The One World Concert will take place in Hindmarsh Park, Kiama on Saturday, October 22 from 1pm-4pm.

The event has been organised and supported by North Kiama Neighbourhood Centre, the Kiama Welcomes Refugees group, Kiama council and South Coast Audio.

The Illawarra Folk Club and Kiama Jazz & Blues Club have also assisted with the event. 

The free concert will take place in honour of United Nations Day (October 24).

It will feature music from Burmese and Syrian refugee performers from throughout the Illawarra, John Littrich and the Water Runners, Penny Hartgerink, JukeBoy Emmett, Illawarra Union Singers, Michael Cox, Shabnam, Accord and more.

Kiama Welcomes Refugees member and event co-organiser Edwin Humphries hoped there would be a strong turnout for the inaugural concert.

“We basically wanted to increase awareness of the situation of refugees internationally and within Australia,” the Kiama resident said.

“It will give people some exposure to refugee culture and some refugees who have settled in Australia and made a contribution to society.”

Mr Humphries said the event was “not intended to be confronting or making a strong political point”.

“It’s going to be a good entertainment line-up and if people haven’t met or come across refugees before, and are curious, they’ll have the opportunity to do that,” he said. 

“The refugees have settled in Australia and have had, and are still having significant challenges doing so… It’s being aware of them and helping where we can.

“Our culture is quite different to the culture where the refugees are from.

“(This concert) is also about exposing people to a little bit of cultural diversity.”

Ss Peter and Paul Church is the back-up indoor venue in the event of inclement weather.