Program + Venue
2023 Welcoming Australia Symposium
Opening Reception
9 May 2023, 5:30pm (for 6pm) – 7:30pm
Supper Room, Melbourne Town Hall
Symposium Day 1
10 May 2023, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Zinc on Fed Square
The Symposium is fully catered (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) and dietary requirements can be specified in the event registration process.
Symposium Day 2
11 May 2023, 9:00am – 4:30pm
Zinc on Fed Square
The Symposium is fully catered (morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea) and dietary requirements can be specified in the event registration process.
Symposium 2023 Day 1
May 10 2023
09:45 - 10:00Official Event Opening
By Hon Andrew Giles MP Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
10:15 - 11:15First Nations Keynote and Q&A - Another Day in the Colony
By Professor Chelsea Watego Executive Director, Carumba Institute, QUT
11:15 - 12:20What’s the story, and who’s telling it?
By Professor Chelsea Watego Executive Director, Carumba Institute, QUT, Uncle Andrew Gardiner Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elder, Wintana Kidane Co-founder & host, Bittersweet Podcast
13:30 - 14:15Sport is community
By Kate Thomas Lead Trainer, The Centre for Healing and Justice through Sport, Fatima Yousufi Member, Afghanistan's women's national soccer team
14:50 - 15:10What does it look like to settle in a new community?
By Noushin Barghi Advisory Committee Member at Forcibly Displaced People Network (FDPN)
15:10 - 16:10International Keynote: How do new migrants find their place?
By Susanne Wessendorf Professor of Social Anthropology at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University (UK)
Symposium 2023 Day 2
May 11 2023
09:15 - 10:15National Keynote: How do we strengthen neighbourhoods?
By Kate Reynolds Professor of Psychology at the Australian National University (ANU)
10:50 - 11:30Getting on with it: by community for community
By Dr Belle Lim Founder, Future Forte, Abdulmalik Abdurahman Founder and President of Fitzroy Lions Soccer Club, Tharini Rouwette Founder, COMPELL
11:30 - 12:20Stories of Welcome
By Zaki Haidari Refugee Rights Campaigner, Amnesty International Australia, Sarah Janali Community Strategist, Churchill Fellow , Gary Lee OAM Manager, International Education & Deputy Municipal Recovery Manager
13:30 - 14:20Creating places of welcome
By Ken Dachi Multicultural Affairs Advisor, Leeton Shire Council, Lisa Button CEO, Community Refugee Sponsorship Australia, Liz Ritchie CEO, Regional Australia Institute , Alison McClure Group coordinator, Rural Australians for Refugees - Bendigo, Zia Alami Group member, Rural Australians for Refugees - Bendigo
14:45 - 15:50Over the fence: an invitation to generous conversations
By Peter Morris General Manager, Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Program, Reconciliation Australia , Kara Keys Deputy Campaign Director – Yes23, Rana Ebrahimi National Manager, Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN), Mel Morton Inclusion Coordinator, Footscray Hockey Club
The Venue
Melbourne’s most contemporary venue ZINC at Federation Square merges modern design and sophistication with the natural beauty of its sweeping parkland and surrounds. Floor to ceiling windows together with fabulous outdoor decking overlooking the Yarra River, provide breathtaking views of the tranquil river banks and historic boat sheds on the edge of Alexandra Gardens. The sculpted roof design combined with the simplicity of modern cement walls produce an impressive contemporary space perfect for any event right in the heart of the city.
Getting there:
BY CAR
Enter Federation Square car park via the Russell Street extension turning left into car park. Proceed to lifts and take lifts to Level 1. When exiting the lifts turn left to exit carpark. Turn right and proceed up ramp to ZINC.
DROP OFF / ON FOOT
Proceed to end of Russell Street extension. Take stairs on right down to ground level to ZINC entrance on the right.
ON FOOT
From the main plaza head towards DEAKIN Edge. At the end of the atrium proceed through the sliding doors and down stairs to ZINC.
ON FOOT
From the Princes Bridge head down the Yarra River along river terrace until you reach ZINC on your left, approximately 200 metres from Swanston Street.
COVID-19
As COVID-19 continues to be front of mind across the world, we wish to assure you that your health and safety is paramount and we have implemented additional measures around hygiene and safe food practices to reduce risk.
