What can I do?

Quick Tips to make your Harmony Day events and activities winners!

Remember you don't have to limit yourself to 21 March; you can hold activities throughout the entire month or year!

Many schools and organisations have a 'Harmony Week' or include a Harmony theme into what has already being planned.

The best events and activities are those that have been well thought through with the audience and purpose in mind

Who is your audience? How can you connect with them? What will they get out of it? What feelings, thoughts, opinions, and impressions do you want them to walk away with?

Think in terms of outcomes, not outputs

Are there issues related to participation, mutual respect, opportunity and a fair go for all that need to be addressed? Do you want to bring people in your community together? Do you want to reflect on and celebrate the vibrant cultures in your school, community or organisation?

Here are a few ideas to start you thinking…

  • Organise a community event at your local park, public oval or beach, invite key note speakers to present on the importance of community harmony.
  • Incorporate cultural flair to a community activity like an art exhibition, a speech night or debate. The theme could highlight the importance of community harmony.
  • Devise and implement a sustainable community project targeting issues of participation, mutual respect and opportunity.
  • Hold an interfaith ceremony between the various religions in your community; pledge to unite together.
  • Approach your local community radio or television station to run a 'Harmony Hero' competition encouraging listeners and viewers to nominate community members who have consistently contributed to community harmony.
  • Commit your sports team to working together toward harmonious relationships and to give a fair go to everyone involved.
  • Celebrate with a Harmony picnic , barbeque, lunch, morning or afternoon tea at the zoo, botanic gardens, local park or at the beach.
  • Get your sporting organisation to theme a local competition or match around Harmony Day.
  • How diverse is your team? Why not welcome new members of the community into your team?
  • Invite leaders of Indigenous communities, faith groups and multicultural organisations to meet with the Council and strengthen relationships.
  • Schools can conduct an excursion to a cultural institution or community venue to learn about other cultures.
  • Encourage students and teachers to wear orange on 21 March.

Local Governments

  • Hold an awards ceremony to recognise business, community organisations and individuals who contribute to the success of Australia's cultural diversity and community harmony.
  • Hold workshops for service providers to suggest activities about how to ensure their programs are sensitive and relevant to all community groups.
  • Invite leaders of indigenous communities, faith groups and multicultural organisations to meet with the council and strengthen relationships.
  • Contact isolated or hard to reach groups and tell them about the council services to help build closer links between these groups.
  • Host educational displays or public readings with a harmony theme in the local library.