Celebrating Differences
Everyone Belongs
Let's first consider cultural diversity....
Our cultural heritage or background is one way we are all diverse. By cultural heritage and background we mean the country you were born, your parents were born, your grandparents were born and so on. Another word for this is 'ancestry'.
Australia is a culturally diverse country. Our cultural diversity is celebrated every year on Harmony Day.
The message of Harmony Day is Everyone Belongs. It is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home - from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world.
Did you know that:
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Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have lived in Australia for thousands of years, most of Australia's population is made up of people whose families only arrived in the country within the last 200 years.
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Today, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up only 2.5% of the Australian population (that 2 to 3 out of every 100 people).
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Almost half of all the people who call Australia home (44 out of every 100 people) were born overseas, or have one or both parents born overseas.
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Australians speak more than 260 languages, including Indigenous languages, and identify with more than 270 ancestries.
Watch the video of Australian children talking about their cultural heritage.
Excerpts of text taken from For Teachers For Students Themed Curriculum Support Resources - Refer to credits page
