Commencing Sunday 14 June Australia celebrates Refugee Week. Refugee Week, coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia is Australia’s key activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society.

This theme spanning from 2015 to 2017 it titled ‘With courage let us all combine’. The theme was taken from the second verse of the national anthem and celebrates ‘the courage of refugees and of people who speak out against persecution and injustice’.

Australian Refugee Week also highlights the work of organisations such as the Australian Refugee Association. In South Australia this Association aims to create a place where refugees are an integral part of society that thrives in a prosperous community. They focus on creating a South Australia where refugees have access to the full range of appropriate settlement services, where refugees have strong supportive communities of their own cultural backgrounds and where the general community is supportive of refugees and engaged with them.

The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre will recognise Australian Refugee Week in conjunction with the Australian Refugee Association and supported by the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding by presenting an oration titled ‘An Australian Sanctuary?’ This will be presented by Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Register now to attend this free event on Friday 19 June at 7pm.

Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and the Australian Refugee Association and supported by the International Centre for Muslim and non-Muslim Understanding

FREE registration: Australian Refugee Association 40th Anniversary Oration with Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner for the Australian Human Rights Commission

Friday 19 June, 7pm
Allan Scott Auditorium, University of South Australia