Harmony Day was celebrated on March 21 and coincided with the United Nations International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Harmony Day was part of the Australian Government’s Living in Harmony initiative and the message for Harmony Day was YOU + ME = US.

Students at CQU Sydney International Campus were greeted with a free donut lavishly covered in orange icing and presented with orange ribbons to wear. They were also encouraged to wear orange items of clothing or their national costume for the day.

A performance from the Brazilian Capoeira acrobatic dancers was held as well as a drum and martial arts display for the enjoyment of all students and staff. The energetic dancers encouraged the crowd to join in with the performance.

Carina Carmody - Retention Manager at the Sydney International Campus who organised the events of the day - said many students came to Australia to experience a different way of life.

"Our campus in Sydney has such a diverse range of cultures, that students are able to meet in an environment where the mixing and experiencing of different cultures is encouraged. We have students from more than 70 different countries at the Sydney Campus.

"If that isn’t an opportunity to show how many cultures can meet, make friends and work harmoniously together towards a common goal, I don’t know what better example there can be," she said.

"The day was well received by the students and it is important to support a day that promotes multiculturalism on an International Campus such as ours, as education plays a major role in Harmony between cultures. I hope that is what everyone got out of today’s celebrations," Ms Carmody said.

Harmony Day provides an opportunity for us to celebrate our successes as a culturally diverse society, re-commit ourselves to harmony and say “no” to racism.

Photo (left): Sydney Campus Director Barbara Abou-lehaf with Capoeira Dancers who featured on the day.

Photo (above): Barabar Abou-lehaf, Ewa Klimaszewska (student), Hieu Tran (student), Retention Manager Carina Carmody and M. Mehedi Reza (Student).