Greater Dandenong residents are invited to celebrate the contribution refugees make to their diverse and vibrant city.
Refugee Week runs from Sunday 19 to Saturday 25 June and includes World Refugee Day on Monday 20 June.
This year’s theme “With Courage Let Us All Combine” borrows a line from the Australian national anthem and recognises the courage many refugees have shown in their fight for a better life.
Greater Dandenong Mayor Heang Tak encouraged residents to take time during Refugee Week to learn more about the journeys and experiences of refugee and asylum seekers in the community.
Journey of Courage will combine theatre and discussion with a Q and A panel from 7.30pm to 10.30pm on Tuesday 28 June at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong.
Springers Leisure Centre in Keysborough will host a soccer tournament and live entertainment on Saturday 9 July.
Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre, Monash Health, ERMHA, Catholic Care and the City of Greater Dandenong are presenting the event.
Life Without Barriers will host a luncheon with refugee service providers from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesday 22 June at Suite One, Level Two, 1 Langhorne Street, Dandenong.
Councillor Tak said more than 2200 recently-arrived migrants settled in the municipality each year – the highest of any Victorian council area.
“A third of them are refugees, largely from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Iran and Pakistan,” he said.
There are about 3000 asylum seekers living in the community, he said – again the highest in the state.
“We have a long and proud history of supporting the settlement of new migrants, and we are proud to be an official Refugee Welcome Zone,” he said.
