Nurturing Every Journey at Annual Health Expo

In March, more than 800 people attended the Australian Refugee Association's (ARA) Annual Health Expo at the Salisbury Community Hub, highlighting the ongoing importance of accessible, community-led health promotion for refugee and migrant communities across South Australia.

Delivered through the Adelaide Refugee and New Arrival Program (ARANAP), a partnership between the ARA and Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance Rehabilitation Service (STTARS), the 2026 expo highlighted the theme 'Seeds of Wellbeing - Nurturing Every Journey', celebrating growth, resilience and the important role that communities play in supporting health and wellbeing.

The theme highlighted a simple message: just as seeds need care, time and the right environment to grow, wellbeing flourishes when individuals have access to information, support and opportunities to thrive.

With a welcoming and inclusive environment, people could learn about their health, connect with services and make informed choices about their wellbeing. Attendees represented 41 countries, showcasing the rich, cultural diversity of South Australia's refugee and migrant communities.

The expo provided the opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals, community organisations and wellbeing specialists, accessing information and support across preventative health, mental health, family services, chronic disease prevention, women's health, dental care and healthy lifestyles.

The event aligns with ARA's strategic goal of delivering impactful services to refugee and migrant communities.

Participant feedback demonstrated the event's success, with almost all respondents reporting icnreased confidence in accessing healthcare services.

Many praised the variety of stalls, multilingual information, health screenings and interactive activities, with one attendee noting, "It was a great expo with lots of important information provided in different languages."

Participating organisations - including Cancer Council SA, BreastScreen SA, SHINE SA, Diabetes SA, Carers SA, Uniting Communities, and many others - also highlighted the value of the expo, with one service provider commenting, "It was lovely to hold a stall and we had a fruitful time raising awareness of our free support services for CALD communities." 

More than an annual community event, the 2026 Health Expo demonstrated the power of collaboration, inclusion and community-led health promotion, helping to reduce barriers to healthcare, improve health literacy and encourage people to take positive steps towards their wellbeing.

Adelaide PHN is proud of our ongoing partnership with the ARA and our support of the Health Expo, which has supported refugee and migrant communities since 2019.