The impact of our work

More than a meal…

Outcomes from our approach for the community and partners involved can be identified in the following ways:

Community trust and belonging building

50-100 guests attend a community dinner and make initial connections with neighbours and partner agencies, building trust in WDP, our partners and a sense of belonging in their community.

Social capital enhancement

Guests sign up to a) attend a follow up home dinner in their suburb, b) offer to host a home dinner, to enhance connections already made and develop localised networks of support and pathways to further contribution

Personal and professional skill development

Guests express an interest in volunteering with WDP as a volunteer. Roles include Facilitator and Coordinator, and skill development in both roles includes

• advanced teamwork
• critical thinking and problem solving
• creative and reflective thinking
• project and event management
• conflict resolution
• Acknowledgment of Country delivery
• research, pitching and negotiation
• digital capabilities and remote working

Our experience of guests becoming volunteers has been as high as 1 in every 10.

Experience a Welcome Dinner through the eyes of one of our guests, Samson.

Here’s what some guests have said about the impact of the Welcome Dinners on their lives:

“If we had more of these dinners we wouldn’t have any wars”

“The Welcome Dinner Project helped me rediscover my pride in myself.”

“The Welcome Dinner Project has helped me make my family in Australia.”

“I want this to become normal.”

“I feel enriched, warm and hopeful for the future of our multicultural community.”

“I met new friends at the Welcome Dinner and we still keep in touch.”