Multicultural Australia

18/06/2026

We’re proud to support Storytelling for Healing, a special panel discussion presented by QPAC in association with Multicultural Australia.

Join us for this meaningful opportunity to listen, reflect and connect through the stories that shape us.

Meet the panelists joining us for Storytelling for Healing ❤️

Inspired by Lose to Win, this special panel discussion explores the role storytelling can play in healing, identity, belonging and understanding.

Hear from journalist and panel facilitator Jesmine Cheong, performer Mandela Mathia, youth advocate Huda Akhlaki, and Peace Leadership Ambassador Brazil Pele as they share personal insights and lived experiences.

Storytelling for Healing
Thursday 25 June, 1pm | Cremorne Theatre

Presented by QPAC in association with Multicultural Australia.

15/06/2026

We’re proud to support Asylum Speaker Story Night: Listening to Hazara Voices, hosted by UNAA Young Professionals - QLD at the Queensland Multicultural Centre tomorrow evening.

This powerful community event creates space to listen deeply to the lived experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum, with Hazara-Afghan speaker Mirza Asghari sharing his journey of displacement, resilience, identity and rebuilding.

Through storytelling, conversation and cultural exchange, the evening invites reflection, connection and a stronger sense of shared community.

📅 Tuesday, 16 June
🕕 Doors open 6:00pm | Event begins 6:30pm
📍 Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point
🔗 Tickets available here https://bit.ly/4emVvKZ

All proceeds will support Cisarua Learning, the first refugee-led school in Indonesia, providing education, mentorship and opportunity for young people in displaced communities.

15/06/2026

Refugee Week 2026: A Million Stories

As Refugee Week begins, Multicultural Australia joins communities across the country in celebrating the courage, resilience and contributions of refugees who have made Australia home.

This year’s theme, ‘A Million Stories’, marks an incredible milestone – one million humanitarian visas granted by Australia since 1947. Behind that number are real people. People who have overcome immense challenges, rebuilt their lives, and contributed to the communities that welcomed them.

We see those contributions every day – in our workplaces, schools, sporting fields, businesses and neighbourhoods.

At Multicultural Australia, we’re proud to support people as they begin new chapters in Queensland. It’s at the heart of what we do.

This Refugee Week, we invite you to reflect on the stories behind the numbers and the many ways refugees have helped shape Australia.

Reflecting on the theme ‘One in a Million’ we are committing to sharing just some of the stories of hope, courage and contribution from people in our communities.

Because every refugee story matters. And every story helps tell the story of Australia.

And by the way: Shout out to the Socceroos, who couldn’t have kicked off Refugee Week better if they’d tried. If you’re still catching up, you can read a wonderful background piece by SBS around two Socceroo stars who come from refugee beginnings, Nestory Irankunda (20), and Mohamed Touré (22), who starred in yesterday’s first up World Cup win.

Former refugees Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Touré want to make their mark for the Socceroos at the World Cup.

14/06/2026

Today marks the first day of Refugee Week in Australia, running from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June — the week that includes World Refugee Day on 20 June.

Coordinated nationally by the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA), Refugee Week is a time to recognise the strength, resilience and contributions of refugees, and to reflect on the stories that connect us.

Join us for Our Journey, a special event celebrating World Refugee Day and featuring the film Rosemary’s Way — a moving story of strength, identity and connection.

This event offers an opportunity to connect through storytelling, reflection and conversation, highlighting the power of film to bring people together and deepen understanding.

With thanks to our supporters: Brisbane City Council, Australian Department of Home Affairs, and Queensland Multicultural Centre.

We’d love to see you there and invite you to share this event with your networks.

Register for your FREE ticket here: https://bit.ly/MAOurJourney2026

10/06/2026

Join us for Our Journey, a special event celebrating World Refugee Day and featuring the film Rosemary’s Way — a moving story of strength, identity and connection.

This event offers an opportunity to connect through storytelling, reflection and conversation, highlighting the power of film to bring people together and deepen understanding.

