Refugee Week 2021
Unity - The way forward

Our communities thrive when diversity, inclusion and fairness are valued and prioritised. However, over the past 20 years Australia has created a narrative of fear around people seeking asylum and refugees, which has led to an unfair and at times, punitive and unwelcoming system. 

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People with a lived experience of seeking asylum are best placed to advocate for fairer policy changes that affect them. Yet too often our voices are absent from public and community discussions around refugee rights in Australia. Our media, political and cultural narratives are dominated by the voices of those without personal experience and legitimacy and often, by those who seek to demonise people seeking asylum. 

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In response, Refugee Voices works with people with lived experience of seeking asylum to provide opportunities for them to meaningfully participate in discussion and cultural change for refugee justice. Our work builds on the successes of the Refugee Community Advocacy Program in 2020 (Please see Mohammad’s story at ABC; https://fb.watch/2WyPQVDD6P/), upscaling the work to resource people with lived experience to use the art of storytelling and culture to connect and communicate with the wider Australian community.

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This year, Refugee Week 2021 celebrates Unity - The way forward. 

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What better way for us to come together, listen and rebuild lives together, which are inclusive and fair, than to get involved in this national week of awareness, Sunday 20th June to Saturday 26th June.