- Download and display the Welcome poster at your front gate.
- Join the Anti-Racism Education Statewide Staffroom to share your Harmony Week ideas and connect with other schools.
- Visit the Australian Government Harmony Week for schools website for a collection of lesson ideas, lesson plans and student activities organised by level of schooling and subject area and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
- Download resources for Harmony Week including templates for posters, invitations and certificates as well as frames, filters, graphics and banners for websites and social media. You may wish to register your Harmony Week event. See how other individuals, schools, organisations and councils celebrate Harmony Week or share your story on the Harmony Week site.
- Staff may wish to learn more about understanding diversity and culture at the Multicultural Education webpages.
Planning Harmony Week
Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. In schools we celebrate inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for all Australians, from the traditional custodians of the land to those who have come from many countries around the world.
Harmony Week occurs in March each year and includes 21 March, the United Nations' International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The ongoing theme of Harmony Week is ‘everyone belongs’. Harmony Week is a time of cultural respect for all. By participating in Harmony Week activities, we can learn and understand how all Australians equally belong to this nation and enrich it.
Wear orange
The following excerpt is taken from the Harmony Week website.
Orange is the colour chosen to represent Harmony Week. Traditionally, orange signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. Australians can choose to wear something orange during Harmony Week to show their support for cultural diversity and an inclusive Australia.
How schools can be involved
Whole school initiatives
P–2
- Explore the online Calendar for cultural diversity with your class.
- Visit the Australian Government Harmony Week for schools website for a collection of lesson ideas, lesson plans and student activities organised by level of schooling and subject area and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
- Enter a poster, song writing or short film competition with Moving Forward Together. The theme for the 2024 competitions is ‘Harmony - what can we do?’ and the deadline is 12 April. Entry is free and financial prizes are awarded at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House.
- Discover different lesson ideas to help develop intercultural understanding and combat prejudice in schools from Racism. No Way!
3–6
- Explore the online Calendar for cultural diversity with your class.
- Visit the Australian Government Harmony Week for schools website for a collection of lesson ideas, lesson plans and student activities organised by level of schooling and subject area and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
- Enter a poster, song writing or short film competition with Moving Forward Together. The theme for the 2024 competitions is ‘Harmony - what can we do?’ and the deadline is 12 April. Entry is free and financial prizes are awarded at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House.
- Discover different strategies to develop intercultural understanding and combat racism in schools from Racism. No Way!
7–12
- Explore the online Calendar for cultural diversity with your class.
- Visit the Australian Government Harmony Week for schools website for a collection of lesson ideas, lesson plans and student activities organised by level of schooling and subject area and aligned to the Australian Curriculum.
- Respond to poetry or write a spoken word poem that reflects Australia’s cultural diversity and submit to SBS Face up to Racism (Years 9–10).
- Enter a poster, song writing or short film competition with Moving Forward Together. The theme for the 2024 competitions is ‘Harmony - what can we do?’ and the deadline is 12 April. Entry is free and financial prizes are awarded at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House.
- Discover different strategies to develop intercultural understanding and combat racism in schools from Racism. No Way!
