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Asylum Seeker Resource Centre hosts its 10th annual World Refugee Day Telethon

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Good morning,

Please see below a media release from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) regarding their annual World Refugee Day Telethon happening today at the centre: 214-218 Nicholson Street, Footscray.

As we watch the crisis unfolding in the Middle East, more help is needed here at home to support people who are forced to flee their homelands. Looking to help raise funds for vital services such as food, shelter, healthcare and legal support for people seeking asylum, refugee voices Bahaa and Frida, celebrity ambassadors, and ASRC CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis are available for interview.

Featured voices:

Bahaa Dabbagh – Fled Syria with his 6-month-old kitten Sasha, who has resettled in Australia with Bahaa after an incredible journey – held at gunpoint, traversed continents and stints in safe houses.  

Frida Umuhoza – Sole survivor of her family in the 1994 Tutsi genocide, now a powerful advocate for healing and justice.

 

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA, June 20, 2025: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is calling on Australians to stand with refugees and people seeking asylum this World Refugee Day, and take part in its 10th annual World Refugee Day Telethon on Friday, June 20, 2025.

This year’s annual ASRC Telethon will feature exclusive live announcements of five $5,000 donations awarded to refugee-led groups — recognising and celebrating leadership in Australia’s refugee communities. The recipients of the donations will join the ASRC Telethon livestream to share their stories in real time.

Last year’s ASRC Telethon raised $1.4 million to fund vital services such as food, shelter, healthcare and legal support for people seeking asylum.

More than just a fundraising event, the ASRC Telethon is a powerful statement of support for those who have fled their homes in search of safety, and recognising the vital contributions of refugees in Australian society.

“The ASRC Telethon isn’t just about raising funds — it’s about raising voices, creating community, and standing in solidarity with people who’ve fled danger in search of safety,” said the ASRC CEO, Kon Karapanagiotidis. “The ASRC remains independent of Federal Government funding and relies on public donations to support refugees and people seeking asylum who are often excluded from government assistance. We call on all Australians to join us and donate, so we can continue providing essential services, and advocating for lasting social change.”

The campaign features powerful voices of this year’s refugee heroes: Frida Umuhoza and Bahaa Dabbagh.

Frida Umuhoza is a Rwandan-born author and speaker, whose story of survival and strength has touched audiences across the world. The sole survivor of her immediate family during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, Frida was just 14 when her life changed forever. Now, she uses her voice to teach, heal and rebuild.

Bahaa Dabbagh is a Syrian comedian, cook and storyteller. Born in Saudi Arabia and raised in Aleppo, Bahaa fled the Syrian war in 2015, spending six years in Turkey before settling in Melbourne in 2021 — with his beloved cat, Sasha, in tow. Bahaa has rebuilt a life grounded in joy and community through food, performance and connection.

Frida and Bahaa embody the theme of this year's World Refugee Day, Finding Freedom: Diversity in Community. They have weaved new threads of home and identity, and together, their stories will reflect how community can be a lifeline — a place to feel safe, rebuild and belong.

The World Refugee Day Telethon will be broadcast live from the ASRC in Footscray, Melbourne, from 7am to 11pm on Friday June 20, 2025. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube as we are joined by celebrities, media personalities and partners to raise vital funds and awareness.

We are proud to announce the support of ambassadors and partners including Alice Pung, Aurelia St Clair, Benjamin Law, Clare Bowditch, Darren Purchese, Gillian Triggs, Hana Assafiri, Hannah Kent, Kishwar Chowdhury, Leah Vandenberg, Lizzy Hoo, Mark Seymour, Pat Nourse, Paul Dempsey, Sharon Johal, Tim Minchin, Tom Ballard, Tom Taylor, Vika & Linda and many more. Partners like the Da Gama Pinto Foundation, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Professional Footballers Australia will be doubling donations at key hours throughout the day.

-ENDS-

How to Donate:

  • Call 1300 692 772 (1300 MYASRC)
  • Donate online at donate.asrc.org.au/telethon
  • Bid on auction items at http://asrc.org.au/auction
  • Text HOPE to 0476 000 111 to donate $20

Social Media:

  • Instagram: @ASRC1
  • Facebook: AsylumSeekerResourceCentreASRC
  • Facebook Event: World Refugee Day Telethon
  • Twitter: @ASRC1
  • TikTok: asrc_au
  • LinkedIn: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
  • YouTube: @AsylumSeekerResourceCentre
  • Official hashtags: #ASRCTelethon #worldrefugeeday #standwithrefugees

About us:

 About the ASRC: 

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) is Australia’s largest independent human rights organisation providing support, advocacy and services for people seeking asylum. Since 2001, the ASRC has helped thousands of refugees access housing, healthcare, legal aid and community programs. It remains entirely independent, funded by public donations. For more information visit https://asrc.org.au/


Contact details:

Suzana Dewa
[email protected] 
0433 257 067

Siobhan McDonnell
[email protected]
0439 505 261