Engadine High School

Telephone02 9520 0411

Emailengadine-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Harmony Week 2021

Harmony Week 2021 poster

What is Harmony Week?

Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it.

The message of Harmony Week is everyone belongs.

It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values.

Did you know?

  • Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
  • We identify with over 300 ancestries.
  • 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.

These facts are taken from ABS 2016 Census Data. Check out the Australian Bureau of Statistics website.

How is Engadine High School celebrating Harmony Week?

Engadine High School is celebrating Harmony Day in a number of ways. 

Guests from SCARF (Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families) will deliver an address on the whole school assembly along with our student leaders, Maita Mtandabari and Stephanie Duric. 

The whole school speech will outline SCARF’s work to the theme of harmony, providing an overview of the support the organisation offers. The main focus will be Elie, a refugee entrant, giving an outline of his personal settlement experience – including the challenges and also positives in terms of support and welcoming community that aided in his settlement journey.

SCARF will run workshops with Year 12 English Studies, Year 10 Geography and the SRC following the assembly on Monday, 29th March. 

EHS Cultural Biographies

All students from culturally diverse and First Nations backgrounds are invited to share their stories. These stories will be displayed in the Library foyer. Please see Ms Miller or Mrs Annan if you would like to be involved. 

Tracey Miller and Elizabeth Annan