Celebrating Harmony Week 2024

Harmony Week 2024 will take place from 18th March 2024 to 24th March 2024. Dedicated to celebrating multiculturalism, Harmony Week is an Australia-specific holiday. Harmony Day, held on Tuesday the 21st of March 2024, intentionally falls on the same day as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

What is the History Behind Harmony Week? 

Nearly half of all Australians are born abroad or have a parent who was born abroad. We’re also home to the world’s oldest continuous living culture, with Aboriginal peoples having lived on this land for at least 65,000 years across at least 250 nations, with over 250 Indigenous languages and 800 dialects.

Harmony Week is all about celebrating a diverse and multicultural Australia, looking at how different cultures work together to build positive communities. Harmony Day takes place on the same day as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, a UN holiday which was created in 1966. Harmony Day started in 1999 to celebrate Australia’s diverse culture and changed to Harmony Week in 2019.

How Can I Celebrate Harmony Week? 

There are many ways you can celebrate Harmony Week, from participating in local community events to organising your own events for your business or organisation. The theme of Harmony Week is “Everybody Belongs”. It’s an event that offers important opportunities to learn about and appreciate the different ways of life that exist in our communities and find ways to better connect and create a sense of belonging for everyone. 

A great way of doing this is by listening to stories from local Indigenous speakers as well as those with international cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Here at ICMI, we have a fantastic roster of diverse speakers with fascinating stories to share at your event. This includes their experiences of racism, migration, overcoming adversity, finding strength in communities and how to create supportive environments.

Event Ideas and Speakers for Harmony Week 2024 

From First Australians to refugees and second generation migrants making sense of intertwining cultures, we’re proud to host a roster of speakers with unique perspectives and valuable stories we can learn from. This includes:

• Jelena Dokic (VIC) –  A refugee from Yugoslavia, Jelena went on to overcome racism, discrimination, bullying, poverty and abuse to become one of Australia’s greatest tennis champions, a best-selling author and inspirational speaker.
  
• Kon Karapanagiotidis (VIC) – CEO and founder of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Kon is a fierce advocate for refugees, asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians as well as a best-selling author, Order of Australia Medal recipient, human rights lawyer, social worker, dedicated fundraiser and compelling public speaker.
  
• Noel Pearson (QLD)–  Indigenous lawyer, academic and land rights activist, Noel acted as a representative to traditional owners in the first successful land claim and offers valuable insights into Indigenous affairs.
  
• Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM (QLD) – Dinesh is an award-winning doctor, disability advocate, researcher, university lecturer, lawyer and co-founder of Doctors with Disability Australia, who moved to Australia from Sri Lanka, during a period where it was ravaged by an ethnic war for over three decades.
  
• Div Pillay (VIC) – Dinesh is an award-winning doctor, disability advocate, researcher, university lecturer, lawyer and co-founder of Doctors with Disability Australia, who moved to Australia from Sri Lanka, during a period where it was ravaged by an ethnic war for over three decades.
  
• Alicia Janz (WA)– A proud Erubian Islander, Alicia has mentored young Australian First Nations women for 13 years while excelling in elite-level netball and football. Raised in remote Derby, Kimberley, she emphasises resilience in education, sports, work, and the unique challenges faced by First Nations individuals.
  
• Noor Azizah (NSW) – Noor is a renowned advocate and educator with degrees in Education and Peace & Conflict Studies. She was a 2022 Young Woman to Watch in YAIA, and is actively involved in refugee causes and advisory boards, including the U.S. Consulate General’s Sydney Youth Advisory Council, she’s featured on ABC Radio and SBS, dedicating herself to impactful work in education and advocacy.
  
• Craig Foster AM (NSW) – Craig, 2023 NSW Australian of the Year, former Socceroo captain, and SBS Sport commentator, is a prominent social justice advocate. He successfully campaigned for the release of a player from Bangkok Remand Prison and continues to champion vulnerable populations, gender equality in sports, indigenous rights, and social justice through football.
  
• Gavin Wanganeen (SA) – Gavin, a two-time AFL Premiership winner and Brownlow medalist, excels as both a legendary player with a 300-game career and a celebrated contemporary Indigenous artist. As an ambassador for community programs, he actively promotes positive choices in remote Aboriginal communities.
  

Explore our complete roster of diversity and inclusion speakers here and become part of an important week where we celebrate a multicultural Australia and reinforce the message that everyone belongs.

Interested in booking a speaker for Harmony Week 2024? Call us now on 1800 334 625 or make an enquiry online.