A celebration of refugee resilience, community spirit and cuisine recently took place at the Melbourne Multicultural Hub.

The ‘Taste the Difference’ community dinner celebrating Refugee Week 2025 saw about 80 people from more than 20 of Melbourne’s diverse communities come together to share a Middle Eastern feast.

The dinner, hosted by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia, was aimed at celebrating Melbourne’s cultural diversity and showcased refugee entrepreneurs through their cooking and crafts.

Among the guests were newly elected Melbourne MP Sarah Witty, the federal member for Gorton Alice Jordan-Baird MP, City of Melbourne Councillor Davyd Griffiths and former Socceroo and multicultural advocate Archie Thompson.

Ms Witty told the gathering that the city’s “commitment to diversity and welcoming of refugees” made her “proud to be a Melbournian”.

“This event encapsulates the cultural diversity and commitment to multiculturalism that makes Melbourne such a great place,” she said.

The event also heard from the three women refugee chefs who prepared the food.

Faduma Abdi from Somalia, Mariam Salameh from Syria, and Ahlam Shafa Amri, from Palestine, spoke of their refugee journeys and their passion for food.

AMES Australia Chair Dr Vanda Fortunato told the gathering that “the dinner is a celebration of the contributions refugees make in our communities and a celebration of the rich cultural diversity they bring”.

“But it also gives us pause for reflection on the worsening state of affairs when it comes to refugees and displaced people across the world,” Dr Fortunato said.

“This week we heard that there are now at least 123 million people, or one in 67 individuals worldwide, forcibly displaced because of war, violence or persecution – according to the UN’s refugee agency UNHCR.

“More than forty million of these are refugees forced to flee to neighbouring countries and more than half are women and children.

“The number is an all-time record and represents the 13th year in a row it has increased with the global displaced population now equivalent to that of Japan.

“But tonight is about reflecting on and celebrating the fact that refugees can create shared prosperity when they are welcomed into new communities.

“We are grateful that Melbourne is such a welcoming place that supports multiculturalism and values entrepreneurial refugees.” Dr Fortunato said.

Held annually, Taste the Difference invites the public to engage in an evening that nourishes both body and mind.

The centrepiece of the event is the array of authentic dishes prepared by refugee and asylum-seeking chefs—entrepreneurs who are not only rebuilding their lives but also enriching local communities with culinary traditions from across the globe.

Since its inception in 2018, Taste the Difference has provided a practical boost to refugee-led food businesses by giving the entrepreneurs a platform to showcase their talents.

It helps create economic opportunities and long-term community engagement. Many of the featured chefs have gone on to grow catering businesses, open food stalls, or collaborate with local restaurants, thanks in part to the exposure and support they receive through this event.