Refugee Neil Para was joined by dozens of community members as he walked around Lake Wendouree on Sunday, the first day of National Refugee Week, carrying 13.5 kilograms to represent the weight of uncertainty refugees and asylum seekers face on a daily basis.

Mr Para, his wife Sugaa and three children have been living in Australia for more than seven years, but had their visa and working rights revoked shortly after leaving detention.

Sunday marked 2691 days since the family's visas were revoked and Mr Para carried a gram for every one of those days, multiplied by five to represent each member of his family and the burden they carry around the lake.

Mr Para said refugees and asylum seekers often carry stress and burden that many cannot understand.

"Refugees and asylum seekers, we have so many things in our mind, some things we can share with people, some things we can't... so it's a very stressful time for us," he said.

"When I contacted immigration three years ago, they said 'please wait, don't call us, we will get back to you when the right time comes'.

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"We're still waiting for the right time but what is the right time and is the answer good or bad? I don't know."

Mr Para said he was excited to see to many people come out in support of the cause and hopes to run another walk next year.

"At the beginning, they didn't understand why I was going to do this, but when I started explaining to them, they were very happy and more excited than me.. I was actually nervous, they are very excited and supportive," he said.

"I hope I will be a citizen by then, but even if I am, I will do this for other refugees because I know the pain of being a refugee and asylum seeker."

City of Ballarat councillor Belinda Coates said Mr Para and his family were a great example of the importance of supporting refugees and asylum seekers.

"They've been completely embraced by the community, they're well-known and well-loved but they just give back so much to the community as well in their volunteer work, in connecting with different groups and it's just so important that we walk the talk as a welcoming city," she said.

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