Students and staff kicked off term one on a positive note by celebrating Harmony Day as part of the Living in Harmony initiative administered by Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA).

This initiative, which takes place on March 21 each year, aims at addressing issues of racism by celebrating our cultural diversity and universal values.

CQU’s Sydney International Campus provided an ideal backdrop for promoting Harmony Day amidst the variety of international students and staff who all proudly took part.

Both postgraduate and undergraduate campuses were decorated with posters and flyers promoting the event in addition to staff handing out orange ribbons and orange iced donuts all while being adorned in orange clothing which is the official Harmony Day colour.

The postgraduate campus was abuzz with students and staff headed by CQU Sydney Campus Director Barbara Abou-Lehaf, while the undergraduate campus had the foyer crammed with students and staff including Associate Director, Administration Susan Loomes.

Student Advisers, Christopher Lawrence and Meagan Johnson, made sure there were plenty of donuts to go around, but at the same time supported the initiative in getting the message across to students.

Ms Johnson described the initiative as a “good opportunity to celebrate unity and diversity”, a theme which is very important particularly in an international education environment where students from over 70 different countries and nationalities, who speak more than 200 languages, come together.

CQU believes the success behind Harmony Day comes from the common commitment we all share as students, staff or academics. Keeping in line with the initiative, taking a stance against any form of intolerance, racism or prejudice is a challenge to all Australians which can and will work through living in harmony.