2025 Refugee Ball & Fundraiser
Event description
See the joy, courage, and transformation your ticket helps create.
Attend the 2025 REFUGEE BALL & FUNDRAISER
NSW Fundraising Gala Dinner
Join Us to help raise vital funds for survivors of torture and refugee trauma.
Date: Friday, November 7th, 2025
Time: 6:30 PM Canapés, Ball starts at 7:00 PM
Venue: Doltone House Darling Island, 48 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont
Dress Code: Cultural Dress or Black Tie
Join us for the 16th annual STARTTS Refugee Ball, an unforgettable evening dedicated to raising funds for refugees and celebrating the strength of survivors of torture and trauma. This is an opportunity to gather with a like-minded community, support vital causes, and enjoy a night of inspiration and entertainment.
Don’t miss the chance to be a part of this profoundly meaningful experience. Secure your spot by reserving your tickets now. Together, we can truly make a difference in the lives of refugees and honour the unwavering strength and resilience of our communities.
Speaker
Shankari Chandran
We are thrilled to announce Shankari Chandran as our 2025 Refugee Ball keynote speaker. Winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award, Shankari is the acclaimed author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and Safe Haven. Her writing weaves powerful narratives of displacement, identity, belonging, and survival, themes that resonate deeply with the refugee experience.
As a storyteller and human rights advocate, Shankari’s work offers a lens into the complexities of migration and healing. We are honoured to welcome her voice to this year’s Ball as we explore the theme: Refugee Stories.
Shankari Chandran
Where your money goes – Fundraising for 2025
This year, funds raised at the Refugee Ball will go towards supporting a local program alongside an International cause.
Local Cause: STARTTS Girls Camp – Building Belonging Through Story
This year, funds raised at the Refugee Ball will support the STARTTS Girls Camp, a transformative four-day program for refugee girls aged 14–17 who have recently resettled in Australia.
The camp offers a safe, empowering space where young women connect with peers, engage in creative and cultural activities, and most importantly: share stories. Whether through dance, adventure, or evenings around the campfire, these girls are invited to express who they are beyond trauma and displacement.
In 2025, storytelling will take centre stage at the camp and the girls will become co-creators of a video for the Ball capturing their experience of sisterhood, strength and self-expression. Your support helps bring their voices to the forefront.
International Cause: Supporting the IRCT – When the World Turns Away
STARTTS is proud to be a long-standing member of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), a global network of over 160 centres supporting survivors of torture.
In 2024, the IRCT and many of its member organisations, especially those in Gaza, the West Bank, and other conflict-affected regions, faced devastating funding losses after the United States froze and then terminated 83% of USAID foreign assistance. Many agencies were left without resources to support those most in need.
This year, a portion of funds raised will go directly to IRCT frontline agencies that are now struggling to keep their doors open. These organisations are a lifeline for victims of war and torture. With your help, we can make sure they continue their vital work, even when the world turns away.
Embrace the Cause, Elevate Your Brand:
Become a champion for human rights and support STARTTS’ vital work with refugees by sponsoring the 2025 Refugee Ball. Choose a package that aligns with your organisation’s goals and gain valuable benefits while making a lasting impact.
~ Healing Refugee Trauma. Rebuilding Lives ~
More information at: startts.org.au
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
