More than 800 people shared in a celebration of culture and connection during a recent Refugee Week event held by SMRC.

Delivered in partnership with South East Community Links (SECL) and the City of Casey and supported by Melbourne City Football Club, the event showcased cultural dance, music, poetry and fashion.

Attendees engaged with 23 local services and community groups present on the day, including health, community and emergency services.

Local Federal Member Mr Julian Hill MP and SMRC’s Acting CEO Colin Solomon welcomed attendees to the Hampton Park event.

In welcoming attendees, Mr Solomon reiterated the theme for this year’s Refugee Week – healing with a focus on rejuvenation, harmony and connection.

“I can’t think of more relevant themes for this moment in time,” Mr Solomon said.

“Today is a celebration of coming together. We celebrate our differences, our similarities, our strengths and the positive contribution we each bring to our community. And we particularly celebrate the contributions and great value that refugees have brought with them as they’ve settled and become a part of our communities here in the City of Casey and across the state.”

The event was delivered with the support of the Department of Social Services through its Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program.

An artwork by Casey resident, artist and SMRC Bicultural Worker Mirwais Janbaz was recently featured in a Refugee Week Art Exhibition held by the Department of Home Affairs to celebrate 2022 Refugee Week.

A self-taught artist, Mirwais shared with event attendees the story of his art and his journey as a refugee from Afghanistan via Pakistan to Australia.

Mirwais’s artwork was one of a number of pieces created by refugees showcased as part of the event.

SMRC was recently invited by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) to share our experience of supporting a bicultural workforce through our Diverse Care business and Bicultural Services with audiences at their national conference, held in Melbourne.

Sharon Smith, SMRC’s Senior Manager of Diverse Care and Settlement Services shared her insights into the strengths of the Diverse Care model, which sees bicultural workers matched with individuals requiring culturally-sensitive and in-language in-home supports.

The Diverse Care business has been in operation for more than 20 years and continues to address an increasing need in our communities.

Liz Currie, SMRC’s Social Enterprises and Training Coordinator also shared her learnings from a recent Bicultural Training and Social Enterprise Pilot, a service model that matches trained bicultural staff with businesses and organisations in order to meet the needs of their culturally and linguistically diverse consumers.