World Refugee Week: A Million Stories of Courage
This World Refugee Week, you’re invited to be part of an event that centres people, lived experiences, and the power of community to create positive change.
Hosted by UNSW Founders and Justice Inclusion Access (JEINA), and shaped alongside community voices, this event brings together individuals from forced migration backgrounds, including refugees, asylum seekers, exiles and others impacted by displacement, to share journeys not only of challenge, but also of courage, contribution and possibility.
This is a space to listen, reflect, and connect.
A space to move beyond headlines and into real stories from our local communities.
A space to consider how we can all be better humans, together.
What You'll Experience
- Honest and powerful storytelling from speakers with lived experience
- A community-led panel conversation on resilience, identity and opportunity
- Insights into education pathways, including programs in higher education that empower individuals and communities
- An opportunity to connect with UNSW teams and learn about programs, pathways and support available for refugee and migrant communities
- Audience Q&A and open conversation
- A shared catered lunch and time to connect with others
Why This Matters
World Refugee Week is a moment to recognise strength, celebrate contributions and challenge the way we see and support one another.
This event invites you to slow down, listen deeply, and engage with stories that remind us of our shared humanity.
Whether you’re a student, educator or community member, you are welcome here.
Accessibility & Inclusion
We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for all. If you have any accessibility or dietary requirements, please let us know when registering.
Join Us and Come As You Are
Bring your curiosity, your empathy, your questions.
Leave with a deeper understanding, and a stronger sense of what it means to be better humans, together.
Tickets are free but limited. Register now to secure your spot.
Sherine Al Shallah
Economist, solicitor, writer and refugee law researcher whose work focuses on protecting refugee cultural heritage and advancing justice for displaced communities. Her work explores identity, migration, and the human impact of conflict and displacement.
Gita Rahardjo
Entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of Red Blood Comic, whose work explores identity, belonging and lived experience through creative expression and storytelling.
Niveadha Laxman
Healthcare professional and postgraduate student whose journey from seeking asylum to pursuing leadership in health reflects the power of resilience, education, and community in creating meaningful change for others.
Maryham Zahid
ModeratorFounder of Afghan Women on the Move, a community organisation supporting and empowering Afghan women through connection, advocacy, and opportunity.