With thanks to our supporters: Brisbane City Council, Australian Department of Home Affairs, and Queensland Multicultural Centre.

We’d love to see you there and invite you to share this event with your networks.

Register for your FREE ticket here: https://bit.ly/MAOurJourney2026

09/06/2026

Congratulations to the Ukrainian Community of Queensland Inc. on a wonderful celebration of story-telling at their recent Ukrainian Film Festival in Brisbane.

Audiences shared extraordinary journeys through contemporary Ukrainian cinema, exploring stories of resilience, humour, identity, memory, love and hope. Through these films, culture was celebrated, important conversations were sparked, and connections were strengthened across our diverse communities.

At Multicultural Australia, we are proud to stand with communities as they share their stories, celebrate their heritage, and build understanding across cultures. Thank you to everyone who attended, and to the many dedicated volunteers who contributed to the success of this year’s festival.

Peter Bongiorni

09/06/2026

Thank you to the Brisbane Lions for hosting a wonderful morning tea with local faith leaders.

It was a valuable opportunity to listen, connect and better understand the emerging needs and challenges facing our local communities. We also took time to acknowledge the important work of churches and faith groups — much of it unseen, but deeply felt in the lives of so many people.

Today was about connection — strengthening relationships, sharing insights, and continuing to build a more connected and supportive community together.

At a time when many communities around the world are experiencing division and uncertainty, gatherings like this matter more than ever. They remind us that, despite our different beliefs and backgrounds, we are united by shared values — compassion, respect and humanity.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to lead with kindness, understanding and hope in our communities.

Charis Mullen MP

04/06/2026

On Sunday night, our CEO Jo Nelson was honoured to attend the 2026 Annual Gold Coast MSN Dinner, to celebrate the wonderful work of the Multicultural Social Network and the numerous community-led organisations supporting our multicultural communities on the Gold Coast.

Congratulations to the very well-deserving award winners – Nasrin Vaziri, Raj Kumar, Diane Kozic, Ellen Peru, Patrice Poutu, Warren Taylor, Seema Chauhan, Zain Baba, Debby Lo-Dean, Endang Setyorini, Andy Rajapaske, Amin Sheik, and Lela MacDowell!

The warmth, the celebration, the friendship and the connections across the hundreds of attendees were a tangible reflection of the night’s theme – to promote social cohesion and harmony. Thank you, Dr Hussain Baba and the MSN team for the invitation.

Sam O'Connor MP Fiona Simpson MP Senator Paul Scarr Habib Jamal Janeth Deen

03/06/2026

During Harmony Week in March, Carers Queensland staff participated in a Lantern Making Workshop that celebrated connection, belonging and welcome.

As teams created lanterns for the upcoming LUMINOUS Lantern Parade 2026, they also reflected on the deeper history behind the event.

We heard from Amela from Carers Queensland who shared her personal connection to the origins of the parade.

Amela spoke about how the early parades began nearly two decades ago as a way to increase visibility, raise awareness of community challenges, and bring people together—starting simply with real candles, shared voices and lived experiences. Over time, these grassroots gatherings grew into what is now one of Brisbane’s most significant annual community events, drawing thousands of people each year in a powerful show of unity and welcome.

Workshops like these remind us that creativity, storytelling and shared history play an important role in building inclusive, connected workplaces.

In the lead up to the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade on Friday 31 July, we invite organisations to host a Lantern Making Workshop for their teams.

These hands-on, creative workshops are a powerful way to come together during Refugee Week (14–20 June) or sooner, sparking meaningful conversations about welcome, belonging and cultural understanding — all while creating beautiful lanterns to carry forward.

✅ Facilitated by Cultural Hosts with lived migration or refugee experience
✅ Guided discussions alongside lantern making
✅ A fun, inclusive team activity with real impact
✅ Perfect for workplaces, community groups and organisations
📅 Workshops run for 2 hours and can be tailored to your group’s design ideas, colours and discussion topics.

🌟 Book your Lantern making workshop now and be part of a movement of welcome and connection.

👉 Get in touch to secure your date.