With dilapidated buildings all around and people living in poor conditions, the Bendigo photographer wanted to do something to help the Karen people.

"Sleeping in the girls' dorms, I had to do something. The roofs had gaping holes in them," she said.

"The week before, the girls were drenched with a monsoonal downpour."

Ms Hamilton was in the NuPo refugee camp to administer Bowen therapy on some of the 12,000 residents, but soon her visit took on a greater meaning.

She tried to capture on camera the anguish and hardship of the refugees to help raise funds to re-roof the sleeping dormitories.

For $1000, one roof could be replaced.

Over the Queen's Birthday long weekend, Ms Hamilton held a photography exhibition at Dudley House on View Street where her pieces lined the walls.

She said the conditions for people in the region were unbearable.

"They've seen their family members burnt, murdered, raped, so they move into Thailand where they're safe," Ms Hamilton said.

"I don't know why it's still happening."

Karen refugee Hser Mulapaw, 14, was among those to view the images of her homeland.

She said the way people had been treated in the region was "terrible".

"My mum told me once, that where she lived the people came and destroyed their homes and they had to find a new place to live," Hser said.

"My father had been separated from his parents."