Welcome to Australia exists to engage everyday Australians in the task of cultivating a culture of welcome in our nation. The Australia we love is known for its diversity, compassion, generosity and commitment to giving all people a fair go. We'd like to find many different ways that individuals, families, businesses and other organisations can work together to continue to develop these values in our communities, work places, schools and institutions.

We also believe that there are thousands of Australians who don't care too much for politics and don't know a great deal about immigration policy - but who do know they care about people. We believe that cultural diversity should be celebrated for the beauty and depth it adds to our society and that no matter who you are, where you're from or how you arrived - you're a person who deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We hope to coordinate a range of ways in which people can express these concepts in practical, meaningful and positive ways.

While some of us have strong opinions about policies to do with asylum seeking, refugees and migration, we believe that the most effective way of creating social and policy change in this area is to facilitate opportunities for authentic relationships to be built in which people of differing backgrounds share their stories. In other words - we believe that knowing someone personally and hearing their story, hopes and dreams will have more impact on a person's views on these contentious issues than any policy, economic or political debate. We'd like to create a loud, public voice of positivity which changes the public conversation by virtue of its volume and values.