Refugee Week is taking place from 19 to 25 June 2022 and Central Coast Council is celebrating our growing multicultural communities with a range of initiatives that share their stories and contributions.

This year’s theme ‘Healing’ acknowledges the importance of connection to place and community, where shared experiences can assist with building human connection and a sense of belonging.

Central Coast Council’s Unit Manager Community and Culture, Glenn Cannard said the Central Coast is home to many multicultural communities.

“According to the Department of Home Affairs, between 2012-2022, over 4300 migrant families have made the Central Coast their home and speak over 73 different languages[1]. These community members have either migrated or sought refuge to settle in our beautiful region,” Mr Cannard said.

“Council welcomes and celebrates diversity and values the range of identities, lifestyles and experiences of all community members, making the Central Coast an inclusive place to live, work and play for everyone.”

Council has developed a series of initiatives to support, share and celebrate our multicultural communities during Refugee Week:

• Hear the stories of local migrant business owners: If These Walls Could Talk is a visual storytelling project that shares the voices of eight migrant business owners from The Entrance and Woy Woy. These stories highlight the adversity faced by many recent migrants in our country, and how each harnessed the capacity to build a business and life on the Central Coast. Discover their stories and images online, or by visiting a pop-up exhibition at Anderson Memorial Park, Woy Woy from 20 June 2022.
   
• A portrait of diversity: The visual storytelling book Home created in 2022, will be available at local libraries on the Central Coast from Monday 20 June 2022. Home showcases the diverse voices of Central Coast’s migrant communities and features photographic portraits and written stories that represent refugees, newly arrivals and established migrant communities. It also includes a First Nations welcome note and ceremony delivered by Local Elder, Uncle Gavi Duncan, a proud Gomillaroi, Mandandanji and Awaba man.
   
• Community language resources available at your local library: The Central Coast Library Service provides community language resources (books, newspapers, audiobooks etc.), both in print and online via the eLibrary and, to celebrate Refugee Week, have created a booklist highlighting some of the titles available. Community members can also revisit and hear the recorded stories of two inspirational and local authors during Refugee Week – Andrew Kwong and Nina Angelo. Community members can also enquire at their local library branch about accessing multicultural information and resources online through the NSW State Library.
   
• Local service information for residents with English as a second language: This resource was developed through a partnership with Northern Settlement Service and Central Coast Multicultural Interagency. Information is displayed through accessible Plain English format and infographics, suitable for migrants and new arrivals with limited English. It communicates information about local services including health, community, education, training and employment. This resource can be sourced through Northern Settlement Services, Central Coast Council and relevant community organisations from Sunday 19 June 2022.

Council Administrator, Rik Hart said coming together during Refugee Week, is an opportunity for everyone in the community to reflect upon and celebrate the many cultures that make up the fabric of our region.

"We are extremely lucky to have a community that is built on a diverse range of cultures and backgrounds. It is important we continue to foster that sense of belonging, where all community members feel confident in sharing and celebrating their stories.”

For more information search ‘Refugee Week’ at centralcoast.nsw.gov.au.

ENDS

[1] Source: Department of Home Affairs. Settlement Data 2012-2022