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Refugee Communities Association of Australia (RCAA) Second National Conference

Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide SA 5000, 25-26 March 2025

DRAFT Conference program

Theme: Empowering Refugees and Multicultural Communities Together

Conference Focus

The Second RCAA National Conference will focus on facilitating conversations, sharing knowledge, and increasing awareness of the lived experiences of new and emerging communities, migrants, and multicultural communities and highlighting their contributions to Australia. Under the theme “Empowering Refugees and Multicultural Communities Together” the conference will explore how refugee communities move beyond initial settlement to multicultural leadership, ensuring their voices actively influence policies, services, and decision-making at all levels. The long-term goal is to establish a framework fostering a self-reliant, progressive, and culturally inclusive approach, strengthening refugee leadership through policy, advocacy, support, capacity building, and working with all stakeholders.

RCAA Conference Welcome Reception at Government House, Adelaide

5.00pm-6.00pm, 24 March 2026: Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC Governor of South Australia and Mr Rod Bunten will host the official conference reception at Government House. Please note the guest list for this event is finalised.

Conference

25-26 March 2026: Conference Venue: Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide SA

Conference Gala Dinner

6.00pm, 25 March: Intercontinental Adelaide Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide

Day 1 - Wednesday 25 March 2026

8.00 AMConference Registration (Foyer Banquet Room)
Location: Banquet Room
9.00 AMCONFERENCE OPENING: MC-TBC
9.10 AMConference Welcome: Mr Parsu Sharma-Luital JP, Chairperson RCAA
9.15 AMWelcome to Country: Uncle Robert Tylor, Aboriginal Cultural Immersions Australia
9.30 AMOpening Address: Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC Governor of South Australia
9.35 AMWelcome to South Australia: South Australian Government Representative
9.45 AMPerformance: Ms Vivana Luzochimana, Slam Poet- Tanzania born Burundian/Australian
9.55 AMProvocation: TBC
10.05 AMKeynote Address: Ms Nyadol Nyuon OAM, Lawyer, Strategic Advisor, Writer, and panel member of Multicultural Framework Review.
Topic: Multicultural Leadership: Beyond Settlement and Into Belonging
10.30 AMModerated Conversation 1.
Topic: “What have been the positive implications of Australia’s part in welcoming people fleeing persecution over the last 7 decades”?
Moderated by:
1. Mr Elijah Buol OAM, General Secretary RCAA Queensland and featuring:
2. Mr Ben Farrell, Head of Engagement, UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific
3.Ms Hafsar Tameesuddin, Co-Secretary General, Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN)
4. Mr Muzafar Ali, Chief Executive Officer, Cisarua Learning
11.15 AMMORNING TEA & EXIHIBITION (Foyer Banquet Room)
11.45 AMConcurrent Breakout Session 1 (Location: Gallery-1)
Q: This panel will showcase case studies of successful late- stage settlement initiatives and examine how the approaches used can be adapted and implemented by other agencies. 
Moderated by
1. Dr Berhan Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer, Africause and Chairperson of the African Think Tank and featuring:
2. Mr Dor Akech Achiek, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre
3. Ms Mirsia Bunjaku, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Migrant Resource Centre, Adelaide
4. Mr Ko Yeh Talor, Regional Settlement worker Wyndham Community and Education Centre
5. Ms Erika Lopez, Interim Chief Executive Officer, Latin American Society SA (LASSA).
11.45 AMConcurrent Breakout Session 2 (Location: Banquet Room)
Q: “What does inclusion look like for young people of refugee background in Australia today”?  
Moderated by
1. Ms Rana Ibrahimi, National Manager, Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network (MYAN) and featuring:
2. Miss Hanisha-Sharma-Luital, Chairperson Help-Himalayan Youth Foundation
3. TBC
4. TBC
12.30 PMKeynote Speaker: Emeritus Prof Gillian Triggs AC (Location: Banquet Room)
Professorial Fellow, Former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Dean of the Sydney Law School and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Topic:“The Australian Settlement Perspective: How do refugee dynamics work at international and country level and how does UN support the safe settlement of refugees”.
12.50 PMProfessor Triggs in conversation with Dr Graham Thom, Advocacy Coordinator, Refugee Society of Australia followed by Q&A.
1.15 PMLUNCH: (Banquet Room)
(Location: Banquet Room)
2.00 PMFeatured Speech: Ms Melinda Collinson, CEO AMES Australia
2.05 PMModerated Conversation 2 (Panel Discussion)
 Q: “Does the new Multicultural Framework for Australia have the potential to significantly improve the refugee settlement experience?” 
Moderated by
1. Dr Hass Dellal OAM, Chair, Australian Multicultural Foundation and Chair Multicultural Framework Review and featuring:
2. Ms Christine Castley, Chair Australian Multicultural Council 
3. Mr Andrew Gai, Co-Founder South Sudanese Academic Society
4. Ms Noor Azizah, Co-Executive Director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network (RMCN).
2.45 PMConcurrent Breakout Session 3 (Location: Gallery-1)
Q: “What is the evidence on how well those from diverse backgrounds including refugees, are able to access specialist health services”?
Moderated by
1. TBC, and featuring:
2. Dr Michael Muleme, Chairperson Ugandan Community in Victoria and Deputy Chair African Women’s and Families Network
3. Dr Natasha Elsley, SA Refugee Health Service
4 .Dr Radwan Albarbandi, General Practitioner with extensive experience in refugee health
5. Mr Kudzai Nyamande, Mental health Nurse SA
2.45 PMConcurrent Breakout Session 4 (Location: Banquet Room)
Q: “Are we providing enough capacity building opportunities for refugee background young people to support them in taking up leadership positions in the refugee settlement and advocacy spaces”?
Moderated by
1. Ms Carmel Guerra OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Centre for Multicultural Youth and featuring:
2. Mr Om Dhungel JP, Director, Strength Based Leadership.
3. Ms Helena Kyriazopoulos OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia
4. Ms Iryna Kushnir, Community Facilities Officer, Cairns Regional Council, Ukrainian Community.
(Location: Banquet Room)
3.30 PMDay One Reflections: Om Dhungel JP, Director, Strength Based Leadership
(Location: Banquet Room)
4.00 PMCLOSE DAY 1
6.00 PMCONFERENCE GALA DINNER 25 March
Venue: Ballroom, Intercontinental Adelaide Hotel, North Terrace, Adelaide

