A celebration of refugees and people seeking asylum - in their own words

Published in partnership with Black Inc, Seeking Asylum: Our Stories launched November 2021 and invites readers to meet 23 people who share their stories and experiences of seeking asylum - how they have come to be in Australia and how they are rebuilding their lives in safety. Seeking Asylum also includes a foreword by Liliana Maria and an essay by Abdul Karim Hekmat on the human, social and political impact of Australia’s treatment of people seeking asylum over the last fifty years. With supporting material demystifying Australia’s current policies from Julian Burnside, Seeking Asylum redefines assumptions about people who have sought asylum and inspires readers to take action to create a more welcoming Australia.

Since it's launch, Seeking Asylum: Our Stories has gone on to sell more than 5,000 copies, and will soon be available internationally.

Join the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in celebration of the book, the incredible contributors and be part of something very special. Held on Thursday 23 June during World Refugee Week, you’ll have the opportunity to meet the book contributors and hear their stories told in their own words - set in the institutional Immigration Museum's Long Room.

“By sharing our stories, we allow ourselves to be seen. In Seeking Asylum, 23 people with lived experience of seeking asylum share their stories with you. I invite you to meet ordinary people who have escaped extraordinary circumstances.” - Liliana Maria Sanchez Cornejo.

Seeking Asylum: Our Stories is an important step in amplifying refugee voices and helping to create a more welcoming and compassionate Australia for refugees and people seeking asylum. We hope you can join us in celebration and honouring these important stories that everyone should hear.

Key Event Details:

Thursday 23 June, 2022
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Immigration Museum, 400 Flinders Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Canapés, inspired by the cultures of people seeking asylum, will be served by ASRC Catering, alongside refreshments from our friends at Goodwill Wine and Hawkers Beer.

Proceeds from ticket sales cover the costs involved in putting this important event together and ensuring we acknowledge the contributors in a meaningful and dignified way.

You can opt into securing a copy of the book Seeking Asylum: Our Stories (RRP $39.99) at a discounted rate with your ticket purchase, which you can collect and have signed by the book contributors in attendance at the event. Bookings are essential due to limited capacity.

All guests attending this event must be fully vaccinated against COVID19 and show proof at entry, or have a valid exemption.