Blue Mountains News

"Freedom Street" will be presented by its director Alfred Pek on Saturday 25 June, starting at 4.30pm at Maldhan Ngurr Ngurra Lithgow Transformation Hub, corner of Mort St and Bridge St, Lithgow. This documentary will be seen widely across Australia during Refugee Week to increase awareness and sensitivity toward refugees and their plight.

Lithgow City Council declared Lithgow as a Refugee Welcome Zone in 2017. The Refugee Welcome Zone initiative began in June 2002 as part of Refugee Week celebrations. A Refugee Welcome Zone is a local government area which has made a commitment in spirit to:

• Welcoming refugees into the community
• Upholding the human rights of refugees
• Demonstrating compassion for refugees and enhancing cultural and religious diversity in the community.

The Mayor of Lithgow Maree Statham said: "Lithgow City Council is proud to be a Refugee Welcome Zone. We want to create conversations and gain a better understanding of people of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, their needs, and the ways in which we can make them feel more welcome to participate in the life of our town".

This event is organised by Lithgow City Council in partnership with Western Sydney University.