Advocates for Dignity & Hume Celebrates Refugee Week 2026 Through Art, Storytelling, Culture and Community

A Powerful Celebration of “A Million Stories: Journey to Hope”

Broadmeadows Town Hall was transformed into a vibrant celebration of culture, resilience, and community on Saturday, 20 June 2026, as Hume City Council and Advocates for Dignity hosted the Refugee Week 2026 Celebration Event.

Held under the national Refugee Week theme, “A Million Stories: Journey to Hope,” the event brought together refugees, migrants, local residents, community leaders, educators, artists, students, service providers, faith representatives, and government officials to honour the diverse journeys and contributions of people from refugee backgrounds.

The event highlighted the power of storytelling, creativity, and cultural expression in building understanding and strengthening social cohesion within one of Australia’s most diverse communities.

Community-Led Celebration

The Refugee Week celebration was proudly shaped and organised by a dedicated Refugee Week Working Group comprising community members from refugee backgrounds who had been meeting regularly since March to design and deliver the event.

The Working Group commitment, leadership, and lived experiences ensured that the event reflected the voices, aspirations, and stories of refugee communities across Hume.

The event was supported by staff and representatives from Arabic Welfare, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Banksia Gardens Community Services, Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre, Hume City Council, Victoria University, and Advocates for Dignity.

Opening Reflections: Every Story Matters

The celebration commenced with an inspiring video featuring community members from refugee backgrounds sharing their personal journeys of displacement, resilience, settlement, and hope.

The stories reminded attendees that behind every refugee statistic is a human being with dreams, talents, and aspirations. They reflected the strength and determination demonstrated by refugees as they rebuild their lives and contribute positively to Australian society.

Masters of Ceremonies Sandy Aljameel and Siyoda Jayawardene warmly welcomed attendees and acknowledged the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land.

The audience was reminded that when people are welcomed, supported, and included, entire communities become stronger, more connected, and more resilient.

Leadership and Community Voices

The event featured addresses from key community leaders and partners, including Hume City Council Mayor Cr Carly Moore, Victoria University Community Engagement and Program Coordinator Sandra Tay, and Abdul Celil Gelim, Executive Director of Advocates for Dignity.

Speakers highlighted the importance of creating inclusive communities where people from refugee backgrounds can thrive and participate fully in civic, social, economic, and cultural life.

They also acknowledged the significant contributions refugees continue to make to Australian society through education, entrepreneurship, community service, leadership, and cultural enrichment.

Celebrating Creativity Through Art and Storytelling

One of the major highlights of the event was the Refugee Week Art and Story-Writing Competition, organised by Advocates for Dignity.

This year’s competition invited participants to respond creatively to the theme “A Million Stories: Journey to Hope.”

The response from schools and community organisations was overwhelming.

A total of 114 artworks were submitted across Primary, Secondary, and Adult categories by participants from eighteen schools and community organisations throughout Victoria.

Students and community members used painting, drawing, mixed media, and visual storytelling to explore themes of displacement, belonging, resilience, identity, compassion, and hope.

Participating schools included Broadmeadows Primary School, Broadmeadows Special Development School, Elevation Secondary College, Good Samaritan Catholic Primary School, Ilim College, Sirius College, Our Lady’s Primary School, Penola Catholic College, Ngayuk College Secondary School, Hume Anglican Grammar, Thomastown Primary School, and River Nile School.

The exhibition showcased remarkable artistic talent and emotional depth, with many works reflecting personal family experiences, refugee journeys, and aspirations for peace and belonging.

Art Competition Award Winners

The Primary School category recognised outstanding young artists whose work demonstrated empathy, creativity, and a strong understanding of the Refugee Week theme.

Awards were presented to:

• 1st Place: Aroush Usman Choudhry
• Equal 2nd Place: Inaayra Mostakim and Amani Alshawey
• 3rd Place: Zinnia Fatima Khalid

In the Secondary School category, students produced powerful visual narratives exploring conflict, migration, hope, and resilience.

Awards were presented to:

• 1st Place: Carolina Grima
• 2nd Place: Hadija Muzaffar
• Equal 3rd Place: Anniya Khalid and Maheen Asif Choudhary

The Adult Community Category featured deeply moving artworks reflecting personal experiences, humanitarian concerns, and the universal desire for safety and dignity.

Awards were presented to:

• 1st Place: Lasantha Hitibandaranayake
• 2nd Place: Hamed Noorzai
• 3rd Place: Afreen Sayyada

The competition prizes were generously sponsored by the Australian Relief Foundation, whose support helped recognise and celebrate the achievements of participants.

Story-Writing Competition Gives Voice to Refugee Experiences

For the first time, Advocates for Dignity expanded the competition to include a Story-Writing category, creating a new platform for participants to express their experiences and perspectives through the written word.

The competition received 23 submissions across Secondary and Adult categories.

The stories explored themes including identity, family, belonging, resilience, displacement, hope, and the challenges of building a new life.

Many stories reflected deeply personal experiences, while others used imagination and creative storytelling to explore the emotional realities faced by refugee communities around the world.

Secondary School Category

• 1st Place: Joanna Antony
• 2nd Place: Samaira Bhatia
• 3rd Place: Haajar Muzaffar

Adult Community Category

• 1st Place: Iva Malupo
• 2nd Place: Somaya Alhendi
• 3rd Place: Maryam Rezakhani

Selected winning stories were shared with the audience, providing powerful insights into the experiences and perspectives of emerging writers within the community.

Cultural Performances Showcase Diversity

The event featured a rich program of cultural performances that reflected the diversity of Hume’s multicultural community.

The celebration opened with the Australian National Anthem performed by the Little Saints Choir from St George Chaldean Church.

Throughout the afternoon, audiences enjoyed performances from:

• Tarab Ensemble, presenting traditional Arabic music
• The Middle Eastern Women’s Group, showcasing traditional cultural clothing and heritage
• Spring Dreams Chinese Dance Group
• Sridevi Arts, presenting classical Indian dance
• Melodies from Anatolia, sharing the rich musical traditions of Turkish folk music

These performances provided an opportunity for communities to share their cultural heritage while fostering greater understanding and appreciation among attendees.

Building Connections Through Community Participation

In addition to performances and exhibitions, the event featured community information stalls, market stalls, children’s activities, face painting, and opportunities for community members to connect with local organisations and service providers.

Visitors engaged with organisations offering settlement support, educational programs, social services, community activities, and pathways to participation.

Local entrepreneurs and community members also showcased handmade crafts, cultural products, and small business initiatives.

The event created valuable opportunities for networking, learning, and strengthening community connections.

A Celebration of Hope and Belonging

The Refugee Week 2026 Celebration demonstrated the important role that storytelling, creativity, and cultural exchange play in building inclusive communities.

The artworks, stories, performances, and conversations shared throughout the day reflected the strength, resilience, and contributions of people from refugee backgrounds while reinforcing the values of dignity, compassion, respect, and belonging.

Advocates for Dignity extends its sincere appreciation to Hume City Council, Victoria University, the Australian Relief Foundation, community partners, volunteers, schools, teachers, participants, performers, judges, and members of the Refugee Week Working Group whose dedication made the event possible.

As Refugee Week 2026 concluded, attendees left with a powerful reminder that every refugee story matters, every voice deserves to be heard, and every journey contributes to the rich social fabric of Australia.

Together, these million stories continue to inspire hope, understanding, and a shared commitment to building a more inclusive future for all.