Home
About the council
News and media
Welcoming Week 2023: discover the ‘Power of Port Phillip’

Welcoming Week 2023: discover the ‘Power of Port Phillip’

Published 18 August 2023

Learn more about

Port Phillip Multifaith Network

We’re hosting three events to celebrate Welcoming Week.

Welcoming Week is an annual campaign which runs between 8 to 17 September and acknowledges the importance of fostering welcoming and inclusive communities, where everyone can experience a sense of belonging.

Celebrated in hundreds of communities around the world, Welcoming Week aims to connect community members from all backgrounds through community-led activities and events.

This year’s theme is the Power of Place. In our unique context, it's all about the Power of Port Phillip. This theme invites us to reflect on the locations and environments around us that nurture connection, harmony and belonging.

This year, we’re celebrating with three Welcoming Week events.

Join the celebration

Sharing voices: belonging, harmony and spirituality

3 to 5.30 pm Sunday 10 September | St Kilda Town Hall - 99A Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182

Sharing voices is presented by the Port Phillip Multifaith Network and friends. This event marks the celebration of Welcoming Week (8 to 17 September), the International Day of Peace (21 September) and the Season of Creation (beginning 1 September).

Sharing voices is set to bring together local artists and guest speakers who will explore a variety of themes related to power of place and spirituality.

The event promises a range of interactive experiences including:

art and music workshops
a children’s storytime with music and movement
guided neighbourhood walks
the sharing of conversations and stories.

The afternoon event will showcase refreshments from local cafes Flavours of Syria, All Things Equal, and First Nations-owned Bunjil Catering. All catering will be vegetarian and there will be vegan, kosher, gluten-free and nut-free options.

The event is open and free for all and will offer a family-friendly atmosphere perfect for attendees of every age. Bookings are not required.

Event program

The event will start with a Welcome to Country by Aunty Janet Galpin.

There are two 45-minute sessions. You can participate in any sessions of your choice. There will be a short break between Session 1 and Session 2 activities.

A delicious afternoon tea will be served at 5pm.

Activities	Themes	Session 1 - 3.15 to 4 pm	Session 2 - 4.15 to 5 pm
Art workshops with Space2B artists	The refugee and migrant experience	Painting ceramics with Leila Ashtiani	African textile collages with Abouk Giir
Guided neighbourhood walks	Climate change	Led by the EcoCentre and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change	Led by the EcoCentre and Australian Religious Response to Climate Change
Lived experiences in conversation	Overcoming obstacles	Alba Chliakhtine from the Multicultural Advisory Committee in conversation with Anisha Gupta from the Centre for Multicultural Youth	Nayran Tabiei, owner of Flavours of Syria Café, on what it's like to be a local business owner and refugee
Performance and conversations	Voice and songs (1) – culture and community	First Nations performer Kiwat Kennell will perform and chat with a member of the Port Phillip Youth Advisory Committee	First Nations performer Kiwat Kennell will perform and chat with a member of the Port Phillip Youth Advisory Committee
Pop up choir and song workshops	Voice and songs (2) - songs which speak to human spirit	Warren Wills and the Young World Choir will perform	Warren Wills and the Young World Choir will perform
Storytimes with music and movement	Children's program	Led by Darminder Kaur	Led by Darminder Kaur
Finding Place and Belonging	Intersection of identity and migration with mental health	James Seow from the Multicultural and LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committees in conversation with Carla Fuentes, Polaron Language Services and David Wang, Better Health Network
Interfaith dialogue in communities	The value of interfaith intersections		Bhakta Dasa from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in conversation with Rev Sandy Boyce from Victorian Council of Churches

Undefeated: exploring the migrant experience in Australia

6 to 7 pm Thursday 14 September | St Kilda Library - 150 Carlisle St, St Kilda VIC 3182

Join us for an enriching panel for the captivating book, Undefeated. The book weaves together 118 stories from 90 migrant women, each detailing their personal journey to Australia.

We're honoured to be joined by three of the book’s authors, Lina Orozco, Marcela Giraldo and Ana Asanovic. The evening is free and promises an in-depth exploration into the themes of migration, identity, and belonging and the challenges and opportunities that come with living in a diverse society.

Mayor Heather Cunsolo will be there to introduce the panel. There'll also be opportunities to ask the panel questions and to enjoy some light refreshments.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Bookings are not required.

Welcoming Week walk

2 to 4 pm Sunday 17 September | Commencing from Station Pier

Celebrate the multicultural heritage of Port Phillip with a guided walk along the Immigration Trail starting from Station Pier where many people began their Australian journey.

Join our local walk leader in retracing their footsteps and learn about the remarkable stories which continue to shape our community.

Bookings are essential. You can book here.

See you there

We hope you’ll join us in celebrating Welcoming Week and that we’ll see you at one or all of our upcoming events.

If you would like more information about our events, please contact our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion team at diversity@portphillip.vic.gov.au