Funded by the Queensland Government through Multicultural Affairs Queensland, the Lantern Parade Walk for Refugees has grown as a signature event on Queensland's multicultural calendar.

As a symbolic statement, it succeeds in uniting our leaders, everyday Queenslanders and refugee communities in a very public gesture of support and welcome for refugees.

At the same time it provides a platform where refugees can visibly showcase their presence and contribution as citizens and members of our shared community.

As an awareness raising event, it has attracted an increasing level of participation from a broad public and a wide and positive interest from both television and print media.

The positive representation of refugees and their interaction and acceptance in Queensland contributes a powerful alternative story that counters some of the negative stereotyping that has come to dominate some of the public debate about refugees in recent times.

The significance of this positive message of welcome for refugees themselves cannot be underestimated.

Walk Together

In 2012, the Lantern Parade Walk for Refugees will launch the national Walk Together Campaign.

Walk Together is an initiative of Welcome to Australia and supported by the Refugee Council of Australia, the Settlement Council of Australia, the Diversity Council of Australia, the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of Australia, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Amnesty Australia, Mission Australia and many more ...

Walk Together is an opportunity for all Australians to celebrate all that we have in common, to call for an end to the politics of fear and division and to recognise that we've all come from different beginnings to be a part of the Australian journey.

We've started our lives on different pathways, but those paths have converged to become a part of the Australian story. Our nation will thrive as we learn to walk together into our shared future. It's time we walked together.

2012 Parade

The 2012 Parade will start at the Cultural Forecourt Southbank at 5.30pm and end in a community concert at the Suncorp Piazza.

For information on how you can get involved with the event, please contact the Multicultural Development Association on projects@mdabne.org.au

In the photo:
Karen Coyle - who made the Camel (Sheba)
Jyllie Jackson -Creative Director/CEO LightnUp Inc.
Scovia Anthony - from Uganda (stripy top)
Achaan Ochalla - from Etheopia (red and black checked)
Behice Bagdas, Events Manager at  Multucultural Development Association of Brisbane, who work with Queensland's refugee community.

Image courtesy of Kirran Shah - thank you!