The Lord Mayor's Refugee Welcome ceremony is a significant event for refugees. The event is held annually to demonstrate Brisbane City Council's support for refugees and to promote Brisbane as an inclusive city.
The ceremony also provides an opportunity for newly arrived refugees to:
- network
- meet with community leaders
- access a range of programs and services provided by government and non-government agencies
220 people attended this year's ceremony, which was held on 17 April 2013. In 2012, the top 10 source countries for refugees settling in the Brisbane area are Iran, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Iraq, Somalia, Pakistan, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Burma.*
To find out more information about this ceremony, email the Multicultural Affairs Unit.
* source from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Support for migrants and refugees
To find out more about starting your new life in Brisbane and Australia, view the following:
- Brisbane residents guide - Council has created a booklet and a series of videos to cover our key services and programs, and how you can get involved in your local community
- Beginning a life in Australia (Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship) - provides information in English and 37 other languages about settling in Queensland
- citizenship information
- community grants
- What's on at Council libraries
- Brisbane Vision
- Lord Mayor's Multicultural Business Scholarships
- other languages
- volunteer with a community organisation in your area
- sporting clubs
- Brisbane radio stations
