Refugee week began last week on June 17th and ended on June 23rd. During the week, more than 130 events were held.

The theme for Refugee Week this year is Restoring Hope.

The aims of Refugee Week are:

• to educate the Australian citizen about who refugees are and why they have come to Australia and becoming an Australian Citizen;
• to help people understand the many challenges refugees face coming to Australia;
• to celebrate the contribution refugees make to our community as an Australian citizenship;
• to focus on how the community and becoming an Australian citizen can provide a safe and welcoming environment for refugees;
• for community groups and individuals to do something positive for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people, within Australia but also around the world;
• for service providers to reflect on whether they are providing the best possible services to refugees.

The week was began with a launch event in Sydney. It featured an Art Exhibition, presentation of refugee humanitarian awards for 2012, a screening of the Australian Refugee Film Festival, and several other speakers and entertainment.

Throughout the week similar launches will be held at Melbourne (18th June), and Adelaide (20 June) with prominent speakers from the members of parliament of the Australian government.

Refugee week ended on 23rd June with a 'Walk Together' event, an opportunity for all Australian citizens to join togehter in celebration of our diversity and in recognition that for the sake of our future we need to learn to 'walk together'.

Even for people with a status as a refugee, you are still require to sit and pass the Australian citizenship test and along with other citizenship requirements to gain the Australian citizenship.

The purpose of the Australian citizenship test is to show that you can speak basic English and that you have a knowledge of Australia and the responsibilities and privileges of Australian citizenship.

We welcome all newly pledged Australian Citizen or those that have pass the Australian citizenship test during Refugee weeks

By Ozihelp Admin

Sources: 

[1] http://www.refugeeweek.org.au/

[2] http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au

[3] http://www.citizenship.gov.au/applying/how_to_apply/refugee/