Circle of Friends Australia

28/09/2026

📣 COFA is looking for new Committee members!

Would you like to contribute your skills, ideas and experience to an organisation supporting refugees and people seeking asylum?

Circle of Friends Australia is inviting expressions of interest from people interested in joining our Committee.

👉 Find out more about the role and how to get involved:

https://cofa.org.au/2026/09/28/committee-members-wanted-for-circle-of-friends-australia/

Please share with anyone who may be interested.

Circle of Friends Australia is looking for new management committee members to help guide our growing, volunteer‑run organisation.

23/09/2026

🏃‍♀️ Sanctuary Runners – Community Parkrun & Walk

Everyone is welcome to join Sanctuary Runners for a morning of movement, friendship and community at Carisbrooke Park.

Whether you’re a runner or prefer to walk, come along and take part in this welcoming 5km event celebrating diversity, connection and belonging. 💛

📅 Saturday, 17 October 2026
⏰ Meet at 7:30am | Parkrun starts 8:00am
📍 Carisbrooke Park, Salisbury North
👟 5km run or walk

Sanctuary Runners continues the spirit of World Refugee Day with a simple message: Every Step Builds Belonging.

For more information, contact [email protected]

05/09/2026

💛 Help us continue supporting refugees in Indonesia

The Forgotten Refugees Support Circle is currently providing essential support to 70 adults and 40 children in Jakarta who have very limited access to other assistance.

With the number of people needing support growing, available funds are running low. Your donation can help provide accommodation, food and basic necessities to people who would otherwise be left without support.

Every contribution, large or small, can make a difference.

Read more about the appeal and how you can help below.

Please share to help us reach more people. 💛

Our immediate dilemma is how to continue support to otherwise destitute refugees. You can help by making a donation to the Circle.

07/08/2026

🍽️ Experience the Flavours of Afghanistan 🇦🇫

Join Nathan’s Circle for an unforgettable evening celebrating Afghan cuisine, culture and community.

Take your taste buds on a journey through Afghanistan with a vibrant communal feast showcasing the rich flavours and traditions of this ancient cuisine. From tender meat dishes and delicious plant-based delights to fragrant rice and freshly baked Afghan bread, every dish tells a story of hospitality, heritage and connection.

Hosted by the legendary Rumi Palace Restaurant, with the passionate Mohammad Hamidi, this intimate dining experience is one not to miss.

📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026
🕡 6:30 pm
📍 Rumi Palace Restaurant
303 Prospect Road, Blair Athol

💲 $60 per adult
👧 Children by request – $30

🎟️ Book now: https://www.trybooking.com/DIMVJ

🎁 There will also be a raffle on the night, with both cash and electronic payment options available.

Come along for an evening where exceptional food brings people together, celebrates culture, and supports community. We hope to see you there!

Take your taste buds on a journey through Afghanistan taking in a vibrant array of dishes that bring this ancient and rich cuisine to life. From...

06/08/2026

🎬 Adelaide Refugee Film Festival – Final Screening 🍿

Join us for the final screening of this year’s inaugural Adelaide Refugee Film Festival, proudly organised by Nathan’s Circle. ❤️

All funds raised will go directly to Circle of Friends, supporting refugees and people seeking asylum.

Experience two powerful films that shine a light on the lives, resilience and journeys of refugees from around the world.

🎥 Lost Land
Winner of the Venice Film Festival’s Lion of the Future Award, Lost Land is the first-ever Rohingya-language feature film. It follows two young siblings on a perilous journey to Malaysia to reunite with their scattered family. Made with a cast of more than 200 Rohingya participants, this moving story of survival, hope and belonging comes to Adelaide following its screening at the Sydney Film Festival.

🎥 Feel It From My Words
A compelling short documentary narrated by musician Mushtaq Hussain, sharing his journey after fleeing persecution and death threats, and the dangerous path through the world of human smuggling.

📅 Saturday, 29 August 2026
🕡 6:30 pm
📍 Victa Cinema, Victor Harbor

🎟️ Book your tickets via TryBooking.

Come along for an evening of inspiring storytelling while supporting the important work of Circle of Friends.

Step into powerful stories from around the world at this special film screening at Victa Cinema, Victor Harbor. Two films, part of a moving and...

04/08/2026

🌿 Join us for another welcoming Saturday morning with Sanctuary Runners! 🏃‍♀️🚶‍♂️💚

Following the wonderful success of our first walk/run on World Refugee Day, Justice for Refugees SA is delighted to invite you to another community parkrun.

