A sense of belonging

Welcoming newly arrived refugees in our neighbourhoods

The Australian National Maritime Museum is helping to build social bridges to members of the refugee community, to enhance their feelings of belonging and welcome in Australia. Stephen Webb explains.

THROUGH A RANGE OF PLANNED ACTIVITIES, Settlement Services International (SSI) and the museum have been providing opportunities for newcomers to experience Australian art and culture and to support them as they form new connections and acquire knowledge, skills and confidence. Research released by SSI in September provides strong evidence of the important role of institutions like the museum in providing support to refugees. Foundations for Belonging 2021 gathers the perspectives of refugees and their everyday sense of welcome, participation and belonging as they navigate a new chapter of their lives in Australia. Overall, Foundations for Belonging’s findings indicate that refugees, despite language barriers, are developing social bridges through friendship networks, and that they feel welcome in local neighbourhoods. The research provides strong evidence of the value of community engagement initiatives, such as those organised by SSI and the museum, that facilitate meeting and exchange between receiving communities and newly arrived refugees. The partnership has provided opportunities for refugees to be included in migration themed exhibitions and programs, as well as the much-loved National Monument to Migration. The National Monument is a celebration of multicultural Australia, acknowledging and recognising the journeys of migrants who help shape the nation and whose stories speak to who we are. Diana, an SSI client who nominated to have her name added to over 30,000 names already appearing on the National Monument, first visited the museum as part of SSI’s Welcome to Sydney program. She said she enjoyed seeing the interior of the museum as well as other buildings in the city, including New South Wales Parliament House. She found the visit very interesting and definitely contributed to her sense of belonging. Recently, due to COVID-19 lockdowns, Diana has had to stay home with her family, keeping in touch with friends through social media. Nevertheless, she has been able to start the second semester of an interior design diploma with TAFE.

SSI CEO, Violet Roumeliotis, said successful settlement and integration were key objectives of Australia’s migration policy, in particular the ability to participate fully in economic, social, cultural and civic life. While migration has slowed due to COVID-19, public discussion about the benefits and challenges of a multicultural Australia should look to the evidence, and the experiences of Australians who are migrants and refugees. Together we can help build community harmony and celebrate our nation’s diversity.

Stephen Webb is the Corporate Affairs & External Relations Manager with Settlement Services International