Harmony Day: Everyone Belongs

Every year on March 21st, we celebrate Harmony Day—a special time to embrace inclusiveness, respect, and the joy of multiculturalism and difference. It’s a day to recognize how amazing it is to have people from different backgrounds, religions, sexual preferences, skin colours and languages all coming together as one in Australia.  

Did you know? 

• Nearly half of Aussies were born overseas or have at least one parent who was. 

• Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia. 

• 85 per cent of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia. 

• Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin,  Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi. 

• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia. 

Why Diversity is So Important 

Imagine a world where everyone looked, thought, and acted the same—boring, right? Our differences are what make life interesting! Every culture brings something unique, whether it’s delicious food, fascinating traditions, or new ways of looking at the world. When we celebrate diversity, we open the door to fresh ideas, friendships, and a more connected community where we all have a place.

Australia is so much richer for welcoming people from other cultures, religions and ethnic groups to make a multicultural Australia. Here are just a few of the dozens of annual events that bring all Australians together: 

• Melbourne Cup Day – this event actually stops the nation for a day!

• Birdsville Big Red Bash 

• Tamworth Country Music Festival 

• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras 

• Panyieri Greek Festival 

• Chinese Lantern Festival 

Easy Ways to Celebrate Harmony Day 

There’s no one “right” way to celebrate Harmony Day—it’s all about spreading kindness, understanding, and connection. Here are a few fun and meaningful ways to get involved: 

• Wear Orange – It’s the official colour of Harmony Day and represents unity and  respect. So, throw on an orange shirt or fun socks to show your support!

• Create a ‘Harmony Wall’ – Set up a space where people can write or draw what diversity means to them. It could be a workplace, school, or café filled with inspiring  messages and artwork. Wellness will have white paper and coloured pens on their  café tables to record messages from customers and staff. 

• Download the free app, DuoLingo, and Learn a few phrases – Try greeting your  colleagues or friends in a different language! A simple “hello” or “thank you” in  another language is a small but powerful way to show respect and appreciation for  different cultures. https://www.duolingo.com/welcome 

• Have a Trivia Quiz about ‘Aussie Slang’ at your Harmony Dinner - Invite some friends from other countries and have some fun at your Harmony Dinner  (this can be a mixture of dishes from various friends or takeaways like Pizza, Chinese food, Turkish Kebabs, Spag Boll or whatever you fancy. (To make it really easy, order Takeaway Food…. no washing up!) 

Here’s how to play: 

Attached is a list of common slang expressions that will help you get a feeling for our colourful ‘Australian English’. Print this list out and keep it with you so you can work out what crazy Aussies are saying. Share the list at social events to get the laughs started… 

Instructions: 

Appoint a person to write down an Aussie Slang Expression on a piece of paper. Then each person has to guess what it means. You get one point for each correct  answer. Then, switch to another writer and they ask another trivia question until someone scores 10 points and is crowned the Trivia King or Trivia Queen. Of course, you will need to make them a suitable crown from napkins, pens, paper, etc.

How to ask questions: 

• What does ‘Çhuck a wobbly’ mean? Answer: Go berserk

• What does ‘Give it a Burl’ mean? Answer: Give it a go

• What does ‘Blow in the Bag’ mean? Answer: Breathaliser testing

• What does ‘Spit the dummy’ mean? Answer: Get upset. 

Don’t worry if you don’t have a clue – you’ll soon get the hang of it. Onya mate! Ripper! Have-a-go! 

Happy Harmony Day 2025 where everyone belongs!