Refugee Week, 14 – 20 June, is a unique opportunity each year to learn from the experiences of people who have sought refuge and asylum, to celebrate the valuable contributions made by refugees to Australia, and consider how we can take action together for justice.
This year Refugee Week invites us to celebrate with the theme, ‘A Million Stories’, to mark the one million permanent humanitarian visas Australia has issued since international calls in 1947 to help resettle people after the horrors of World War 2.
This remarkable legacy of welcome is one we should be deeply proud of, and one that has woven a rich tapestry of shared stories into the heart of our communities and culture. NCCA is proud to partner with Common Grace to produce a new video sharing these remarkable stories of resilience and contribution. Watch the video here.
As we celebrate this milestone in Australia, we are invited us to look to the future. How can our communities and country continue to be places of welcome and belonging for those seeking safety on our shores? How can the kindness and compassion that Jesus teaches ground and guide us in our response to the global humanitarian crisis?
Last night, the National Council of Churches’, Australian Churches Refugee Taskforce and Common Grace have launched the new End the Waiting campaign to advocate for the many people who have spent years living in limbo as a result of a deeply flawed system, so that they can receive permanent visas and the certainty that comes with being able to build a future.