What is Harmony Week?
First celebrated in 1999, Harmony Week is an annual event that takes place on the week including March 21, and celebrates Australia’s diverse and multicultural community. The week includes events nationwide to celebrate diversity, understanding and inclusivity and to commemorate March 21, the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since its inception in 1999, Harmony Week has seen over 80,000 Harmony Week events celebrated.
The Origins of Harmony Week
Although now a joyous occasion, Harmony Week has a dark origin. On March 21, 1960, a group of around 7000 Black South African people in the township of Sharpeville were protesting “Pass Laws” – a kind of passport system that prohibited Black South Africans and other racial groups from freely moving throughout South Africa and confining them to a few areas. Although the protest was peaceful and the protesters were unarmed, when the protesters approached the Sharpeville police station, police opened fire on the crowd, killing 69 people and injuring 180 more.
Six years after the Sharpeville Massacre, the United Nations designated March 21st as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. While much of the world celebrates Harmony Day on March 21st, on the 20th anniversary of Harmony Day in 2019, the Australia government decided dedicated an entire week to celebrating multiculturalism and racial harmony.
Celebrating Harmony Week at Work
Since 1999, Harmony Week has been celebrated in many ways by communities and organisations across Australia, with each event designed to both highlight and share the disparate cultures within the group with each other.
There are many ways businesses can celebrate Harmony Week and promote cultural diversity and inclusion within the workplace. The key is to create opportunities for employees to learn from and connect with each other across cultural differences, fostering a more harmonious and inclusive work environment.
Cultural Diversity Training
Businesses can organise workshops or training sessions on cultural diversity and inclusion for employees, such as inviting guest speakers to discuss topics such as unconscious bias, intercultural communication, local First Nations culture and creating inclusive work environments.
First Nations Cultural Awareness Day
Dedicate a day during Harmony Week specifically to celebrate Australian First Nations cultures. You can organise events such as traditional storytelling sessions, Indigenous art exhibitions, cultural performances showcasing music and dance, or tours of the local area explaining the history of the First Nations culture from that area.
Multicultural Group Lunch
Encourage employees, or individual departments in large organisations, to bring dishes from their cultural backgrounds to share with colleagues during a multicultural group lunch or dinner. Few things are better at fostering cultural exchange and appreciation than food.
Cultural Awareness Campaigns
Launch internal campaigns to raise awareness about different cultures and traditions. This could include sharing educational resources, cultural trivia, or spotlighting diverse employees’ stories and experiences.
Diversity Panels or Talks
Host panel discussions or talks featuring employees from diverse backgrounds to share their perspectives and experiences. Topics could range from navigating cultural differences in the workplace to promoting diversity in leadership roles.
Language Exchange
Create workshops or online language exchange sessions in which employees can learn basic phrases in different languages spoken within the company, promoting linguistic diversity and understanding among colleagues.
Cultural Dress Day
Dedicate a day for employees to dress in traditional attire from their cultural backgrounds. Sharing and displaying cultural dress can help encourage pride in diversity and give an opportunity for employees to share the significance of their cultural clothing with others.
Community Engagement
Organisations can help support community initiatives or events in the local area that celebrate diversity and inclusion. For example, businesses can sponsor or participate in local Harmony Week events, volunteer at multicultural festivals, or partner with organisations serving diverse communities.
Cultural Workshops or Demonstrations
Cultural workshops or demonstrations led by employees or external experts can help employees gain a new perspective or appreciation of cultures other than their own. This could include activities such as cooking classes featuring international cuisines, traditional dance performances, or art exhibitions showcasing diverse cultural expressions.
Diversity Awards or Recognition
Recognise and celebrate employees who actively promote diversity and inclusion within the workplace. This could involve presenting diversity awards or hosting appreciation events to acknowledge their contributions.
Reconciliation Workshops
Host workshops or discussions focused on reconciliation and building better understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Provide resources and opportunities for employees to learn about the history, culture, and ongoing issues faced by First Nations peoples.
First Nations Business Showcase
Highlight First Nations-owned businesses during Harmony Week by featuring their products or services in the workplace. Arrange for pop-up shops, presentations, or networking events where employees can learn about and support First Nations entrepreneurs and enterprises. COS partners with multiple First Nations businesses, including Muru , Yaru Water, Earth Blends Coffee, Waddi and Ngiilay Gift Boxes.
