What is Harmony Week?
Harmony Week is an initiative led by the Department of Home Affairs. It was originally established as Harmony Day on March 21, 1999, to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity. Harmony Day transformed into Harmony Week in 2019 to encourage a longer celebration.
Australia is one of the world’s most successful multicultural societies. Home to the world’s oldest continuing culture and more than 300 different migrant ancestries, Australia’s diversity is truly something to be celebrated.
Snapshot of Australia’s multiculturalism
The 2021 census reports:
More than half (51.5 per cent) of Australian residents were born overseas or have at least one parent who was.
More than 5.5 million people speak a language other than English at home. The most commonly spoken languages other than English are (1) Mandarin, (2) Arabic, (3) Vietnamese, (4) Cantonese and (5) Punjabi.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population grew to 812,728 people (3.2% of Australians), an increase of 25% since 2016.
Over 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia
Harmony Weeks falls on Monday 17 – Sunday 23 March 2025. This week brings together Australians from all backgrounds to celebrate our rich diversity. It’s about building a sense of unity, inclusiveness, respect, and a sense of belonging for all. Harmony Week highlights the power of diversity and fosters an environment where all Australians feel welcomed and valued.
Harmony week coincides with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD), on Friday 21st of March. IDERD encourages our global community to take part in difficult conversations and take actional against racial discrimination.
Why is orange the colour for Harmony Week?
The colour orange symbolises social communication, meaningful conversations and respect.
As a week dedicated to recognising and embracing multiculturalism, and the orange colour serves as a visual reminder of the importance of respect, inclusivity, and connection among people from different backgrounds.
Why Harmony Week is Important to Us
Here at 2M, Harmony Week holds special significance.
As Australia’s leading language technology and language service provider, we are passionate advocates for language equity and access. We recognise that language is a powerful tool for connection and communication between cultures. Through our interpreting, translation and localisation services, we work to bridge language barriers, bringing improved access to essential health, legal, emergency and community services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) Australians.
Furthermore, 2M is proud to have a diverse and inclusive team. With team members from China, Chile, Spain, France, Philippines, Greece, Germany, Italy, Australia, Finland, Polish, Colombia and Vietnam, our team is a rich, multicultural tapestry of lived experiences, perspectives, and expertise. We believe that diversity in thought is central to our provision of the highest quality language services, and ongoing innovations. Our strengths lie within our differences, and we are proud to have a diverse team behind us.
What 2M Did to Celebrate Harmony Week
Harmony Week encourages Australians to get involved in the celebrations, whether by wearing something orange or hosting or attending one of many scheduled events. This year at 2M, we hosted a potluck across both our Brisbane and Melbourne offices.
In the spirit of diversity and belonging, team members were invited to bring a dish from their own cultural background, contributing to a shared meal that reflects the diversity within our teams. Food, after all, is a universal language that ignites conversation and fosters a sense of connectedness. The act of sharing a meal is an opportunity to learn more about each other and celebrate our diverse backgrounds.
We extended the invitation to our friends and peers within our office spaces, encouraging them to join us in the celebration. Together, we not only shared delicious food but also the significance of each dish and stories from our respective cultures. Whether it was tired to family traditions, personal memories, or cultural celebration, everyone left with a deeper understanding and richer appreciation of our diverse team.
The potluck also provided a space for open dialogue about the importance of Harmony Week and the values of inclusion and belonging that we hold dear at 2M. We discussed how fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within our teams is key to creating a positive and productive workplace. It was a great opportunity to connect with one another, reflect on the significance of cultural diversity, and strengthen the bonds within our teams and communities.
To capture the spirit of the event, the team created a video showcasing the array of foods shared, along with the significance behind them. Each team member introduced themself and the dish they bought to share.
Learn more about Harmony Week
Visit www.harmony.gov.au to learn more about Harmony Week.
