With one in four Australian workers coming from overseas, there has never been a more important time to acknowledge and celebrate Australia’s diverse workforce. Recently many councils across Australia participated in A Taste of Harmony, an annual event that provides workplaces with the opportunity to celebrate the diversity in their workplace.
A Taste of Harmony took place between 21–27 March this year, in conjunction with Harmony Day which falls on 21 March each year.
Harmony Day marks the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racism and reaffirms the right of all Australians to live without fear of racial or religious discrimination.
All Australian workplaces were invited to organise a lunch where staff bring a dish that represents their cultural background, or is from a culture they particularly like.
During these events staff were encouraged to share stories about their cultural heritage.
Australia wide there were a record number of participants this year – approximately 3,000 workplaces and 200,000 Australians participated in A Taste of Harmony week.
The week was filled with events, food, and of course, stories about our cultural backgrounds and heritages.
Our workplaces are a representation of the larger Australian society, so it is important that we create an atmosphere where we appreciate and enjoy the cultural diversity of our colleagues.