Day 2 - Thursday 26 March 2026

8:30 AMRegistration Opens - (Foyer Banquet Room)
Location: Banquet Room
9.00 AMOPENING: MC-TBC
9:10 AMWelcome: Mr Kamal Dahal, Treasurer RCAA, Co-Chair Conference
Organising Committee
9:15 AMKey Speakers Session- 3 speakers for 5 minutes each featuring:
1. South Australian Government Representative-TBC
2. Ms Clare Dallimore, Act Faculty Dean, Foundation Skills, AMEP TAFE SA
3. Mr David Hua, Director of Audio and Language Content, SBS
9.40 AMExploration of Recent Research Session: Featuring 2 eminent researchers
Presenter 1: Dr Salma Ahmed, Senior Research officer Institute of Family Studies presenting “Economic participation of humanitarian migrants in Australia” June 2025
9.50 AMPresenter 2: Mr Bis Hakimi, representing the Director of Deakin University Centre for Refugee Employment, Advocacy, Training and Education presenting “Fairer employment futures for refugees and migrants in the digital age” 2025
10.00 AMConcurrent Breakout Session 5 (Location: Banquet Room)
Topic: Migrant/refugee service provider panel examines how well they offer partnership and co-design opportunities that improve service delivery models.
Moderated by
1. Ms Christine Castley, Chair Australian Multicultural Council (AMC), and Featuring:
2. Ms Andrea Obeyesekere, Manager CentraCare Multicultural Services North Queensland and
3. Ms Sameera Aduru, Strategic Engagement and Partnership Lead, Cultura
4. Ms Mae Sie Win, Settlement Worker, Wyndham Community & Education Centre
10.00 AMConcurrent Breakout Session 6 (Location: Gallery-1)
Question:“What is the evidence that diversity policies in companies and organisations designed to ensure equal opportunity for all, deliver a diverse and inclusive workplace for refugees”?
Moderated by
1. TBC, and featuring:
2. Ms Ethel Osazuwa, Possible Consulting
3. Mr Jacob Thang, Executive Director and Founder AusChin Foundation
4. Ms Aira Firdaus, Advocacy and Policy Officer, Working Women’s Centre Australia
10.45 AMMORNING TEA & EXIHIBITION (Foyer Banquet Room)
11.15 AMKeynote Speaker 4: (Location: Banquet Room)
Mr Behrouz Bouchani, Iranian/Kurdish journalist, human rights defender, writer and film producer.
11.40 AMBehrouz Bouchani in conversation with Mr David Mann, Executive Director Refugee Legal followed by Q&A with audience.
12.00 PMLUNCH: (Banquet Room)
(Location: Banquet Room)
12.45 PMConcurrent Moderated Conversation 3 (Panel discussion)
Question: “What can we learn from the SA experience as they have emerged as ‘punching above their weight’ on the national stage?”
Moderated by
1. Mr Sebastian Geers, Manager Welcoming Cities and featuring:
2. Ms Blur Abdulla, Manager Settlement Services, AMES Australia SA
3. Mr Kamal Dahal, Treasurer RCAA, Co-Chair Conference Organising Committee
4. Ms Semira Julardzija, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Australian Refugee Association
5. Ms Robyn Smyth, Director Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service (STTARS)
(Location: Banquet Room)
12:45 PMConcurrent Moderated Conversation 4 (Panel Discussion)
Topic: Unlocking Potential: strengthening refugee economic participation through inclusive employment pathways and skills recognition.
Moderated by
1. Ms Cath Scarth: Chairperson RCAA Foundation and featuring:
2. Mr Richard Ogetii: Executive Director, Albury Wodonga Ethnic Communities Council
3. Mr Sam Atukorala: Chief Executive Officer, Ethnic Council of Shepparton & District
4. Mr Derar Alkhateeb: Co-Founder Pathways Club.
1.30 PMConcurrent Breakout Session 7 (Location: Banquet Room)
Question: “How can more women refugee leaders be brought into mainstream Australian institutions”?
Moderated by
1. Ms Anthea Hancocks, CEO Scanlon Foundation Research Institute, and featuring:
2. Ms Erika Lopez, CEO Latin American Society of SA
3. TBC
4. TBC
1.30 PMConcurrent Breakout Session 8 (Location: Gallery 1)
Q: “What more can the multicultural sector do to better shape collaboration and advocacy to improve government policies and community programs?
Moderated by:
1. Mr Denis Yenghi, Commissioner, SA Multicultural Commission and featuring:
2. Ms Akesa Kei, CEO Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities’ Council
3. Ms Farah Farouque, CEO Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria
4. TBC
2.15 PMAFTERNOON TEA & EXIHIBITION (Foyer Banquet Room)
3.00 PMConference Reflections: Identifying key insights, priorities, and actions to advance diverse communities’ interests and refugee leadership- TBC.
3.30 PMCONFERENCE CLOSING ADDRESS: Mr Parsu Sharma Luital JP, Chairperson RCAA.
3.45 PMCONFERENCE CLOSE
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