This year’s Harmony Week theme “everyone belongs” came to life across our Schools, as students, staff and families celebrated our rich cultural diversity.
Our schools educate around 21,000 students across the region. More than 1,600 of them identify as having a language background other than English, with many bringing the stories, traditions and languages of their families into the classroom.
Around 865 students currently receive extra support for English because it is an additional language or dialect (EALD) for them. More than 1,200 students proudly identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, an important reminder of the deep and continuing cultures that shape our region.
Among our students with nationalities outside Australia, the largest groups include families with Indian heritage (nearly 36 per cent), followed by those from the Philippines and New Zealand. We are also fortunate to welcome growing communities of families with connections to Nepal, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
These figures show that our classrooms are places where cultures come together, friendships grow across differences, and young people learn that diversity strengthens the whole community.
To celebrate Harmony Week, students at St John’s Primary School at Lambton explored Aboriginal culture through ochre and gathered in a yarning circle, while also experiencing Indian dance, henna art and percussion.
St John’s Year 6 school leaders William Brown, Eddie Larrigo, Marni Agland and Lily Daly reflected on what the week meant to them.
“We learnt a lot,” Marni said. “Everyone has come together and we all belong. Harmony Week is important so the other countries and the diversity gets recognised.”
William’s mum is from Malaysia and his dad is from England. “It’s very fun celebrating other people’s traditions,” he said. “More than 25 per cent of people here at St John’s come from different countries.”
“We have 18 different language groups,” Eddie added. “We can learn how different cultures live their lives every day.”
Eddie is a proud Worimi student. “We talked about ochre and how all Indigenous groups live their lives. In the library, we were learning how to identify different languages, and we played a language game.”
Lily said she loves being in a school with so much diversity. “We can learn about different cultures and different traditions, and all our friends will teach us different foods, different celebrations and traditions,” she said. “It makes everyone feel like they belong and are not left out.”
St John’s students in traditional dress
Year 4 student Mystica Rayappan wore her bright pink traditional South Indian outfit to school. “We get to do henna, and I like the Indian dancing and the bindis,” she said.
Year 5 student Eniola Akinade reflected on his Nigerian heritage. “I’m wearing a traditional gown with blue and orange scribbles which show the land and where we come from. I like Harmony Day because we can share our culture and everything we do in our homes,” said Eniola.
At St Patrick’s Primary School, Lochinvar, students welcomed Malayalam-speaking author Sandhya Parappukkaran, whose books reflect the experiences of immigrant children in Australia.
Author Sandhya Parappukkaran speaking to the students at St Patrick’s Primary School
With Malayalam now the school’s fastest-growing language group, her visit strengthened connection and inspired students and families. The celebration continued with an afternoon tea for EALD families.
Rosary Park Catholic School, Branxton, marked Harmony Week with a special liturgy. Students were part of a choir performance, helped set the sacred space and participated in prayers with responses in students’ first languages. Families were then invited into classrooms before sharing lunch and enjoying cultural games together.
Rosary Park students celebrating Harmony Week
At St Brigid’s Primary School, Raymond Terrace, students took on the role of reporters for the “Harmony Week Heroes News Desk.” Year 6 students interviewed members of the community during morning assemblies, bringing cultural stories to life. Interviewees included a Filipino teacher whose daughters performed traditional dances, an Estonian parent, Maltese families and a former school parent from Spain.
Caption: Student reporters on the “Harmony Week Heroes News Desk” at St Brigid’s
In Catholic schools, Harmony Week is not just marked for a few days each year. It is reflected daily in classrooms where diversity is embraced, dignity is upheld and every young person is reminded that they truly belong.
Everyone belongs at Rosary Park Catholic School
