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25.01.2022 A note from our CEO, Aleem Ali: It's no secret that racism follows a recession. As a species, we are hard-wired to be aware of and respond to threats. However, fear diminishes our capacity to distinguish perception from reality. We default to needing someone to blame. Preferably, someone who isn't known to us or in our immediate circle. The question is, what might we do about it? How can we reverse the tendency to exclude and 'other' people when faced with challenging situat...ions and scarcity? 'Stronger together', 'unity' and 'everyone belongs' serve as platitudes if we fail to translate those statements into action and positive change. - When everyone belongs, we seek less to blame and more to include and protect. - When everyone belongs, we defend and support the most vulnerable people in our society. - When everyone belongs, we shy away from grandstanding and point-scoring. - When everyone belongs, it's not about 'me', 'I' or 'them' - it's about 'us'. - When everyone belongs, we smile at, and acknowledge, newcomers and visitors to our communities. - When everyone belongs, we actively seek out opportunities to amplify the voices that rarely have a chance to be heard. - When everyone belongs, we call out the best in people and encourage them to be part of a bigger vision and a better tomorrow. If ever there was a time to engage in this work, it is now. Amid an ongoing health crisis, we have a profound opportunity to strengthen our resolve to advance communities where everyone can belong.I'm proud to be part of a growing movement that demonstrates this resolve every day. Link in comments to get our updates straight to your inbox! #StrongerTogether #SayWelcome #InThisTogether

25.01.2022 Just two weeks left! Have your contribution to the work of the Welcoming Centre doubled by donating to our Chuffed.org campaign before the end of the month - EthicalJobs.com.au will match your generosity dollar for dollar! https://chuffed.org//ethicaljobs-welcoming-australia-matc/ you can help us to put food on the table and give our friends a place to call home this Christmas! #SayWelcome

24.01.2022 We are committed to the vision of a welcoming, compassionate nation that treats all people with dignity and respect. Choose Unity. Join us this October for National Unity Week!... #SayWelcome #Solidarity #TogetherWeRise

23.01.2022 Refugee Voices Community Leadership Program graduates are continuing to do such amazing work! Make sure to like their page and follow to find out how you can support the team ... #StrongerTogether

23.01.2022 Remember these faces! These ten incredible leaders are graduating tonight from the Welcoming Futures leadership program - watch them build a brighter, more welcoming and inclusive future where all people have equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive. #StrongerTogether #SayWelcome

22.01.2022 "Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a stalwart for justice, social change, gender equality and civil rights and an inspiration for many. May we recommit ourselves to creating a future she would be proud of - a welcoming, inclusive society that is fair, just and equal. ... Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time. #RBG #StrongerTogether

21.01.2022 This is a must read from Refugee Voices Founder and Co-Director Alyas Taqawi! I remember the faces of the people who greeted me and asked me if I was okay. They showed me empathy, care and kindness. The policy of the government at the time was human and human-loving. This was the Australia that people had come to love. That is how people around the world viewed the country, but not now.... It’s up to us to #SayWelcome to those new to calling Australia home. We can build a welcoming and inclusive future. #RefugeeVoices #StrongerTogether

20.01.2022 Can you help us stock the Welcoming Centre pantry this week? Donations can be delivered on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or get in touch to arrange another time! A simple and practical way to #SayWelcome and help to support hundreds of people each week - families on temporary visas with no access to #covid19 support measures. ... Thank you for your generosity! #StrongerTogether

20.01.2022 Dear Welcoming community, we asked for your help last week, and you responded with incredible generosity, thank you! We have just been advised that another group of people seeking asylum in Community Detention will soon be in the same situation - given just three weeks to find work (after being denied the right to work for years) and a new place to live in the middle of a global pandemic! Again, we’re calling on our community to help us ensure they’re able to find safe, sec...ure housing and are supported to find employment. How can you help? provide a financial donation to help us to keep these families from destitution; offer a room or home for someone to stay in; donate non-perishable food items to help us stock the pantry; share this post! The kindness and generosity of our community is overwhelming - you respond with care, love and welcome over and over again. We'd love your support once more - please share with your networks, partnering with us to give hope in a seemingly hopeless situation! #SayWelcome #StrongerTogether

