On 26th June 2026, we were joined by over 130 people to celebrate Refugee Week 2026 at JRS Australia. 

For our celebration this year, refugee leaders, clients, staff, students and their families and broader community gathered for a night of art, presentations and connection. 

Since 1947, Australia has granted one million permanent humanitarian visas. This year’s Refugee Week theme ‘A Million Stories’ was a celebration of this milestone. It reminds us that behind each journey is a person with a story: someone who left everything behind to find safety, who showed incredible strength, and who has helped build the Australia we know today. 

For the last three years, we have had the honour of Refugee Leadership Program had the honour to host JRS’ Refugee Week Celebrations for the last three years. In this fourth year, the Refugee Leadership Program showcased a series of art, stories and videos as part of an exhibition that was held in Canva Space in Surry Hills. We thank Canva Space for their incredible generosity for hosting us on the night.  

Artwork, Stories and Short films

A total of 14 refugee artists and leaders showcased their works at the exhibition. Across collections of videos, archival works and artworks, leaders and artists shared their personal stories, and their strong commitment to justice and upholding dignity and human rights for all. 

Their pieces ask us to reflect on the reasons people seek asylum, who is deserving of safety and protection, and what kind of society we want to be.  

As Jacob, a refugee leader states:  

“I chose to share my story and participate in the exhibition and Refugee Leadership Program because I believe that personal stories have the power to inspire understanding, empathy, and positive change.” 

“As someone currently seeking asylum, my journey has included many challenges, sacrifices, and moments of resilience. By sharing my experiences, I hope to raise awareness about the realities faced by refugees and highlight the strength and determination that many bring to their new communities. ” 

M*, another refugee leader also shared:  

“Through this exhibition, I would like to highlight not only the difficulties that refugees and people seeking asylum face but also their strengths, skills, and contributions to society. Sharing my journey provides an opportunity to raise awareness, challenge misconceptions, and encourage meaningful conversations about inclusion and belonging.”  

You can view the full exhibition guide which showcases all the different artworks and each artist’s statement here. 

School Creative Competition Winners  

We were also honoured to announce the winners of our Refugee Week Creative Competition, live at the exhibition. We received so many incredible submissions, including artwork, poetry, prose and video, with beautiful reflections and messages of welcome for refugees and people seeking asylum. It was inspiring to see the empathy, creativity and wisdom of Australia’s next generation of young leaders.  

Congratulations to all the student winners and their families! Read more about the student competition here. 

Silent Auction  

Thank you to the wonderful individuals and organisations who generously donated their art, products or services as part of a silent auction in support of the Refugee Leadership Program: 

• Dinosaur Designs  

• The Bread and Butter Project Hamper  

• Greater Western Sydney Giants  

• Verve portraits  

• Australian Chamber Orchestra Performance at the Sydney Opera House 

• Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG)  

• MISC Parramatta 

• The Albert Hotel  

• Peter Drew (artist) 

• Steph Martei (artist) 

• Bourke Street Bakery 

Thank you also to everyone who attended and participated in the silent auction! 

These are Our Stories

Thank you to everyone who attended to be part of our shared story. Special thanks to Canva Space and Bernard from Inner West for Refugees for capturing photos on the night. 

Thanks to your support, leaders and artists contributing to the “Our Stories” exhibition have been paid for their courage and time in creating pieces that speak to their truth, and share their resilience and hopes for the future. 

Take Action

If you would like to stand alongside these storytellers and create change in our local community, you can: 

1. Donate to JRS Australia: Your tax deductible gift has the power to help thousands of people seeking asylum living in our local community, right here in Sydney. Your donation supports immediate relief for families in need, and helps fund programs like refugee leadership, so people with lived experience can showcase their skills and talents, and become advocates for change. Click here to donate today. 

2. Help Restock the JRS Foodbank! Collect non-perishable food, toiletries, and essential items for people seeking asylum. Supermarket gift cards can also be donated via email. Contact foodbank@jrs.org.au for more information, or visit our Foodbank page for the current list of items most needed by the families we serve. 

3. Advocate for Change: Many people seeking asylum in Australia spend years without access to basic rights, including housing, safety nets, medical care or the right to work. Join the Campaign for a Human Rights Act in NSW to make sure everyone has access to their rights in New South Wales, regardless of visa status. You can also learn more about our international advocacy for people displaced from Myanmar here. 

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