📅 Saturday, 18 August
📍 Carisbrooke Park, Salisbury North
🕢 Meet at 7:30 am for an 8:00 am start

Whether you’d like to walk, jog or run, everyone is welcome! It’s a beautiful location to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people and be part of an inclusive community.

👕 FREE Sanctuary Runners T-shirts are available, and there is no cost to participate.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with refugees, migrants, people seeking asylum, and anyone in your community who would enjoy joining us.

We look forward to seeing you there! 💚

Next Sanctuary Runners event is on 18th August at Carisbrooke Park in Salisbury North. Meet at 7:30am for an 8:00am start. Event is free.

22/06/2026

Inaugural Adelaide Refugee Film Festival 2026 starts this week!

📍 Palace Nova Cinema, Prospect

Festival dates:
🎥 26-28 June 2026
Booking link:

Step into powerful stories from around the world at the Adelaide Refugee Film Festival — a moving and eye-opening celebration of cinema that shines...

17/06/2026

🏃‍♂️🌍 Join us this Saturday to Celebrate Australia’s Diversity! 🌍🏃‍♀️

Looking for a meaningful way to start your weekend? Mark your calendar for Saturday, 20 June! In celebration of Refugee Week and World Refugee Day, we are coming together at Carisbrooke parkrun for a special event focused on community, inclusion, and connection.

Inspired by the global 'Sanctuary Runners' movement, this is a wonderful opportunity for people of all backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life—including newly arrived refugees, migrants, and locals—to run, jog, or walk together.

📅 WHEN: Saturday, 20 June 2026 at 7:30 AM
📍 WHERE: Carisbrooke Park, Salisbury Park (Main North Road)
🚗 PARKING & MEETING: Please park in the Carisbrooke car park and look out for the Justice for Refugees SA banners!

This is a FREE 5km event open to absolutely everyone. Move at your own pace, meet fantastic people, and help us celebrate our richly diverse community.

👉 First time doing a parkrun? Make sure to register and get your free barcode before you arrive at www.parkrun.com.au.

Brought to you in collaboration with Justice for Refugees SA, Carisbrooke parkrun, the City of Salisbury Council, Circle of Friends Australia (COFA), and Welcoming Australia.

Read the full details and find contact info here: https://cofa.org.au/2026/05/30/join-us-to-celebrate-australias-diversity/

Run or walk together at Carisbrooke 5km Parkrun in Salisbury, on World Refugee Day 20 June 2026 o celebrate our richly diverse and inclusive community.

05/06/2026

Join us for an afternoon of great music while supporting a great cause! 🎶

The Family Reunion Circle invites you to a special fundraising concert featuring Ambiguous Folk.

Together, we are raising funds to help reunite families who have been separated for far too long and to support people in Australia seeking protection visas after fleeing dangerous situations.

📅 When: Saturday 18 July, 2:00 pm
📍 Where: Wheatsheaf Hotel, 39 George Street, Thebarton
🎟️ Cost: $25

Ambiguous Folk is an eclectic band blending folk, blues, soft jazz and a touch of indie music. Their original songs explore themes of social justice, romance and humour, creating a unique and engaging musical experience.

This special performance features:
🎸 Hannah Bibby – acoustic & electric guitar, vocals
🎸 Greg Were – guitar, vocals
🎻 Special guest Emma Luker – violin & cello
🎼 Spiro Kolovos – jazz bass

Bring your friends and family along for a fun afternoon of music, community and solidarity. Every ticket helps support families seeking safety, security and the chance to be together again.

We hope to see you there!

Concert featuring Ambiguous Folk. Raising money to reunite families and individuals here who need protection visas.

02/06/2026

🎬 Our final film for the inaugural Adelaide Refugee Film Festival is here!

We're thrilled to present LOST LAND, screening Saturday 27 June at Palace Nova.

A Venice award winner and the first-ever Rohingya-language feature film, Lost Land follows two young siblings on a perilous journey to Malaysia in search of their scattered family. Made with a largely non-professional cast of over 200 Rohingya community members, this is a visceral, humane story of survival — and the search for somewhere to call home.

We're honoured to be bringing this remarkable film to Adelaide fresh from the Sydney Film Festival. 🙏

▶️ Watch the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNyi9LzJkb4
ℹ️ Film details: https://www.sff.org.au/program/event/lost-land/

🎟️ Book your tickets:
https://www.trybooking.com/DJAZW

Step into powerful stories from around the world at the Adelaide Refugee Film Festival — a moving and eye-opening celebration of cinema that shines...