Refugee Week 2024 with Melaleuca Australia

About this event

From 17 to 21 June 2024, Melaleuca Australia presented a five-day program in Darwin for Refugee Week. The year's theme, Finding Freedom: Family, explored the importance of family, safety, and a sense of home for people who have experienced forced displacement.

The program included an official opening, a public exhibition, creative work by school students and adult participants, personal stories, and activities led by local communities.

Why it mattered

Refugee Week allows people to share their experiences in their own words, beyond statistics, policy debates, and the language of crisis. Events like these encourage a deeper understanding of forced displacement, recognise the contribution refugees make to Australia, and strengthen respect between communities.

For UAANT, this work is closely connected to supporting Ukrainians as they build new lives in the Northern Territory. We deeply value our friendship and partnership with Melaleuca Australia and their continuing support for newly arrived families.

Key elements

• An opening event with a welcome, drumming, a vigil, and a cooking demonstration
• A public exhibition open throughout the week
• Personal stories and creative work from local school students and adult participants
• Activities developed with the active involvement of Darwin's communities