Sanctuary Runners Australia
Sanctuary Runners Australia is a social movement that connects recently arrived refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum with Australians of all backgrounds through running, jogging and walking.
It is inspired by the Sanctuary Runners movement that began in Cork, Ireland in 2018 and is now active across the Republic of Ireland and in England, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands. Sanctuary Runners encourages people to improve their physical and mental health through exercise and promotes values of solidarity, friendship and respect between people of all backgrounds.
Free to join and open to all, Sanctuary Runners Australia encourages everyone to get involved in local parkruns, fun runs and other activities organised by local volunteers.
Sanctuary Runners Australia has been developed through a partnership between Refugee Council of Australia and Sanctuary Runners Ireland. It has the active support of numerous local organisations that support refugees, migrants and people seeking asylum.
The first Sanctuary Runners Australia began in Sydney in March and currently has members running or walking together at parkruns in Auburn, Canterbury and Casula. A group formed in Adelaide in August. Plans are being developed to build groups in other cities in Australia.
People interested in joining the movement can register below.
We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians of the lands we now call home, their elders past and present.
As we work towards a more inclusive future with fair and humane policies for those seeking sanctuary, we remain committed to working alongside First Nations people for the achievement of a fully reconciled Australia.