same Sky is a powerful insight into the human face of asylum seekers and the way history has shaped the lives of two young people, Mojgan and Milad. It also shows the compassion alive in our suburbs.
Nepean Multicultural Access
A Refugee Week Forum will be held on Thursday June 22, 10am to 12:30pm, hosted by Nepean Multicultural Access and St Marys Area Community Development Project.
Venue: St Marys Area Community Development Project, 29 Swanston Street, St Marys, New South Wales 2760.
Come help us celebrate diversity in our community! This free event is for community members, leaders, workers, businesses from the Penrith LGA. There will be guest speakers, entertainment and lunch provided. For more information contact Laura on 9833 2416.
Northern Settlement Services
A Refugee Week Festival — “Hope, Courage, Remembering” — will be held Saturday June 17, 3pm to 7pm, at 2A Platt Street, Waratah (Hunter Multicultural Communities—Formerly Ethnic Communities Council).
There will be games, sports and other activities. Food and prayers for those breaking the fast for Ramadan. Please bring a plate of food to share.
Transport: Close to Waratah Train Station, bus from Jesmond and plenty of parking.
There will also be two screenings of the widely acclaimed documentary film Constance on the Edge in Newcastle, with refreshments and panel discussion reflecting on regional resettlement in the region.
- Tuesday June 20 10am to 12.30pm and
- Wednesday June 21 – 5.30pm to 8pm (refreshments available from 5pm).
Venue: Riddell Theatre, Newcastle TAFE, Tighes Hill, Building P, Maitland Road side of TAFE. Parking is available in the student car park at the end of Clyde St (turn right) or off Chinchen Street.
Hosted by Northern Settlement Services, Newcastle Amnesty, Navitas English, TAFE NSW, Zara’s House and the University of Newcastle.
Seating is limited, so registration is essential: http://preview.tinyurl.com/y8yep3sg
Advance Diversity Services
Advance Diversity Services is partnering with Georges River Council to host a Refugee Week event on June 15, 10am to 12pm. ADS has been working with two Intensive English Centres in the region (Beverly Hills and Kogarah), who will perform at the event.
Venue: Civic Theatre, MacMahon Street, Hurstville.
The event will include inspiring guest speakers, welcome refugee musical performances, announcement of the winners of the 'Refugee Creative Writing Competition', a film screening and refreshments.
For bookings please contact Jamal Bassam, Multicultural Services on 0403 227 710 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This event is supported by Advance Diversity Services, MTC Australia Hurstville, Beverly Hills Intensive English Centre, Kogarah Intensive English Centre, Settlement Services International and Refugee Council of Australia.
Metro Assist
Metro Assist and Canterbury–Bankstown Migrant Interagency (CBMI) will be organising two events to promote collaboration across networks.
To give the community an understanding of the refugee experience, screenings of Freedom Stories (a film about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances) will be shown followed by live stories.
Times, dates and venues: From 10.30am to 12pm, June 20 at Campsie Library (14-28 Amy Street, Campsie) and June 22 at Lakemba Library (62 The Boulevarde Lakemba).
The Navitas Refugee Ceramics Exhibition will be held at the Navitas Bankstown campus on Wednesday June 28.
Community Migrant Resource Centre
Refugee Week events orgainsed by Community Migrant Resource Centre incude:
- Freedom Stories: In partnership with Ryde Council, an evening of short films, spoken words, music and food. Wednesday June 21, 6.30pm, at Ryde Library. Bookings: 9952 8352. Register online: http://www.ryde.nsw.gov.au/Events/Listing/Freedom-Stories-RW-2017.
- Refugee Week Celebration, Monday June 19, 10am to 10:30am, CMRC Eastwood Office. Contact Amy Joo, 9858 1925.
- My Story, My Neighbourhood, Monday, June 19, 10am to 1pm, Parramatta Library. In partnership with Arthur Phillip High School and Parramatta Library.
- Youth Transition Support Program Iftar and My Story, My Neighbourhood Exhibition Launch, Tuesday June 13, 5pm – 7pm, Grand Royale, Granville.
Auburn Diversity Services
Auburn Diversity Services Inc. (ADSi) has organised the following activities for Refugee Week:
- ADSi Refugee Week Celebration 2017, Thursday June 15 from 10am to 12.30pm at Auburn Town Hall, 1 Susan Street, Auburn NSW 2144. The event will include cultural performances, music, panel discussions and community stalls. Volunteers from refugee backgrounds will be acknowledged and awarded at the event. Free light lunch provided. Everyone is welcome.
- Western Sydney Refugee Youth Awards 2017, Thursday June 15 from 1pm to 3pm, at Auburn Town Hall, 1 Susan Street, Auburn NSW 2144. Organised by ADSi in partnership with local high schools and STARTTS, SafeWork NSW, Cumberland Council, TAFE SWSI, SSI Youth Collective, NSW Police Force, and other organisations, this 12 year old program is designed to recognise the outstanding achievements of refugee youth in Community Leadership, Academic, Sports, Creative and Performance Arts. The Awards have been proudly sponsored by the Hon. Luke Foley MP, Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Western Sydney, and State Member for Auburn. Mr Foley will present the awards to winners. This event is open to public.
CORE Community Services
The Fairfield Emerging Communities Action Partnership's (FECAP) Refugee Week event is the Fairfield Multicultural Festival, Wednesday June 21 2017, 11am to 1pm, at Monomar Reception Centre, Level 1, 41- 43 Smart Street, Fairfield.
FECAP, an interagency convened by CORE Multicultural Communities, comprises government and non-government service providers that collaborate to increase access and improve the quality of service delivery to emerging communities of humanitarian entrants, migrants and asylum seekers in and around the Fairfield LGA.
The event aims to attract 500 members of the Fairfield LGA to a food and music festival reflecting the diversity of Fairfield City.
There will be light refreshments, information stalls about the range of services that refugee and migrant communities can access, and Assyrian, Arabic, Karen and Vietnamese cultural performances.
Mayor Frank Carbone will speak on the need for the community to value its diversity and to remain cohesive and united. He will also highlight the significant contribution of refugee and migrant communities to the community.