Diversity and inclusion at core of New Beginnings Festival

With diversity and inclusion at its core, the Settlement Services International (SSI) New Beginnings Festival welcomes people of all abilities to join the festivities at Tumbalong Park, Sydney, on Saturday, 16th November.

An initiative of SSI’s Arts and Culture Program, the SSI New Beginnings Festival has been held bi-annually during Refugee Week (June) and Spring (November) since 2015.

This Spring SSI New Beginnings Festival, will celebrate the creative work of artists, performers and craftspeople from refugee and migrant backgrounds living in New South Wales, and will have an Access and Inclusion tent and volunteers briefed to assist people with different levels of ability.

Mable, the festival’s Accessibility and Inclusion Partner, will host an Access and Inclusion tent, with a quiet space, lived experience educators from the SSI Our Voice program, DIY bag making workshops, sensory tools such as noise-cancelling headphones, sensory toys and communication cards, mindfulness activities and disability and cultural awareness resources.

Mable is an online platform that enables people with disability and older Australians to find and connect with independent support workers in their local area.

Support workers from Mable, who represent diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, will be present to assist attendees to navigate and enjoy the festival.

Mable Chief Executive Peter Scutt advised that, “we are proud to be invited as the Accessibility and Inclusion Partner for this year’s festival, given the shared values and mission of Mable and SSI New Beginnings to drive awareness of diversity and inclusion in the arts.”

The event venue, Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, is fully accessible for persons with mobility impairments or using a wheelchair.

Through an innovative and vibrant program staged at inner-city venues, the festival showcases the work of culturally and linguistically diverse artists and makers to Sydney audiences and beyond.

Ultimately, the celebration of hope, unity and new beginnings seeks to counter negative sentiments about refugees and people seeking asylum, and to encourage people to celebrate the creative contributions newcomer artists and communities bring to Australia.

With the support of Mable, SSI has developed an Access and Inclusion Guide to welcome and support attendees of all abilities. The Guide, which includes information about travelling to the venue, location of places of interest and accessible bathrooms and facilities, is downloadable from the New Beginnings website at www.newbeginningsfestival.com.au