Dear Editor,
This Harmony Day, Red Cross is challenging all Australians to do something practical to help make their community even more welcoming. Australia is one of the most culturally diverse nations in the world and 86% of people think multiculturalism has been good for us. How can we build on to this to make our communities more welcoming, more supportive and more inclusive?
This Harmony Day on 21st March, we’ve come up with five ways you can help:
1. Read up on the facts: help dispel some of the myths about refugees and people seeking asylum.
2. Invite a guest speaker: ask a refugee or migrant to share their story with your school or community group. In many states/territories, organisations like Red Cross offer resources or speakers to help you organise this.
3. Be a workplace mentor: offer mentoring or volunteer opportunities to a refugee or person seeking asylum who is struggling to find a job.
4. Help someone get an education: ask a school or university to support a refugee or person seeking asylum who wants to study but has limited financial resources. Support could include
fees, uniforms, or books.
5. Volunteer: offer your skills to an organisation that is helping refugees, people seeking asylum and other vulnerable migrants.
Each of us has a responsibility to help create a more harmonious and accepting society. Our communities are stronger when we understand the stories, motivations and hopes of those we live along side; when we recognise what connects us, not what separates us. This is what Harmony Day is all about. We think it should be Harmony Day, every day.
Red Cross has a mandate to help the most vulnerable people, regardless of their background, age, location or where they come from. Every day, we support people in need of assistance, including refugees, people seeking asylum, the homeless, the elderly and those affected by disaster and conflict around the globe. Harmony Day is for everyone, but this year Red Cross is
turning the spotlight on what we can all do to make our communities even more welcoming
for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Judy Slatyer
CEO
Australian Red Cross