Wellbeing with Carly

Who is looking forward to our Holi Festival? I know I am! What a wonderful and colourful reminder of the beautiful diverse community that we have at Blackburn Primary School.

Cultural Diversity Week 

The 11th of March to the 21st of March is Cultural Diversity Week. It is a week to promote unity, understanding, mutual respect and harmony among Victoria’s diverse communities. It teaches us that there are social, cultural and economic benefits from living in diverse communities, and encourages people to retain and express their own social identity and cultural inheritance. It also serves to foster a sense of belonging for all. 

The 2023 Cultural Diversity Week theme is Our Past. Our Future: Celebrating and reflecting on the contributions of Victoria's multicultural communities.  

Did you know? 

Cultural Diversity is an integral part of national identity. 

• 49% of Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was 
• Our country shares over 300 different ancestries 
• Since 1945, 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia 
• More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia 

The importance of belonging 

Harmony Day is a part of the week’s festivities, and their theme is “Everyone belongs.” Having a sense of belonging is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. A sense of belonging to a greater community improves motivation, health and happiness. When you make a connection with others you are open to sharing the ups and downs of life with each other. You witness that everyone has their own struggles, and there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone. 

Some tips on how to build a sense of belonging: 

1. Look for ways that you are similar, instead of focusing on the differences. Be optimistic when you are doing this, don’t look for negatives. 
2. Work on your acceptance of others. Acceptance does not mean agreement. You can share different opinions and views, by still placing value on the person and their way of thinking, even if it is different to yours.   
3. Let go of judgement. Judging other’s actions can often build walls and make it difficult to deepen a relationship. Focus on the person and not, for example, their religion, what they are wearing or what they are eating.  

Australia is a great place to live, it is such a vibrant, multicultural country. During this week I encourage you to reach out and communicate with people from a different culture to you, try and have a meaningful conversation with them. Let’s celebrate how lucky we are to live in a country that celebrates diversity and encourages mutual respect amongst our differences. 

“Never judge someone by the way he looks. Or a book by the way it's covered; For inside those tattered pages, there's a lot to be discovered” ― Stephen Cosgrove 

Carly Cassidy – Chaplain [ carly.cassidy@education.vic.gov.au ] 

Pastoral Care for the BPS Community, available Thursdays and Fridays