18.01.2022 We’re millions of people with different cultures, faiths, experiences and ideas but we have one thing in common we share our future. Join us and Lebanese Muslim Association for National Unity Week 23-31; why not register an event with your community, school, sports club, workplace or faith community? This year’s theme is Solidarity, Together We Rise!... #WalkTogether #PlayTogether #EatTogether #LearnTogether #TogetherWeRise

17.01.2022 If you’re in #Adelaide, don’t miss the #StrongerTogether exhibition at Sparkke at the Whitmore, launching this week! Here’s a sneak preview of what you can expect: introducing Rumbie and a snippet of her story - Three countries, two continents, one girl. I have always wanted to be a global citizen. Outlier? Adventurer? Simply put, a bad economic situation has forced most of my countrymen to move to other countries and my family is no exception. However, in the journey far a...way from home I have always yearned to belong. I came to the realisation that I could, by creating the sense of belonging for others. Born and raised in Harare, Zimbabwe, when I was 13, my family moved to South Africa for better work opportunities. I had to stay back home in Zimbabwe with my grandmother to finish my high school studies. I later joined them.... When I was in South Africa...not only did I feel like a foreigner, I found it hard to define where home was. One of my siblings thought I was a visitor in my own mother’s house I am a Zimbabwean. I live in Australia. I am a significant part of a whole thing whatever thing that I make it to be. I am the integral part to the story of me. And the story of me includes all those that understand wanting to belong and creating an environment where others feel they belong. Being in Australia, getting involved in the Welcoming Futures created those opportunities and nurtured that sense for me. #StrongerTogether2020 #SayWelcome Capture the Present Photography

16.01.2022 My belly is laughing when I try some curry, says Nigethan ‘Nige’ Sithirasegaram into one of the three cameras pointed at him. Even the smell makes me happy. Free to Feed makes us this happy, too! Check out this wonderful article on their work, and their All Together Now initiative. The first edition was released in August and featured personal recipes and stories from Iranian chef and refugee Mahshid Babzartabi. It gives me a feeling I’m invited all over Australia, say...s Babzartabi of the success of her edition of All Together Now, that despite years of living in limbo, we are welcomed by Australians. #SayWelcome #TimeForAHome #StrongerTogether

16.01.2022 As if we weren’t humans: The abandonment of temporary migrants in Australia during COVID-19 is the latest report from UNSW Law Associate Professor Bassina Farbenblum and UTS Law Associate Professor Laurie Berg; co-directors of The Migrant Worker Justice Initiative. This sobering, but necessary, report is a timely reminder that a COVID19 response must ensure that nobody is left behind. A nationwide survey of more than 6000 international students and other temporary migrants ...conducted in July 2020 found that 70% lost all or most of their work during the pandemic. Thousands, like those we support through the Welcoming Centre, have been left unable to pay for food and rent. This report puts forward recommendations to address the critical humanitarian need identified, and to repair the immediate and longer-term damage caused by Australia’s exclusion of these integral members of our community and workforce. #InThisTogether #NobodyLeftBehind

15.01.2022 This message comes from one of our community members who has recently been transitioned to a Final Departure Bridging Visa with no income support and just three weeks’ notice to find a job (after being prohibited from working for years), and new place to live. This is the selfless generosity our community members demonstrate every day, building the kind of Australia that we want to be part of. You can join this couple in spreading kindness and supporting the work of the Wel...coming Centre through our current Chuffed.org fundraising campaign, where your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, by the team at EthicalJobs.com.au. https://chuffed.org//ethicaljobs-welcoming-australia-matc/ #sayWelcome

15.01.2022 you have to understand, no one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land. who would choose to spend days... and nights in the stomach of a truck unless the miles travelled meant something more than journey. An excerpt from Home, by Warsan Shire #WarsanShire

15.01.2022 The truth, no one of us can be free until everyone is free. May Maya Angelou’s legacy encourage us to continue to demand #FreedomForAll. Because freedom for all of us looks like everyone having equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive - the kind of future we want to be part of!... #FreedomFromDetention #FreedomOnlyFreedom #SayWelcome

13.01.2022 Can you help us to keep families from destitution and homelessness? I’m not sure what my future is going to be. I’m really worried." At the Welcoming Centre each week, we’re supporting people on temporary visas with no access to a safety net to keep food on the table and a roof over their head. We’re able to do this through the support of our incredible community - and we need your help to continue!... We have seen an over 300% increase in requests for our services - we need your help to meet this growing need! Can you help us to ensure #NobodyLeftBehind? #SayWelcome #InThisTogether

