Looking for ideas?
Big Walk events
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Big Walks are being hosted around the country - join us! Check our events section for details
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Walk anytime, anywhere. Walking the dog, to the shops, pushing the pram. Every step counts! So whether you’re on your own or with friends, just get moving so that your steps count towards our virtual loop of Australia
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As well as your daily activity, you could set up a weekly or fortnightly walk. Create a special event and invite locals. Email us your event details and we’ll add it to the events calendar
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Once you are registered, you need to join a team. You can create your own or join one of the open teams in the app - there is one for each state and territory. If you create a team, you can keep it open for people to join or make it invite only
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Invite local groups to take part - walking, running, sports, church, schools, refugee support groups
Organise events on market day or when there’s something else happening in town.
You can even organise joint events with other groups or towns nearby
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Politicians, local councillors, media, your local Ethnic Council. Sportspeople and local identities.
The more the merrier - and the more your steps will count. Find your closest Ethnic Council here
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Share on your socials with the #bigwalk4refugees and let local media know. Check our tips and resources for promoting your event
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The final weekend of the Big Walk culminates with Palm Sunday weekend, followed by a Canberra walk to Parliament House on Tuesday 26 March. Finish your six weeks of walking by taking part in a Palm Sunday event. You can find them at the ARAN website
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Use this link to find your local member
Ask them what they are doing to call for fairer policies for refugees and people seeking asylum
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Ask them if they will join your walk and say a few words to show their support
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Email the Australian Refugee Action Network to find the support groups closest to you. You can also visit these websites:
Refugee Action Collective - Victoria
Rural Australians for Refugees
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Create your own local group and be part of a network of hundreds of groups around Australia. Contact Rural Australians for Refugees to join a network of more than 70 groups around Australia
Supporting refugees
Promoting your event
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Share details of your walk on social media using #bigwalk4refugees
Short videos (20-30 seconds) will help you gain attention. Adding a picture helps your post to stand out.
Keep it simple and positive - focus on the difference you want to see.
Check our promotions page for social media content that you can use
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Keep it simple, positive, and focused on the change you want to see.
I’m walking 4
I’m walking because
I’m walking to supportIf you have personal contacts who are impacted by being in limbo, you can use their first name
For example:
I’m walking for…
mums and dads [like Samira] whose children were born here but are not covered by medicare
young people [like Harini] who grew up in Australia but can’t go to university as a local student which means her dream of studying medicine is out of reach
I’m walking because…
After Covid, I know what it’s like to be separated from family. I’d like families to be able to see each other again after being separated for over a decade
After more than 10 years, these people are part of our community - they’re our friends, our colleagues, our neighbours
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Pics and videos help get your message out there. Share them with a note I’m walking because OR we’re walking because with the #bigwalk4refugees
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Download any of the media resources in this google drive and then adapt to suit your own needs. Email us if you want to explore ideas for media in your area
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To help get your story out, you can download any of the resources in this promotional materials in this google drive. Links to individual sections, such as t-shirts, below
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Large posters that you can download and print locally on card or 5mm corflute
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Find a range of social media tiles here
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T-shirt designs that you can print locally or online
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Lots of flyer designs to choose. You can download and share or print and post at your gym, cafe, workplace or wherever people might see them