Why Celebrate Harmony Day?
Australia is known as the most culturally diverse country in the world, with a culture as broad and varied as our landscape. Everyone that migrates to Australia brings with them their cultural values and religious traditions, and these customs have benefited Australia as a whole. Without different cultures and traditions Australia wouldn’t have good coffee and amazing, multicultural food, and that’s just the start of the benefits.
Everyone is welcome in this country and has the right to call it home, regardless of their skin colour, ethnicity, or language. Harmony Day is celebrated to foster a sense of belonging, respect, and inclusion in schools, businesses, and our communities and to bring people together to reflect, discuss, and acknowledge everyone’s identity, inclusivity, and the sense of belonging that makes Australia a better place to live.
How to Celebrate Harmony Day at Work
When employees feel included, businesses perform better. Employers who demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity create a considerably more open, respectful, and inclusive organisational culture and work environment for all employees.
- Wear traditional Costumes- As a gesture of sharing heritage, ask your employees if they are willing to dress up in their traditional attire. This will help in boosting employees’ trust in the organisation as they’ll be able to express and share their individuality with others. According to a LinkedIn survey, 47% of employees who are proud of their employer say it’s because their company has a positive culture, and they can be themselves at work.
- Organise a potluck: Whenever we think about cultural diversity, food is always on the top of the list. Host a lunch or morning tea event and ask your employees to bring their favourite traditional cuisine to share. This is a great way to connect with your co-workers by sharing family recipes and explaining why this meal is meaningful to you and your country.
- Games from around the world: Ask employees to share games from their cultural backgrounds. Games are a simple way to have fun, boost team morale, and learn about other cultures.
- Go Orange: The colour orange has been chosen to signify Harmony Week. Orange has long been associated with social interaction and meaningful conversations. Encourage employees to decorate their workspace or to wear something orange to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.
How to Celebrate Harmony Day at School
Many schools participate in a variety of activities with their community on Harmony Day. These activities are designed to teach students about how all Australians are equal members of this country and contribute to its enrichment.
- Art and craft activities: Children love to show off their artistic and creative skills. Hold a competition and encourage students to create art based on their understanding of Harmony Week. Organise an art activity revolving around the theme ‘Celebrating Harmony’, provide them with a bunch of different art supplies and let their imagination run wild.
- Scavenger hunt: There’s nothing like a little friendly competition and teamwork to keep your students learning inside or outside the classroom. Create a Harmony Week scavenger hunt in your classroom by having students locate 10 multicultural Australia-related products and locations.
- Storytelling: One key factor that brings us together is the stories we have to share from all over the world. It’s a great way to keep everyone involved as stories convey the culture, history, and values that unite people.
- Make a photo collage: Involve students in a little collage-making. Take a picture of each student or ask them to bring photos from home and have them cut in different shapes and sizes, this will help them to work as a team and create a sense of belonging and inclusivity in the classroom.
