Refugee communities and their remarkable contributions were honoured in June at a special event hosted by Meli’s Torture and Trauma Counselling Team.
Held in recognition of Refugee Week, the gathering at Poa Banyul on Thursday 19 June celebrated the resilience, strength and cultural richness that refugees bring to the community.
The heartfelt occasion, which included a vibrant expression of cultural music and dance, also served as a platform to raise awareness about mental health in multicultural communities.
Matin Ghayour Minaie, Counsellor and Advocate with Meli’s Torture and Trauma Team, spoke of the human toll of global conflicts during a poignant speech on the meaning of freedom.
“This Refugee Week, let us remember that behind every statistic is a soul,” she said.
“Behind every refugee is a story of survival. And behind every war is a choice: a choice to destroy, or a choice to protect.
“Let this Refugee Week be more than a commemoration. Let it be a call to action.”
Dr Ghayour Minaie stressed the importance of creating inclusive communities where refugees could find a sense of belonging.
She called for collective efforts to reject war, embrace peace through action, and ensure that leadership reflects values of compassion, dignity and inclusion.
The event brought together Meli leaders – including Lisa-Jane Moody (Executive Director Outcomes and Strategic Engagement) and Betti Chapelle (Manager Therapeutic Services) – alongside community members and five young advocates from the Multicultural Youth Advisory Group.
The group, which has nine members in total, were each nominated as Mental Health Ambassadors, with the aim of their roles to reduce stigma within their respective communities – Afghan, Hazara, Syrian, Karen and Karenni.
They are also tasked with promoting help-seeking behaviour and guiding others to relevant services, including those offered by Meli.
One of the ambassadors, Ali Walizada, shared his powerful journey as a young refugee who fled Afghanistan with his family, eventually resettling in Australia in 2016.
“We are all humans that can come together as one regardless of our skin tone, identity or beliefs,” he said.
“I am very thankful to Meli for celebrating Refugee Week and listening to refugees such as myself, as it means the world to us.”
Meli’s Torture and Trauma Team provides counselling and emotional support for refugees and asylum seekers.
Its services are culturally sensitive and free, confidential and voluntary.
For more information, visit meli.org.au/community-support/
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