UPDATED VENUE: GIVEN THE RAINY FORECAST WE HAVE UPDATED THE VENUE TO THE BEAUTIFUL FORESTVILLE MEMORIAL HALL, 3 STARKEY ST, FORESTVILLE

World Refugee Day is a day to extend an open-hearted welcome to people who have recently arrived in Australia with refugee experience. It is also a day to celebrate the strength, resilience and contribution that people with refugee experience bring to our communities.

On Sunday, 19 June we are bringing people from the refugee community and the local community together to meet, talk, share and connect, building a warm and welcoming multicultural community.

This event is supported by the NSW Government and UNHCR - The UN Refugee Agency.

What’s happening on Sunday 19 June?

Beginning with a Welcome to Country, we welcome all participants together in this shared celebration. After introductions you will be placed in smaller walking groups - refugee and local community members mixed together - to set off for a walk-and-talk if it's not too rainy. During this walk-and-talk you can learn about the refugee experience, help teach some useful English phrases, perhaps even learn a few words in Urdu, Arabic or Tibetan.

After the walk we welcome you back to Forestville Memorial Hall where there will be African drumming, Tibetan dance performances, and music. You can purchase lunch from one of our refugee-run or multicultural food trucks and extend your friendship with your walking group as you enjoy your meal together. There will also be football fun for the young and young at heart, with football activations and small sided games.

Making a difference, one step at a time

We're not the only ones who love our walks. Both people with a recent refugee experience and locals alike have shared with us the value that this simple community connection means to them:

"This was the first time I felt like I was treated simply as a human being rather than being defined as a refugee" - OneStep Walks participant with refugee experience

"I just loved being able to say 'welcome" to two young women who had only been here for 2 months" - OneStep Walks participant

How will it work?

We’ll all meet at the Forestville Memorial Hall at 11am on Sunday 19 June. The OneStep team will be there, look for us in our blue t-shirts/hoodies/beanies. Once everyone arrives we’ll gather people into small groups of six to eight for a chat.

You can talk about anything but we suggest some easy going topics like...what you like to do in your spare time, that movie you watched over the weekend and can't forget, or that nice local café you went to and fell in love with. We invite you to bring a picnic lunch so that we can join together after the walk as a larger group, or come ready to buy delicious food from the food trucks.

It's free to come along.

Is it a COVID Safe event?

Yes. We are a registered COVIDSafe business with the NSW Government. You can view our full COVIDSafety plan on our website here and see more details below. Please do not attend if you have symptoms or have tested positive.

What should I bring?

Bring a water bottle, an open mind and an appetite for lunch!

How should I get there?

If you're driving, there is parking at Forestville Memorial Hall or look for parking in the neighbouring streets.

If you're coming by public transport, you'll find all the links necessary to plan your trip here: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/services/roads-and-paths/transport.

Where shall we meet?

Inside the Forestville Memorial Hall

When will it finish?

The event will close at around 3pm. 

Captivated yet? 

...and that's all folks!

Long story short, you'll be spending some time strolling along the beach, sharing lunch in the Reserve, meeting new people and talking about life in Australia.

And if you’re wondering if it will be worth it, the answer is: yes, it will. At a OneStep walk, everyone always gets a lot out of it. So c'mon, what are you waiting for? Register now.

COVID-safety plan

We have a COVID Safe plan and are registered as a COVID Safe business with the NSW Government. In line with our plan we will be:

• monitoring the situation closely and adjusting our plans to meet all NSW Health and NSW Government guidelines
• offering hand sanitiser
• encouraging social distancing
• advising people not to attend if they have any flu-like symptoms or have been a close contact of a COVID case or venue.

We're limiting numbers to 200 friendly locals (including children) - first in, best dressed!

Any questions can be sent to us via email: info@onestepwalks.org

We'll get back to you as soon as we can!

Or learn more about us at onestepwalks.org.