Join us in honouring the contributions of refugees in Yarra when Refugee Week launches this Sunday 20 June.

This year’s theme is ‘unity – the way forward’. Refugee week celebration and events continue around Australia until Saturday 26 June and focus on promoting harmony, togetherness and recognising our shared values and humanity. 

Refugee Week in Yarra

Refugee week is celebrated annually in the City of Yarra to raise awareness of people from refugee backgrounds, their individual journey and stories and to create a better understanding of the current political context. 

We share stories of resilience and hope as refugees settle in Yarra and across Melbourne. Refugee Week is also a way of acknowledging the important contributions people from refugee backgrounds make to Australia and to our local community.

Due to Covid restrictions, this year we will be marking Refugee Week by sharing stories from our refugee community in Yarra including from the artists who were originally going to be performing at the live event. 

Find out more: three stories from our refugee community here in Yarra 

• Carringbush Student Portraits: Refugee Experiences in Our Local Community
• Stories From The Other Side: Photography Exhibition by Zia Atahi 
• The Cross Cultural and Innovative Music of Gelareh Pour

Yarra Mayor, Gabrielle de Vietri said:

“Every person from a refugee background seeking safety brings their own story of why they left their home, their journey and their experience of finding safety in Australia. 

“The sharing of stories is an opportunity to not only remember and honour their courageous journey, but also to encourage the community to better understand the courage and contribution that people from refugee backgrounds make to life in Yarra.”

“They flee their homelands not only because they fear persecution, but also because they have hope: they hope to find freedom from persecution, hope for safety and hope for security for themselves and their families.”

“People from refugee backgrounds are valued members of our community and we are lucky to share in their knowledge, skills, music, food and cultural practices.”

Yarra Council supports asylum seekers and refugees

The City of Yarra has been a Refugee Welcome Zone since 2002. We are committed to welcoming refugees and asylum seekers into the community, upholding human rights, demonstrating compassion and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.

In 2010, Yarra City Council voted to permanently display the welcome banners to refugees and asylum Seekers from our three town halls – Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond.

Get involved

See Refugee Week for more information about events and how to get involved and show your support for our refugee and asylum seeker community.