Immigrants make up almost a third of the Australian population, with at least a quarter having one or both parents born overseas, and are a vital part of the tapestry of our society. They bring essential skills, colourful cultures, and delicious food that enrich our lives.

Please join us for a unique storytelling event, 'Inspiring Stories of Migration to Australia', and step into the shoes of six courageous migrants as they share their raw and personal stories linked to the theme NEW BEGINNINGS.

Brought to you by MMMigration and Stories that Stir™, this evening of extraordinary and inspiring stories will make you laugh, cry, and view the world in a different light.

We are so excited to bring you these stories because #migrationmatters

Meet your storytellers:

Rising Heart – Aminata Conteh-Biger

In 1999, Aminata Conteh-Biger was snatched from her father’s arms by rebel soldiers in Sierra Leone’s brutal civil war. After she was released, the UNHCR flew her to Australia to start afresh as a refugee in a land she knew nothing about. It is here that she has proudly built a life, while never allowing trauma to define her.

Yet it was a near-death experience she suffered during the birth of her child that turned her attention to the women of Sierra Leone – where they are 200 times more likely to die while having a baby than in Australia.

This led her to set up the NFP Aminata Maternal Foundation. Its mission is to end infant and maternal mortality in Sierra Leone and give these babies a chance of life after taking their first breath.

Finding Home Kieron Barton

Kieron’s journey from England to Australia began as a one-year experiment driven by his wife’s adventurous spirit. Struggling with homesickness and a profound disconnect, he found an unexpected purpose as a kids' soccer coach.

This role anchored him in the community and transformed his view of Australia from a temporary stop to a beloved home. Alongside his wife Louise and children, including their Aussie-born son, Jude, Kieron found a new home and life filled with community, friendship, fulfilment, and an enduring connection to their adopted country.

Community Made not Self Made – Rugare Gomo

Rugare Gomo is the first gay, Black, African-Australian to write and publish his memoir. He came to Australia by himself at 16 years old with one suitcase, a backpack and $300.

His powerful memoir, Dreams: Forging my Own Path, chronicles his journey of thriving and loving oneself and others despite facing discrimination and racism in every facet of society. Rugare is a lawyer, a model, a philanthropist, a businessman, and a Leadership Coach author. Today he uses his life to inspire and empower people to dream, forge their path, and be the leader of their life.

Love and Growth - Catalina Bahamon Rivera

After a lot of soul searching, Catalina finally decided to join her Colombian husband in Australia after two years. To her surprise, this move brought her an immense opportunity for personal growth. From reinventing her love story to learning a new language to get her nursing degree recognised and be allowed to stay permanently; she discovered how pushing herself into the unknown could help her expand in ways she never imagined. “The hardest decisions are usually the best ones you can and must make."

Talking to strangers – Oksana Koriakova

How do you shut up a talkative person? You send them to a country where they don’t speak the language and don’t know anyone. Oksana shares how she turned a short 6-month visit to Australia into building a new life, winning business awards, and attracting a massive network of friends. All thanks to her strength, curiosity, and talent for talking to strangers. After all, strangers are just friends that we haven't met.

Belonging - Melanie Macfarlane

Melanie’s life as she knew it was ripped apart when aged 10 she was sent to boarding school in the UK, a far cry from her island paradise upbringing in Vanuatu. This trauma led her to search for belonging which she ultimately found after migrating to Sydney in her 30s.

Securing her Migration license brought together everything she was passionate about, as she loved helping people from different communities sort out the maze of migration, and get a leg up for their families in Australia. Her father’s recent passing has led her to reflect on the legacy he left her and the legacy she’s creating in her own life.

Please arrive by 6.45pm to enjoy a complimentary beverage and mingling. Secure your seats by 7pm with the storytelling commencing at 7.15pm sharp.

* 10% of all proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the Aminata Maternal Foundation.

* Trigger warning: Story content may include sensitive topics such as trauma, suicide, death etc.

*18+ event

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