Refugee and Asylum Seeker Experiences
This page has been created as part of UQ Refugee Week 2021 activations.
Refugee Week is Australia’s peak annual activity to inform the public about refugees and celebrate positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. At a time when displacement is reaching global record levels, it is imperative we raise awareness around this fundamental human rights issue.
Please engage in UQ's Refugee Week Activities from 21 to 26 June 2021.
Art For Wellbeing Session
Tuesday, 22 June 2021, 2pm to 4pm
Reflect on the theme of Refugee Week of Unity and creating a sense of belonging in using creative techniques such as drawing, painting, collage, colouring or sculpting.
Register now: https://life.uq.edu.au/event/session/5306
UQ Gatton Refugee Week Activation
Wednesday, 23 June 2021
UQ Gatton campus is inviting refugee students from Toowoomba and conducting sessions long with UQ Skills, UQ Future Students and the UQ Scholarships office in order to educate the students about UQ pathways for students from diverse backgrounds.
Refugee Week Panel
Thursday, 24 June 2021, 2pm to 3:30pm
Join UQ researchers, students and external community representatives who are activists, advocates and passionate members of the refugee and asylum seeker community. They will discuss important issues such as a day in the life of refugees, mental health, benefits to the welcoming communities and the experiences of refugees.
The panel consists of:
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Gerhard Hoffstaedter Associate Professor (Anthropology), School of Social Science, UQ
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Sabina Albrecht Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Business and Economics, UQ
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Sanam Ahmadzada Research Officer, Policy and Epidemiology Group of the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR)
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Rose Dash, Executive Manager Client Services, Multicultural Australia representative
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Seb Dianati, Teaching Fellow, School of Languages and Cultures, UQ
Register now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/uq-refugee-week-panel-tickets-159930571645
Dinner in the Dome: Eritrean Dining Experience
Friday, 25 June 2021, 5pm to 8pm
Come together with your UQ community to enjoy an Eritrean Dining Experience to celebrate Refugee Week. Dinner is FREE and there will be cash bars and good music to fill the evening.
Register now: https://life.uq.edu.au/event/session/4875
The Dinner follows the “sold out” Drumming Workshop, however, you can join the waitlist here: https://life.uq.edu.au/event/session/5065
World Refugee Day: Fundraising Mixer
Saturday, 26 June 2021, 5:30pm onwards
The student-led Refugee Tutoring club is celebrating the achievements of semester one, and the conclusion of the Refugee Week with their community of tutors, high school students, external organisations and partners. Join them in celebrating the achievements of students from refugee backgrounds. Half your ticket will go towards a fundraiser!
Register here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1579247585598906/?ref=newsfeed
Talking about refugee and asylum seeker experiences and inclusion in society, the below webinars provide awareness about the experiences, challenges associated with and benefits of their inclusion in Australian and global society.
Through the webinars we hope to provide a forum for sharing evidence-based research on issues facing refugee and asylum seekers in Australia, to enable UQ communities to better support their inclusion and ensure UQ is a place where all are free and supported to be their authentic selves.
A day in the life of a refugee - Gerhard Hoffstaedter
Gerhard is an Associate Professor (Anthropology) in the School of Social Science, Course Director for the MOOC World101x: Anthropology of current world issues and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. His research focuses on documenting and understanding the refuge experience in Southeast Asia. The below videos, part of World101x Episode 8: Living within limits, look at the world using an anthropological lens to shed new perspectives on current world issues, with a focus on irregular migration, urban refugees, a day in the life of refugees and much more.
More details on Gerhard’s research can be found here: https://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/2706
Share refugee stories with respect- Adam Wood and Perversi-Burchall
Are you a student, academic or storyteller interested in the refugee experience? Much has been said about refugees and asylum seekers in the media, but rarely do we hear from the people themselves. There is much to consider if you are thinking about telling the stories of people with lived experience of forced migration, particularly if you don’t have that history yourself.
This reflective and practical webinar draws from multiple schools of thought, including social psychology, trauma theory and anthropology, and is delivered by Adam Wood, Pia Perversi-Burchall and Liliana Maria. Adam and Pia are the creators and co-hosts of In My Country, an award-winning podcast that shares the stories of refugees and asylum seekers living in Australia, and the many places we call home. Liliana Maria was one of the guests on ‘In My Country’ and is the founder of cultural consultancy and storytelling company, Moving Cultures, Moving Stories.
Together, they draw on their experience to offer 10 tips for sharing refugee stories with respect.
Agents of change- Tyler Riordan
Tyler is a PhD candidate in the School of Social Science and the Chairperson of the Australian Network of Student Anthropologists. Tyler’s research examines factors associated with wellbeing to understand how African refugee youth navigate resettlement through involvement in community activities.
Tyler’s research can be found here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13676261.2021.1939282
Politics of Australia's approach to asylum-seekers- Matt McDonald
Hear from Matt McDonald, Associate Professor in the School of Political Science and International Studies, about the politics of Australia’s approach to asylum-seekers with a focus on maritime arrivals. Matt’s research focuses on Australia’s justifications of their approach that demonstrate a narrowing of their ethical considerations viewed through the lens of border security.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3mfmmg60jbejfuv/AADn6otPUGYWTaCqPaFoh11da?dl=0
More details about Matt’s research can be found here: http://researchers.uq.edu.au/researcher/634
Staff resources
For support, contact Workplace Diversity and Inclusion at ideals@uq.edu.au