Councils and Communities: Celebrating Refugee Week 2025

The theme of Refugee Week 2025 is Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community, and you’re invited to be part of a wonderful week of celebrations. 

We know that building strong, welcoming communities that celebrate diversity is important to you. With Refugee Week’s focus on communities this year, we believe you have a significant and special role to play. 

We know coordinating and hosting an event can seem daunting. That’s why we’ve put together a panel of council staff from LGAs across Australia who annually host Refugee Week events. Hear from your peers as they talk you through their event organisation process, share their tips and best practice, and inspire you to engage your own diverse communities. 

Speakers include: 

Erfanullah Abidi, RCOA Refugee Ambassador, South Australia - Erfanullah is a renowned, multiple award-winning Human Rights Advocate and Refugee Ambassador who devotes his life to helping vulnerable people gain agency and freedom in his home country, Afghanistan. After being forced to flee Kabul in 2021 due to government instability and dwindling foreign aid, Erfanullah strives to influence positive change by sharing his story and organising initiatives to empower refugees while promoting cultural understanding. Erfanullah's humanitarian work has been recognized with several awards, including the UNESCO Adelaide Chamber Human Rights Award, the Courageous Spirit Award from TAFE SA, the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, and the Book for Peace International Award.

Dalal Sleiman, Whittlesea City Council - Dalal is a RCOA Refugee Ambassador and Cultural Diversity Officer at City of Whittlesea. Dalal arrived in Australia as a refugee in February 1992 after enduring horrific experiences of displacement, war and conflict caused by the 1990 Gulf War. She went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in Community Development and a Graduate Certificate in Australian Immigration Law and Practice. Dalal has been a pivotal figure in the community sector. Dalal also founded the Australian Chaldean Family Welfare (ACFW) and the Chaldean Women Association in Victoria. Her outstanding contributions to community integration and support have been recognised with several awards, including the 2020 Australia Day Award for Access and Inclusion from the City of Whittlesea.

Celia Chang, Hume City Council - Celia is a Multicultural Community Development Officer for Hume City Council who has had the privilege of working with culturally diverse communities in the Northern and Western suburbs of Melbourne since 2011. Her key focus is to engage with community members and leaders from cultural and faith groups alongside local service providers to achieve her goal of supporting migrant and refugee communities. This included working with The Smith Family (Brimbank Communities for Children program, Brimbank and Geelong Community Hubs and The Learning for Life Program), and with Darebin Council as the Interfaith & Multicultural Officer.

Eric Poulos, North Sydney Council - Eric is a dedicated Social Planner - Community Worker at North Sydney Council, with a solid grounding in local government, having worked at five Councils during his career, managing several Community Services Departments. Currently, he plays a crucial role in developing and implementing strategies to enhance community services, analysing community trends and data to more effectively respond to local needs and build community capacity. He has chaired the Lower North Shore Multicultural Network for over 9 years and through the Network has undertaken a myriad of projects – Refugee Week Events, Seminars on Transformational Ethical Storytelling, Referral Directories for Migrants, Employment, Housing and English Classes, and a Northern Sydney Disability Multicultural Expo! Eric is committed to fostering a connected, inclusive, and vibrant community through his work.