Refugee Week in Australia, which ran last month from 15th to 21st June 2025, is a time to celebrate people from refugee backgrounds. This year’s theme, ‘Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community’, reminds us that ordinary acts of kindness can have extraordinary ripple effects. But the work of inclusion doesn’t begin or end with this week. One of the most impactful ways to show solidarity is by supporting refugee-owned businesses; not just for one week in June, but consistently throughout the year.
When you buy from a refugee-owned enterprise, you’re not only purchasing a product or service.You’re choosing to stand for cultural diversity by reaffirming that refugees belong in our communities. Behind the scenes, refugee entrepreneurs often face immense systemic challenges, from visa limitations, to lack of capital and networks. Yet, despite these hurdles, many build thriving businesses that enrich our local neighbourhoods and economies.
These ventures are more than businesses: they represent rebuilding, resilience and self-determination. Think of the aromatic creations from Shamiat, or Chef Aheda’s Palestinian Food Truck, bringing generations-old recipes to Australian tables. Consider the beautifully detailed garments by Ruth Juwa Dradi, crafting wearable art for the people of Australia. Refugee-owned enterprises, like these and multiple others you will find in the Welcome Merchant directory, add vibrancy, depth, and variation to our society.
Ruth Juwa Dradi works on some of her wearable art
The impact of your support goes far beyond a transaction. You’re helping create pathways to financial stability and broader representation. Refugee merchants are ever-reinvesting in their communities, acting as cultural ambassadors by introducing customers to new cuisines, customs, and histories through each plate and product. When we invest in refugee-owned businesses, we all become richer through their contributions.
In a world where refugees are often reduced to statistics or headlines, choosing to support their businesses humanises and empowers. It promotes mutual respect, social cohesion, and a sense of belonging. It says, “We see you. We value you. You belong here.”
Refugee Week 2025 called on us to see “more than a label”, so let’s apply that same principle to our spending habits. Supporting refugee-owned businesses year-round is a quiet but powerful form of activism. It’s solidarity in action.
So, where will you shop next week, and the week after that?