Photo: DIAC Flickr
Around Australia the message “everyone belongs” was celebrated by community groups, schools and universities as part of Harmony Day today.
Since 1999 Australia has celebrated the country’s cultural diversity, and on this day acknowledges the benefits of living in multicultural communities, with the theme “Many Stories, One Australia”.
Harmony Day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Local Government’s Role
The need to address racial discrimination was highlighted in an annual report produced by the Victorian Human Right’s Commission in June, 2012.
The report recommended local government incorporate principles of equal opportunity and equal access into their planning as they work closely with the Victorian community on a day-to-day basis.
City of Melbourne councillor Dr Jackie Watts said the council was promoting harmony through their events and projects.
Dr Watts said international students have an important role to play in the wider Melbourne community.
“The City of Melbourne looks after international students and if you’re going to talk about cultural diversity you’ve got to look at the people who spend 3-4 years of their young-adult life here.
“I want to make links between the existing residents – the property owners and the ratepayers – and with international students.
“Anything the City of Melbourne can do to build bridges between the resident population and the short-term resident population – which is a huge international student body – is beneficial,” she said.
Community Events
Students at RMIT University participated in Harmony Day events across the campuses, and organiser Claire Muller said students participating in the events were proud to be promoting cultural diversity.
“Promoting multiculturalism is a way to try and reduce racism. If we make cultural diversity so important and show that we are happy to have people from different backgrounds and cultures here we will make our our communities more welcoming.
“Multiculturalism is a great because it opens your mind, to different people, cultures, and foods,” she said.
Father Richard Murray from the RMIT Student Services Group said, “harmony means working together. If we go our own ways we will survive. But we won’t survive as efficiently.”
Harmony Day falls during Cultural Diversity Week, a City of Melbourne initiative.
The final event for Cultural Diversity Week will be held at Federation Square on March 24.
