Our Sacred Heart Community celebrated Refugee Week Monday 16 June to Friday 20 June. The focus for the week was Finding Freedom; Diversity in Community.

Community is where people find the strength to solve problems together, where voices are amplified, and where aspirations find direction and support. It’s a space where everyone can feel safe, valued, and empowered to pursue their dreams without fear or judgment.

This Refugee Week, we celebrated the inclusive communities across Australia that open their arms to those seeking refuge, providing platforms for connection and a sense of belonging. To be free is to live without fear of war, to have your basic human rights upheld and to live in equality without fear of persecution.

On Monday 16 June we began our week with a display of our countries with a flag and photo presentation in the Atrium. Our students from refugee backgrounds contributed their flag and made comment about what the theme and refugee week meant to them:

No one chooses to be a refugee

We all deserve to have a home and to be safe

No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land

Refugees are not just survivors—they are builders of new beginnings. Let's welcome them with open hearts and open minds.

You're a survivor, not just a refugee. You have recently exhibited extraordinary bravery and a resolute determination. Notwithstanding the challenges, you have discovered your own and your community's strength. Always keep in mind that you are not alone and that your story should be heard.

Refugees are not a burden; they are survivors seeking safety and hope. Let's welcome them with dignity and compassion.

Thursday 19 June morning saw us gather as a staff, student and parent group for an informal morning tea in the Cafe. Our students from refugee backgrounds were invited to bring a friend to celebrate the connections they have made. Feedback from the students included:

I think the part where we were talking to each other and getting to know each other more because of the morning tea.

This week, the most useful and valuable aspect was the morning tea . It helped me better understand the background of other people.

We also shared in our mentor groups, the Kpanlogo dance from Ghana in West Africa. The dance was created by young people in the 1960’s after Ghana gained independence. It's a joyful and energetic dance that celebrates freedom, identity, and community. As we learnt and performed it together, we connected to the same spirit Refugee Week honours — unity, resilience, and hope. Like the communities that welcome refugees, this dance shows how shared experiences can build belonging and strength for all. We practiced and then came together on St Stephens Green to dance Kpanlogo as a school community. As we learned and shared the dance we connected to the message — that joy, freedom, and community are for everyone.

Thank you to our Jubilee Year Ambassadors and our Mercy Mission Leaders who created this lesson after attending the Seeds of Justice Conference focusing on Voices of the displaced: Journeys of hope and justice - Milla Jarman, Alice McLeod, Sienna Thompson, Evelyn Downie, Elle Tang and Mathilda Garrido Lucay.

Lastly, our Year 7 students listened to a guest speaker from the Refugee Council of Australia. Atena, our guest speaker, shared her story as a refugee from Iran. Her story was one of great resilience and courage, she proudly shared her journey and experience as a refugee. Feedback from a student of refugee background on our guest speaker - the guest speaker for the year 7s was a valuable use of time and teachings, and allowing friends who weren't of refugee background to come with us to the morning tea to learn about and contribute to the week

The experience of a refugee /asylum seeker connects to the term 3 English curriculum and helps give further insight to the plight of those who seek refuge. We are grateful for the opportunities we experienced during Refugee Week as it gives all further insight into the lived experiences of others and the joy we can share when community comes together.