12.01.2022 Migrant workers, refugees, people seeking asylum and international students are part of the heartbeat of our local communities. Our neighbourhoods are enriched by their contributions, both culturally and economically. As an organisation committed to advancing an Australia where people of all backgrounds have equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive Welcoming Australia strongly believes that nobody should be left behind regardless of the circumstance or crisis at h...and. The question we must continue to consider, and seek to answer, is ‘what should inclusive recovery involve in diverse communities, and how can governments facilitate that recovery?’ #NobodyLeftBehind #SayWelcome #StrongerTogether

12.01.2022 Alongside our friends at Democracy in Colour, we’re proud to work with Mayors of several Welcoming Cities members and other councils across Australia, declaring #NobodyLeftBehind. Millions of migrant workers, international students, refugees and people seeking asylum have been excluded from access to life-saving financial support to get through #covid19. All lives have value, and support to get through Covid-19 must be extended to everyone. Is your local council not onboard yet? Get them to sign up here: https://www.nobodyleftbehind.org.au/ #InThisTogether #WageSubsidyForAll #NobodyLeftBehind #Covid19

11.01.2022 #Adelaide, have you made it along to the #StrongerTogether exhibition at Sparkke at the Whitmore yet? Make sure you get there between Sept 25-Oct 25 (head upstairs for the exhibition!) Here’s a insight into Eve’s story - catch the longer version at Sparkke this month! Africa is very multicultural as we have different tribes, languages, food and traditions that exists within countries and Africa at large. However, I was very amazed at the different cultures I was introduced ...to when I first came to Australia. I learnt that there were other people who might look different from me but are similar in terms of cultures and shared life experiences. I began to appreciate multiculturalism and I was very excited to learn about other people’s ways of life and relate it to mine. I am a proud Congolese Australian woman. Although Australia has given me wealth of opportunities and I consider myself fortunate to now call Australia home; I know deep down that despite the opportunity to call Congo my home being taken from me, It will always remain my HOME and home is where the HEART lies. Capture the Present Photography

11.01.2022 We are VERY excited to announce the date for Welcoming Cities Symposium 2021: 21 and 22 April. Spread the word, pop the date in your diaries and head to the link below to secure your early-bird tickets! The Symposium brings together international, national and local practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, business innovators and civic leaders to share and discuss the challenges, benefits and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity and inclusion. Watch th...is space as we announce our exciting speakers and presenters! https://symposium.welcomingcities.org.au #SayWelcome #StrongerTogether

09.01.2022 Has your local council signed up to the pledge to ensure #NobodyLeftBehind in the covid-19 pandemic? Join us and Democracy in Colour to urge your council to call for a covid-19 response that includes everyone. #WageSubsidyForAll

09.01.2022 To Moz, Farhad and all the powerful change-makers we are privileged to advocate alongside, we celebrate this win with you all - and commit to fighting for your freedom. #NoPhoneNoLife #NoPhonesNoLife #SayWelcome ... #GameOver See more

09.01.2022 Thanks Welcome Merchant for featuring the fabulous Melh Wa Sekkar- ! We agree, their food is divine! #Adelaide make sure you check them out! Posted @withregram @welcomemerchant It's #tastythursday and this week's entrepreneur is Syrian catering company, Melh Wa Sekkar in Adelaide. Just by looking at their mouthwatering food makes us want to jump over the border! ... Abdulghani used to work as an electrician in Syria. However, the language barrier has restricted him from getting his certificate here. So, he decided to pivot his career and with the help of his wife and the team at the Welcoming Centre , Melh Wa Sekkar (Salt & Sugar) was born. They have catered at the Adelaide Fringe, Taste of Australia & Yankalilla Show and even won an award! #welcomemerchant #food #entrepreneur #welcomerefugees #refugeeswelcome #refugeemade #refugeeentrepreneurs #foodentrepreneur #catering #events #adelaideevents #syrianfood #syrianbusiness #syriancatering #smallbusiness #smallbusinessseptember #adelaide #visitadelaide #radelaide #southaustralia

08.01.2022 BREAKING: Jacqui Lambie will vote against the mobile phone bill Thank you to everyone (tens of thousands of you!) who voiced your concerns to Senator Lambie regarding the bill looking to ban mobile phones from immigration detention centres. She heard you loud and clear and has decided to vote against this bill. ... We know that phones are a lifeline, and we thank these politicians for standing with us to protect the basic right to communication for people in detention. #NoPhoneNoLife #NoPhonesNoLife

