Events have been held throughout South Australia last week to celebrate the contribution refugees have made to our community as part of Refugee Week and World Refugee Day.

"Refugee Week and World Refugee Day allow us to celebrate the positive contribution that refugees make to Australian society, and to acknowledge the issues that they face", the Minister for Multicultural Affairs Zoe Bettison said.

"Refugees have made a huge contribution to our State. Over the past two years, about 2,500 humanitarian entrants have settled in South Australia.

"It is wonderful that so many refugees, who have become an integral part of South Australia, share their stories and showcase their cultures through music, dance and theatre during Refugee Week.

Refugee Week ran from 18-24 June and has been celebrated in Australia since 1986, while World Refugee Day was on Tuesday 20 June and featured campaigns and celebrations across the world.

Global refugee numbers are at an all-time high with an unprecedented 65.3 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes.

Among them are nearly 21.3 million refugees, more than half of whom are under the age of 18.

Refugees who settle in Australia bring a diverse array of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that contribute to our communities.

Refugee Week events and activities across the State included a Free Community Concert on 18 June at the North Adelaide Community Centre, the "In Our Own Voices Forum", a project sharing the stories of individuals from countries in the Middle East at the Adelaide Town Hall hosted by the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Martin Haese and a reception hosted by the Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le at Government House.

Greek Tribune