By recognising our cultural diversity, we can create a more inclusive and welcoming community that values and respects everyone, regardless of their cultural background.
Cultural diversity
Celebrating cultural diversity
Australia annually celebrates Harmony Week in March. Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australian multiculturalism. It is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of beliefs, ethnicity or background. This year’s Harmony Week theme is Everyone belongs. For more information, visit the Harmony Week website.
In Victoria, Cultural Diversity Week is also celebrated every year in March. This is a time to celebrate the power, influence, and stories of Victoria’s rich multicultural communities. The 2023 theme is Our Past. Our Future: Celebrating and reflecting on the contributions of Victoria's multicultural communities. The theme invites Victorians of all ages and backgrounds to reflect on multicultural Victoria's long history and celebrate its bright future. To learn more about Cultural Diversity Week, visit the Victorian Multicultural Commission.
Geelong is home to Pako Festa, Victoria’s largest free celebration of cultural diversity. Hosted by Cultura, the annual event celebrates and highlights the extraordinary contribution of individuals, cultural groups and multicultural communities in Geelong and across Australia.
Elements of Culture community portraits
In 2021, we partnered with Pako Festa to create the Pako Festa Elements of Culture community portraits and showcase them through digital projections. These portraits feature 30 individuals from different communities within Geelong. The individuals are proudly dressed in their traditional cultural costumes and tell their unique experiences and stories of their culture and life. The portraits are documented here as a digital gallery.
Photographs kindly provided by Pako Festa 2021
Photo credit: Chrissie Francis
Representing the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners 
Representing the Dutch Community of Geelong 
Representing the Croatian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Chinese Community of Geelong 
Representing the Hazara Community of Geelong 
Representing the Greek Community of Geelong 
Representing the Filipino Community of Geelong 
Representing the Fijian Community of Geelong 
Representing the French/ Moroccan Community of Geelong 
Representing the Japanese Community of Geelong 
Representing the Karenni Community of Geelong 
Representing the Indonesian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Italian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Iranian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Maori Community of Geelong 
Representing the Nepali Community of Geelong 
Representing the Lithuanian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Macedonian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Lao-Thai Community of Geelong 
Representing the Ukrainian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Syriac Community of Geelong 
Representing the Spanish Community of Geelong 
Representing the Slovenian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Serbian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Scottish Community of Geelong 
Representing the Russian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Punjabi Community of Geelong 
Representing the Nigerian Community of Geelong 
Representing the Polish Community of Geelong
Click on an image to view details and enlarge
March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
As we celebrate our cultural diversity, we also invite the community to reflect on how we can support and advocate for multicultural communities. March 21 is annually recognised as the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC) has created a Reducing Racism Hub to help people understand and combat racism.
Regardless of where you’re from, what you look like, what you believe or what language you speak, no one should have to endure racism in the place they call home. If you have experienced racism or discrimination of any kind, you can report this to the VEOHRC.
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