Creating a Warm Welcome

What does it truly mean to feel welcome? 

For one member of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), it was the simple gestures that mattered most: “The humble, kind and helpful attitudes are what made me feel very welcome in Australia. Simplicity in kind words from almost everyone can easily win your heart and send your spirit high into the blue.” 

In many ways, a sense of welcome stems from small, everyday acts of kindness and acceptance – moments that affirm a person’s place in their community. At the ASRC, we are committed not only to providing essential services for people seeking asylum in Australia, but also to offering an emotional sanctuary and a place of belonging. 

In March this year, two of our dedicated volunteers, Kiara and Suzanne, launched a series of workshops centred around a powerful intention: Creating a Warm Welcome. What began as a creative and community-oriented initiative has grown into a meaningful outlet for expression and connection.

The workshops originally focused on creating a collaborative “Welcome Artwork”, inspired by questions such as, “What made you feel welcome in Australia” and “What would you tell a friend who has just arrived?” As the sessions evolved in response to member feedback, they expanded to include playful activities such as backgammon and chess.

“Our main priority has been to stay flexible and open – to learn with our members,” Kiara shared. “It’s been great to see our members coming together and helping us creatively think about the best way we can support people seeking asylum.” 

In the lead-up to ASRC’s annual World Refugee Day Telethon in June, the team introduced a

new creative initiative centred on the meaning of community. Members were invited to decorate autumn leaves with reflections on what community means to them and what helps them feel connected. Members then placed their leaves on a tree sculpture crafted by Castlemaine artist Eliza-Jane Gilchrist. 

Suzanne described the moment of placing the leaves as profoundly moving: “It was beautifully poetic to watch members finish their leaves and carefully choose where to place them on the tree.” One leaf, in particular, stood out to her: “ASRC is like a big tree where every refugee gets shade when there is a big sun.”

When asked what helped them feel welcome in Australia, one workshop participant wrote: “Finding community during difficult times helped me feel welcomed, listened to, and cared for. The best way I can think of making someone feel welcomed to a new place is to listen to their stories without judgment.” 

Through these creative workshops and shared experiences, the ASRC continues to be more than just a support centre—it is a place of connection, compassion, and community, a social hub offering opportunities for people to connect and support one another as valued and integral members of our community.

See Suzanne and Kiara talk about the project here.