NEWS + EVENTS

REFUGEE WEEK 2010 June 20 - June 26

In 2010, Refugee Week will be celebrated from Sunday, June 20 to Saturday, June 26, to coincide with World Refugee Day (June 20). For information about Refugee Week, click here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday 4 – Sunday 5 July 2009 - Adelaide
Human Development in the Context of Movement Within and Across National Boundaries
This workshop will examine the developmental implications of migration within the Asia-Pacific region including: Forced migration, Voluntary migration, Temporary migration, Within-border migration and Consequences of these movements. Click here for more information.

Friday 10 July 2009 - Sydney
Talk: “Refugee Crisis - Promoting Humanity or Re-igniting Fear”
Professor Mary Crock and Mr David Bitel are the speakers at this Politics in the Pub discussion.  See www.politicsinthepub.org.au for more information.
Details: 6 pm, Gaelic Club, Lvl 1, 64 Devonshire St, Surry Hills 2010

Sunday 12 July – Melbourne
Walk For Harmony
To reaffirm Australia’s commitment to our multicultural community, the Walk For Harmony, lead by Victoria’s premier will acknowledge the contributions people from around the world have made to Victoria.
Details: Walk starts at 1pm from Carlton Gardens and will travel along La Trobe and Swanston streets to finish at Federation Square; contact Paul Leonard on (03) 9651 0672 for more info

Friday 17 July 2009 – Melbourne
2009 Human Rights Conference
Details: To be held at the State Library of Victoria. The keynote speaker will be Commonwealth Attorney-General Robert McClelland. Further information will be posted on the Castan Centre website.

Tuesday July 28 2009 -Melbourne
Seminar: Relating to ourselves – using narratives to improve the health of immigrant and refugee women
A seminar presented by The Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH) on narrative-based health promotion for immigrant and refugee communities. GUest speakers include Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, a GP and Professor of Primary Health Care from London; Carolyn Poljski from MCWH and Regina Quiazon from Victoria University; Violetta Marciano, a bilingual health educator at MCWH. For more information or to register, please contact MCWH on 03 9418 0999 or reception@mcwh.com.au

Tuesday 21 – Thursday 23 July 2009 - Melbourne
Beyond the Refugee Journey - A Humanitarian Settlement Conference
The conference provides opportunities for refugees to conference with employers, service providers and the broader community. For refugee participants, it will focus particularly on pathways to employment. For other participants, the Refugee Voices event at BMW Edge will provide an opportunity to hear refugees tell their personal stories of flight, endurance and resettlement as well as share in their cuisine and cultures. For more information click here.

Wednesday 12 – Friday 14 August 2009 - Townsville
International Unity in Diversity Conference
The Conference will explore the potential benefits of diversity that bring rich outcomes and possibilities; develop a unified cohesive approach to address the current and emerging global crisis; and consider how cultural diversity must be seen as a key platform of the government’s social inclusion agenda.
Information: www.unityindiversityconference.com

September 1 to 4 – Perth
The Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand, incorporating the 1st Australasian Refugee Health Conference and the WA Transcultural Mental Health Conference
Details: More information can be found at www.themhs.org

September 7 to 8 – Melbourne
Victorian ESL Conference: Transforming ESL Pedagogy, educating for success in learning
Details: The Sebel Albert Park Melbourne; for more info go to www.vatme.vic.edu.au/ESLConference09/Indexconference.htm

Sunday 20 September to Sunday 27 September 2009  - Adelaide
Refugee Camp in Your City
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) will set Refugee Camp in Your City to show what life is like for refugees and displaced people around the world. Experienced MSF field staff will be on hand to provide guided tours for groups around the replica refugee camp.
Details: Victoria Square, Melbourne; free; tours last for 45 mins; go to www.refugeecamp.msf.org.au for more info

Saturday 3 October to Sunday 11 October – Melbourne
Refugee Camp in Your City
Medecins Sans Frontieres will set Refugee Camp in Your City to show what life is like for refugees and displaced people around the world.
Details: Treasury Gardens, Adelaide; free; tours last for 45 mins; go to www.refugeecamp.msf.org.au for more info

OTHER NEWS AND EVENTS

To Every Woman: Money, Power, Freedom Report
In 2008, the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health (MCWH) implemented the Healthy Credit Project, which explored and addressed the credit and debt issues in immigrant and refugee women’s lives. The project found that credit and debt are significant issues in the lives of immigrant and refugee women and that often, debt is poverty-related.
Findings from the Healthy Credit Project are included in the report.

Women's Cooking Group - Daceyville (Sydney)
For women from all cultural backgrounds. Held every Monday from 12:30-2:00 pm. No need to bring anything - just yourself! Childcare provided, so feel free to bring children along. Registration required for childcare purposes, so please advise of number of children as well as their ages. Click here for more information.
Details: Boussole Rd Community Centre, 33 Boussole Rd, Daceyville (inside the Housing Department complex), just off Gardeners Road and close to the Kingsford roundabout.
Contact: Yasmine Loupis on (02) 9663 3922 or yasminel@sydneymcs.org.au.

Free Tenancy Skills Coaching Program - Sydney
For new migrants and refugees who want advice on how to gain the information, skills and support needed to find housing in the private rental market. Participants will be provided with a volunteer mentor who will provide personal advice. (Volunteer mentors are also needed)
Contact: Yasmine Loupis on (02) 9663 3922 or yasminel@sydneymcs.org.au.

Counselling Support Line for Burmese Community
In response to the recent disaster in Burma (Myanmar) the Transcultural Mental Health Centre has re-activated the 24 hour counselling support lines as of 9 May 2008.
The hotline is available to provide support for members of the Burmese community living in NSW who may be affected by the natural disaster. The Service will operate a free seven day 24 hour on-call roster to provide psychological and emotional support to people who have lost loved ones and suffered devastation in the recent cyclone in Burma (Myanmar). The service is able to provide community support initiatives if required in consultation with the Burmese community.

African Pregnancy DVD - free copy available now
As a result of a collaborative project of SWAHS, NSW Refugee Health Service, Multicultural Health Communications Service, Auburn and Blacktown Migrant Resource Centres and South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service, a DVD in Somali, Dinka and Arabic was developed to inform and encourage women to present early for antenatal care and make full use of services offered by antenatal clinics.
This resource aims to improve antenatal health and subsequent birth outcomes of women and their babies from small and emerging African communities.
To download media release click here. To order a free copy of the DVD, please contact Monique Wakefield on (02) 9840 3376 or
Monique.wakefield@swahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Adelaide: Settling In - with the Australian Refugee Association
A radio program that connects people, events and campaigns in support of refugees and asylum seekers.
Every Wednesday night from 6-7pm (Adelaide time) On Radio Adelaide 101.5FM or listen online at www.radio.adelaide.edu.au
For more info contact ARA (08) 8354 2951

United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) Website
UNAA Diary Dates, UN observances -- updated regularly.

If you have an event that you would like posted on the website please contact the Webmaster.