Refugee Week 2020

‘Share a meal, share a story’ is an initiative that encourages people to share a delicious meal, and share stories that help build empathy and understanding of refugee experiences.

The theme of this year’s Refugee Week is ‘Welcome’. It aims to promote harmony and togetherness, and to unite individuals, communities and organisations from many different backgrounds.

Cardinia Shire Council became a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2014.

A Refugee Welcome Zone is a council area that has made a commitment in spirit to welcoming refugees and migrants from refugee backgrounds into the community, upholding the human rights of refugees, and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.

Council also supports Cardinia Shire’s multicultural community through its Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Network. The network is a group of community service organisations, community health services and Victorian and Australian government family support agencies.

Council’s CALD Advisory Committee draws its membership from Cardinia Shire and provides a voice for our multicultural residents.

The Cardinia Interfaith Network is another initiative delivered that provides a forum for local faith communities to promote an inclusive community, which respects religious diversity and acceptance of difference. It participates in and leads a range of activities including tours of places of worship and 'A Taste of Faith' events.

For more information about Refugee Week and the Refugee Council of Australia’s ‘share a meal, share a story’ initiative visit www.refugeeweek.org.au

For more information about our multicultural community in Cardinia Shire, visit Council's website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/culturaldiversity