The “Refugee week” is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. The 2020 Theme was celebrating the year of welcome. By contributing, we are amplifying work already undertaken for the year of welcome with a shift to how people could celebrate within their own homes and communities as a result of Covid-19. Please see below for some of Maribyrnong’s contributions.
Our Inclusion, Communications, and Community Development team have worked with community members to produce a series of three videos. This marks the beginning of Refugee week by sharing stories of local community members, and what feeling 'welcome' means to them.
World Refugee Day
International days are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. Through the intercultural Cities network the City Council contributed to a campaign to show that “Everyone can make a difference, Every action counts”.
Refugee and Asylum Seeker Statement
The City of Maribyrnong has seen multiple waves of migration and according to the 2016 Census has recently seen a high number of new arrivals since 2006. The City Council has welcomed many new residents predominantly from India, China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nepal.[1]
The City Council does not provide settlement services but has a key role in ensuring that our service offerings such as sport and recreation, libraries, youth services and family services are inclusive of people who have arrived on humanitarian visas, people seeking asylum, those from refugee backgrounds who arrive on other visa types, and individuals who have migrated to Australia.
The City of Maribyrnong officially became a Refugee Welcome Zone when the City Council made a commitment to welcome refugees into the community, uphold their human rights, demonstrate compassion, and enhance cultural and religious diversity in the community. We will continue to further this commitment to ensure Maribyrnong is a place where all people feel welcome.
More information:
- Community members discussing the year of Welcome
- Community members discussing what contributes to a sense of welcome
- Community members talking about what does welcome mean to them
- Asylum seekers statement
[1] 2016 ABS
