Refugee Week: 18 – 24 June 2023

16/06/2023

Refugee Week is an annual celebration of the contributions, diversity and the rich cultures of refugees and people seeking asylum across the nation.

It offers an opportunity to raise awareness about the challenges refugees face when searching for freedom, and recognises their resilience and courage. Importantly, Refugee Week establishes a dialogue about how we can foster a more inclusive and welcoming Australia.

The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees defines a ‘refugee’ as any person who:

... owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of [their] nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail [themselves] of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of [their] former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it …

Refugee Week is coordinated by the Refugee Council of Australia. You can read more about Refugee Week on their website here.