Refugee Week - Australian Refugee Association

19th to the 25th of June is Refugee Week with events across South Australia such as Our Refugee Present where students from Thebarton Senior College display their history and culture.
 
The Australian Refugee Association is an organisation whose mission is to assist refugees become settled and participating citizens of Australia. We contacted Cassie Magin from ARA to tell us more about their work and the events they are involved in for Refugee Week. 
 
Australian Refugee Association
 
As South Australia’s largest and longest running not-for-profit resettlement agency, the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) assists with the settlement and advocacy of people from a refugee background providing migration, counselling and cultural support services. 
Who is a Refugee?
A refugee is someone who has been forced to flee their country because of war, civil unrest or persecution due to religious, political or racial reasons. No one wants to become a refugee; to leave their family, friends and possessions and embark on the dangerous journey in search of safety and freedom.
 
With the theme ‘With courage let us all combine’ ARA is hosting a range of events for Refugee Week encouraging Australian’s to welcome refugees into our community to celebrate their resilience and bravery.
Refugee Week Soccer Carnival
12-5pm, 19 June 2016
Burton Soccer Field, Salisbury
 
Bringing together Adelaide’s leading community football teams, the Refugee Week Soccer Carnival ‘kicks off’ a weeklong celebration of people from a refugee background. ARA will be hosting a free family fun day with cultural food, henna and airbrush tattoos, reptile and fauna shows and youth coaching football workshops by FFSA. 
 
School Symposium
10-2pm, 22 June 2016
Hawke Building, UniSA City West Campus
 
Taking students through the history and stories of people from a refugee background, ARA’s School Symposium sees South Australia’s secondary schools join together for a day of workshops, theatre and discussions on the perspectives and challenges refugees in our community face.  
 
To Tell Another’s Story Portrait Exhibition
5pm, 4-8 July 2016
Kerry Packer Civic Gallery
 
Each year ARA invites artists to develop a body of work portraying the images and stories of people from a refugee background, highlighting the challenges and successes of their incredible journeys to South Australia.
 - Cassie Magin (ARA)