The Summit organising committee, the Auckland Resettlement Sector Steering Group (ARSSG), has a vision for a resettlement / settlement process in Aotearoa that enables all forced migrants/former refugees (Quota, Convention, Family Reunification and people who seek asylum) to have equitable access to culturally appropriate support and services in order for them to be self-sufficient and thrive in their new home.

The Summit aims to support this vision by:

• Creating a space for changemakers across community, government, non-government organisations, and academia to come together and explore system wide solutions and opportunities.

• Amplifying the voices, insights, and lived experiences of resettled community members, so that they shape and inform overarching strategy, policy and practice.

• Supporting and growing stronger cross-agency relationships, partnerships, and coordination to create positive systems change.

• Encouraging discussion, exploration and commitment to four community-identified solutions: #Heard, #Recognised, #Understood and #Resourced.

Programme highlights:

• MCs Pax Assadi (welcome dinner) and Aziz Sa'afin (breakfast panel and full day summit) will keep things energised and on track

• Keynote addresses from Mitchell Pham (welcome dinner) and Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan (full day summit)

• Launch of the ARCC Tūmanako Table of Hope (welcome dinner)

• Breakfast panel of impressive speakers including Dr. Zhiyan Basharati, finalist, Young New Zealander of the Year, MPs Golriz Ghahraman and Melissa Lee, Bernard SAma, Chair of Asylum Seeker Support Trust and Associate Professor Jay Marlowe

• ‘Hear my story’ session with six community members sharing their insights and lived experiences (full day summit)

• Government lunch-time panel including Andrew Lockhart from MBIE, Maree Jeurissen from Ministry of Education and Jennifer Lamm from Ministry of Health (full day summit)

• ‘Reflecting on your own practice’ changemakers session with systems change specialist Annie Ualesi (full day summit)

Who should attend:

• Community leaders/members

• Decision makers and changemakers from central government, local government & Local Boards, NGOs, service providers, agencies and funders

About the organising committee:

The ARSSG is made up of Aotearoa Resettled Community Coalition, Asylum Seekers Support Trust, Belong Aotearoa (formerly ARMS), English Language Partners New Zealand, New Zealand Red Cross, Refugees as Survivors New Zealand and the Connected Communities Unit of Auckland Council.

The Summit is made possible by funding from The Office of Ethnic Communities, Auckland Council Connected Communities Unit and JR McKenzie Trust. The Summit is supported by HOST International NZ.