Now working in Ballarat’s Centre for Multicultural Youth, Ms Cain said there was much more cultural diversity across the region the past couple of years, but there was still so much more to do, moving forward, as a refugee and asylum seeker-friendly city.

Understanding and appreciating human identity is how Asylum Seeker Resources Centre want Ballarat to tackle a tough issue – learning there were people with emotions and essential needs at the core.

ASRC is touring regional towns and cities with a community action workshop, promoting new framework for community discussions about refugees and asylum seekers. An open forum at G Place on Sunday attracted refugee advocates, multicultural workers and interested community members.

Ms Cain said the workshop helped break down de-humanising language and stereotypes often found in public debate rather than fighting refugee issues in a negative frame. As someone involved on the frontlines, the workshop added a more perspective on how service organisations could make a greater impact helping lives.

Ultimately, Ms Cain said, this was about people and their lives.

“It’s great these issues are coming to discussions in Ballarat,” Ms Cain said. People can learn more about these issues and form their own opinion and understanding rather than just what the media or politicians put out there.”

Ballarat Rural Australians for Refugees coordinator Kath Morton has been a refugee and asylum seeker advocate for years but said it was vital to keep developing how to best discuss refugee issues in an evolving society.

“We haven’t always been using the right language and consequently have been running on the spot, rather than moving forward,” Ms Morton said. “It’s about accepting, respecting and being responsible. When you talk about values, my value is people before money because all people need care and to feel there is help.”