The Welcoming Australia Symposium brings together international, national and local practitioners, policy-makers, researchers, business innovators and civic leaders to share and discuss the challenges, benefits and opportunities of migration, settlement, cultural diversity and inclusion.

The 2025 Symposium will be held in Sydney on the 6th - 8th May and includes a fantastic line up of national and international speakers.

For those who can’t make it to Sydney we are partnering with the City of Canning to host an event in WA which will provide an opportunity to:

Watch the symposium highlights (view the speakers list here)
Digest the Symposium insights with local panelists
Celebrate the contributions of award winners
Build connections with people who share our vision of a Welcoming Australia

Date: Thursday 29th May

Time: 9.00 arrival and registration, 9.30am start – 4pm finish

Venue: Hillview Intercultural Centre, 1-2 Hillview Place Bentley

Enjoy global cuisine with lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided

Ticket price (includes access to all Symposium presentations/panels online which can be viewed after the event):

$65 organisation or government representative

$35 individual community member

Agenda

2025 Welcoming Australia Symposium – Perth Summit

National Conversations, Local Reflections.

9.00am – 9.30am

Registration, tea and coffee

9.30am – 11.00am

Welcome to Country

Event Opening

Welcoming Australia update – on the ground in WA!

First Nations Perspectives Keynote - Symposium Highlight

Pat Anderson AO

Weaving Grief and Joy: Building Coalitions for Change - Live Local Panel Discussion

We’re stronger, together. How can we harness our collective power to strengthen movements for social change that invite people in?

Panellists: Tim Muirhead (writer & facilitator) and Elizabeth Lang (Founding CEO of Diversity Focus and Co-Founder of the Racism Register)

11.00am – 11.30am

Morning Tea

11.30am – 1.00pm

National Perspectives Keynote - Symposium Highlight

Dr James O’Donnell (Australian National University)  

From Evidence to Action - Facilitated Table Activity

What do these national trends mean for our local communities? How might we use some of this evidence to inform local initiatives that promote inclusion and strengthen social cohesion?

Facilitator: Sarah Janali (Welcoming Cities Coordinator - WA)

Stories of Welcome – Local Panel Discussion

How are WA local governments helping to build communities where everyone belongs?

Panelists: Sebastian Greers (Manager, Welcoming Cities) and Eva Mwakichako (Senior Community Development Officer, City of Stirling)

1.00pm – 1.45pm

Lunch

1.45pm – 2.45pm

International Perspectives Keynote - Symposium Highlight

Paidraig O’Tuama (Poet, theologian & host of On Being’s Poetry Unbound)

The Art of Bringing People Together - Fire side chat with local storytellers

Storytellers play a vital role in creating communities where everyone can belong. How can we nurture opportunities and create spaces where we can speak from the heart and connect through stories?

Panellists: Raihanaty A.Jalil (writer, educator and entrepreneur) and Brigitte Underwood-Legeron (writer and dancer)

2.45pm – 3.00pm

Afternoon tea

3.00pm – 3.30pm

Celebrating winners of the Welcoming Cities Awards

Poetry Provocation

Priyanka Bromhead (Founder, We Are the Mainstream)

3.30pm – 4.00pm

Closing Address

Wrap Up and where to next?
Belonging starts in our households, neighbourhoods, schools, sports and community clubs, universities, cities, regions and workplaces. How will we all play an active role in creating spaces where everyone can belong?