During Harmony Week in Australia, Chung Wah Community Care (CWCC) brought people together through a lively series of events held at various locations. Cultural performances, shared meals, and friendly conversations helped everyone experience the spirit of diversity, inclusion, and respect.
Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and helps people from all backgrounds connect. Since more than half of Australians (51.5%) were born overseas or have a parent who was, values like inclusion, respect, and belonging are especially important.
At the Willetton Community Hub, the celebration focused on the colour orange, which stands for harmony. People wore orange clothes, and the decorations matched. One senior knitted orange hats during the event, showing connection and creativity. Another participant, Kwee Yew, made traditional Malaysian cakes to share, bringing warmth and a sense of home to everyone.
At the same time, the Balcatta Community Hub was just as festive, with performances and food-sharing that showed how cultures blend. Seniors brought dishes from their backgrounds and shared the stories behind them. The Filipino group set up a buffet of homemade food, while the Vietnamese group offered treats like taro cake, “daughter cakes”, Thai-style layered desserts, Vietnamese peanut biscuits, papaya chicken salad, and sticky rice. As everyone tried these different foods, people talked and formed new connections.
On the day of the event, CWCC CEO Theresa Kwok JP and Board Chair Esther Chang attended and spoke to everyone. They pointed out that although community members come from many parts of the world, meeting together in Australia, in the same city and community, is something special. This diversity brings energy and warmth to CWCC. They encouraged everyone to accept differences, value diversity, and build stronger connections through understanding and respect.
The celebrations went on with upbeat performances. The Qingya Xuan volunteer dance group performed with grace, and the Vietnamese fitness group got everyone moving with upbeat routines. At the end, everyone danced together, filling the room with joy and a sense of unity.
In today’s multicultural Australia, CWCC continues to put the values of Harmony Week into practice. By offering community services and supporting seniors, CWCC brings inclusion, diversity, and connection into daily life. This helps everyone feel they belong and supports a more harmonious society.
