People that have had to flee their countries, families and heritages want our empathy more than charity. We have a Lived Experience Library of powerful speakers wanting to share their experiences of seeking refuge. Book a speaker for your local community group, school, church or business. Book in now for a speaker for Refugee week 15-21 June 2025!

Embrace Sanctuary Australia is committed to creating safe spaces where communities and individuals can come together and share their stories and begin the process of healing from the trauma they have experienced and move towards wholeness.

Our community is full of people who want to help. We connect the people providing services with the people who need them. Come connect with people in new ways.

Imagine your community hosting a group of refugee individuals and families for a weekend to exchange life experiences and meals, or accepting the generous hospitality of those who are making Australia their home, whilst hearing something of their stories and experiences in getting here.

Find out how you can be a part of welcoming a refugee family and helping settle them into their new lives in Australia. Embrace Sanctuary Australia is thrilled to be a part of this movement of community refugee sponsorship which is transforming the landscape for the settlement of those forcibly displaced from their homelands by cultivating nurturing communities to welcome and walk alongside them in the settlement journey.

Talk to us about curating an unforgettable bespoke experience bringing together local communities and those settling into life in Australia after being forced from their homelands.

FOUNDER CEO

For over 20 years Naomi has brought her passion for cross cultural engagement and commitment to holistic trauma informed care to her work amongst those seeking refuge and asylum. Through her work in the multicultural high rise estates of inner city Melbourne in a church ministry context, through to pioneering the Diaspora ministry for a large mission organisation, Naomi has created vibrant teams that have had a profound and lasting impact on the communities that they live and work amongst. She is committed to facilitating the creation of safe spaces where individuals and communities are able to flourish, finding healing, wholeness and hope.

For several years Naomi lived on the edge of Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya, one of the largest urban slums in Africa. There she developed and facilitated a social enterprise project for those seeking asylum from the Horn of Africa, and mentored many of the women and their children. Witnessing the high levels of trauma these women had endured, Naomi continued her work in South Africa, assisting in establishing the Durban office of the Institute for the Healing of Memories. There she qualified as a highly skilled lead facilitator for these trauma healing workshops which she facilitated within South Africa and trained church and community leaders across southern Africa in this methodology.

Having served equally in capacity/community building amongst those seeking refuge and in church engagement through organisations such as TEARfund, Naomi is committed to seeing people come together to form communities of welcome and connection for those seeking refuge. Through trauma informed practices of listening and story sharing, she believes that the experience of welcoming those seeking refuge can be a mutually transformative one.

Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University, Graduate Diploma in Bible and Ministry from Ridley College, ACT and Trauma informed ACT, Lead Facilitator in the Healing of Memories, Facilitator in Healing the Wounds of Trauma.

BOARD DIRECTOR - CHAIR

Melinda has more than 25 years of corporate leadership experience and her passion for people and purpose is ignited by complimenting her consulting, executive and C-Suite expertise with board directorships, and community volunteering. Melinda is an accomplished leader, strategist, presenter, mentor, coach and negotiator with a track record of successful change management, transitioning and transforming people and organisations. Melinda’s board experience includes her current Directorship on the St Tom’s Hope Board and former YWCA National Housing Board (Chair) and Division Councilor (VIC) Property Council Australia (PCA). Melinda is actively involved in not for profit, local community and global mission organisations including reproductive health education and hospital transformation projects in Tanzania, local primary school mentoring and refugee welcoming programs.

Melinda is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Course (GAICD), holds a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), and Bachelor of Business - Land Economics, (Valuation).

BOARD DIRECTOR

Hellen is originally from South Sudan and is now a naturalised Australian Citizen. Hellen has over twenty years experience working with the most vulnerable members of our communities in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. Hellen has worked in the Drug and alcohol sector, Homelessness sector and currently within the Local Government sector as Family Support Officer for Melton City Council. Hellen’s passion is working with the most vulnerable members of our communities regardless of their backgrounds. Hellen has a Bachelor of Social Science from Charles Sturt University, Dip of Interpreting (Sudanese Arabic) RMIT University and Advanced Diploma of Family Therapy (Australian Institute of Family Counselling). Hellen is fluent in Kiswahili, Sudanese Arabic and Dinka. Hellen came to Australia as a refugee through the humanitarian entrants program in 2001. Prior to coming to Australia, Hellen had been a refugee in Ethiopia and Kenya as child. Hellen’s past work history has been working with various organisations such as The Voice of the Martyrs-Kenya and New Sudan women Federation Kenya and South Sudan.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Ben Foo is a dedicated individual with a deep passion for assisting asylum seekers who arrive in Australia. For over a decade, he has tirelessly organized English classes, providing these newcomers with a vital tool for communication and integration. With almost four decades of experience as an IT professional, Ben combines his technical expertise with his humanitarian efforts, empowering asylum seekers with essential life skills.

Ben's commitment to serving the community extends to his involvement in Lifegate church in Glen Waverley. He served as a Board member for four years and then took on the role of Chairman of the Board for three years. In this capacity, he oversees the operations of over 20 small groups within the church, fostering a sense of community and providing spiritual guidance to the small group leaders.

As one of the senior leaders, Ben plays a pivotal role in overseeing several ministries within Lifegate church. His strong leadership skills and unwavering dedication make him an invaluable asset, driving the vision of the church and ensuring the smooth functioning of these ministries. Ben's relentless pursuit of helping others and his multifaceted contributions truly make a positive difference in the lives of those he serves.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Louisa is a passionate community builder with over 20 years of experience nurturing and shaping communities in diverse professional, voluntary and ministry settings. Her professional journey has been evenly split between ministry and marketing/communications roles, with her deep-rooted commitment to creating spaces that foster genuine connections being the common thread through both worlds. Louisa is a mum to three kids and too many pets, currently living in Sydney with her family. She holds a BA (Hons) from Sydney & Monash Universities and Grad Dip in Divinity from Ridley College and is a current Anglican Deaconess Ministries Fellow.

BOARD DIRECTOR

Jaime is a proud Wayilwan woman from Central West NSW, with an impressive 26-year career in financial management within the healthcare sector. She brings extensive expertise in not-for-profit, government, and commercial organisations, specialising in budgeting, financial and management accounting, project and risk management, corporate services, and leadership.

Based in Bathurst, NSW, Jaime is a CPA member who is dedicated to enhancing wellness and service delivery in rural and remote communities.

Driven by her passion for Closing the Gap initiatives, Jaime actively serves as a Board member for several not-for-profit community organisations, advocating for culturally safe practices for Indigenous and disadvantaged populations in NSW. She is also deeply committed to empowering women, particularly in leadership roles, and is a strong advocate for supporting the education and basic needs of women and children.

As a role model to her teenage daughter, Jaime's values align closely with those of Embrace Sanctuary, making her a proud and influential Board Member.