07.01.2022 Kind-hearted Australians have made sure baby Rohan could arrive safely and that this family have had a home, food and medical care for the last 8 months. But their ordeal is far from over. After escaping genocide in Myanmar and enduring offshore detention before being abandoned in Cambodia, new daddy Rashid now has a beautiful family - that has no realistic way of building a safe and happy life in their current situation. Can you help this family build their life together? ... https://welcoming.org.au/donate/rashid-and-taslima/

07.01.2022 The generosity of our community is inspiring! Today, so many of these bottles of dishwashing liquid will be joining fresh produce from OzHarvestSA and Foodbank SA, alongside pantry staples kindly donated from you, our supporters, to be delivered directly into the homes of people on temporary visas across Adelaide by our amazing volunteer team. These bottles themselves tell a story of hope and resilience; donated by a couple who just weeks ago were in the anxiety-inducing sit...uation of being forced to find employment and housing amidst a pandemic with little to no support. Today, they are donating the little they can to show others like them that there is a brighter future ahead. A visible demonstration that we are indeed #StrongerTogether. #SayWelcome

04.01.2022 Have you heard of Temporary? This new eight-part narrative podcast reveals the stories of refugees trapped in a cycle of uncertainty. Absolutely a must listen!... #TimeForAHome

04.01.2022 Some VERY exciting news to share this afternoon! We are stoked to recognise the City of Greater Bendigo as the first local government in Australia to be accredited as a Welcoming City by the Welcoming Cities Network. This is HUGE news ! Welcoming Australia CEO, Aleem Ali, congratulated the City on the achievement; The City of Greater Bendigo continues to demonstrate significant leadership both as a member of the Welcoming Cities network and across local government in Austr...alia, City of Greater Bendigo Chief Executive Officer Craig Niemann said the City is delighted to receive the Welcoming City accreditation; Achieving accreditation as a Welcoming City recognises Greater Bendigo’s commitment to cultural diversity, Aboriginal reconciliation and social cohesion. It also highlights the contribution of our community agency partners and settlement services who have and continue to assist the City to deliver actions in the Greater Bendigo Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019." Read more about today's announcement here --> https://www.bendigo.vic.gov.au//greater-bendigo-first-aust Pictured is Welcoming Cities Victoria Coordinator Bel Schenk awarding the accreditation to City of Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Niemann and Community Partnerships Manager Steven Abbott. #SayWelcome #WelcomingCities

03.01.2022 SHEV update Some important changes have been made to the SHEV Permanent Pathway Requirement in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to RACS - Refugee Advice and Casework Service for this factsheet detailing the changes.... We know there are still some unanswered questions, particularly about what constitutes an essential service - we’ll update when we know more! #InThisTogether #PermanentVisas

01.01.2022 We #SayWelcome every day because we believe in a future where all people have equal opportunity to belong, contribute and thrive. How can you #SayWelcome today? #StrongerTogether

01.01.2022 URGENT REQUEST FOR SUPPORT Across Australia, people seeking asylum in Community Detention have been given just three weeks to find work (after being denied the right to work for years) and a new place to live in the middle of a global pandemic! We're urgently looking for anyone in #Adelaide who has an apartment, house or maybe a Granny Flat to rent to a wonderful couple who find themselves in this situation (who, despite all the obstacles in front of them, have already fou...nd part-time work and can contribute towards the cost of rent alongside financial support from organisations). Please comment below, message the page or email [email protected] if you can help! The kindness and generosity of our community is overwhelming - you respond with care, love and welcome over and over again. We''d love your support once more - please share with your networks! #SayWelcome #StrongerTogether

01.01.2022 Has your organisation signed the #CanberraStatement? We have proudly signed, and we’re committed to continuing to learn and improve our work to ensure we are practicing solidarity with LGBTIQ+ people seeking asylum and refugees. Forcibly Displaced People Network is hosting an upcoming interactive workshop where they will highlight best practices of implementing Canberra Statement and what challenges still remain. We will be also discussing what it means to truly act in soli...darity with LGBTIQ+ forcibly displaced people. Can’t wait! Will we see you there? https://events.humanitix.com/in-solidarity-with-lgbtiq-refu #SayWelcome #StrongerTogether