Liellie McLaughlan is a person with a passion for including and encouraging new arrivals to Adelaide. Maybe that is because she has first hand experience of apartheid in South Africa, and has developed the skill of seeing every person as a unique and valuable human being.

I first met Liellie a few years ago, when she had set up RAW – ‘Random Acts of Welcome’ in a community centre in the city. By word of mouth, all kind of new arrivals turn up. Everyone shares food and conversation together. It is such an achievable way of helping people connect with each other, providing opportunities for real support within and among the group.