Harmony Week Across Our Centres

Harmony Week is a celebration that recognises Australia’s diversity. It promotes inclusiveness, respect and belonging for everyone*. At The Salvation Army, recognising that God is already at work in the world, one of our values is diversity and championing our differences. Across our Aged Care Centres, many of our employees are from culturally diverse backgrounds and, therefore, we will be acknowledging Harmony Day on 21 March this year.  

Pratima, originally from Nepal, works as a Care Service Employee (“CSE”) at Weeroona Aged Care Centre (“Weeroona”) and enjoys her work with older Australians. “I love them,” she says. “They remind me of my grandparents back home.” Pratima notes that whilst she misses Nepal, working in Aged Care has made her more connected to her culture, particularly as her Centre celebrates cultural diversity. “Every month we have a cultural celebration,” says Pratima. Among the employees, potluck lunches are also popular at Weeroona and employees enjoy bringing a dish from their country. “I bring dumplings,” she says. “They are the best thing. The filling is great. It can be meat or vegetarian. The Nepalese dumpling is a good one.”  

Pratima reiterates the value of Harmony Day. "It's important to celebrate Harmony Day because we have to live in a harmonious way.” For Pratima personally, Weeroona’s 2022 celebration was filled with much joy. “I really felt so happy on that day and the elderly people got to learn something new. Introducing your culture to other people and representing your country – I think that’s the best part.”  

Meanwhile, at Maybanke Aged Care Centre, (“Maybanke”) employees also feel supported to express their cultural diversity. Another CSE, Lee, who is from Tonga, reiterates that her Centre encourages its employees to be proud of their culture. “Management staff make us wear our cultural clothing or cook a plate from what you cook back home,” Lee says and she tells that food helps her stay connected to her culture. “We cook pig, pork on a spit; we cook taro with milk and coconut cream. We also cook dumplings with a caramel sauce.” On cultural days at Maybanke, however, Lee brings in a traditional seafood salad. “It’s crab meat with spinach leaves and cucumber and tomatoes,” she explains.  

Maybanke employee Pala is Samoan and also feels empowered to embrace her culture at Maybanke, likening the team to that of a family. “It’s like a homely sort of environment in here.” When asked if she feels supported to embrace and celebrate her culture at work, Pala reaffirms, “yes, very much so.” Maybanke’s Admin Assistant Shu Li also affirms that Maybanke champions diversity. “We have a culture day and people of all different cultures come together. The residents love how we present and share our culture.”

It seems Shu’s Chinese cooking also proves a hit, she says with a chuckle. “Sometimes, I make dumplings and sometimes I make fried rice; the people love it. They say can you make the fried rice?” Maybanke’s Lifestyle Coordinator Yogi, concludes the interview by noting that each year the Centre normally does a morning tea and this year is no different, with Yogi already in discussion with the kitchen regarding catering for the event! For Yogi personally, Harmony Day reminds her of the cross-cultural friendships she has formed in her Centre. “Harmony Day means friendship,” she says. “We are all friends in here. Our site is like a big, happy family.”   

Source: https://www.harmony.gov.au/