August 19, 2024
Multicultural is who we collectively are – the term includes everybody. Multiculturalism is a recognition that cultural diversity is as important to human wellbeing as biodiversity is to environmental wellbeing. The government’s recent Multicultural Framework Review is a huge opportunity for Australians to shape WHO WE ARE and WHERE WE ARE GOING. In this newsletter we preview our response to the Multicultural Framework Review and share other recent and forthcoming contributions to the practice and theory of multiculturalism. Plus we continue our fantastic offer of 3 months’ free educational resources from our Learning Lands platform when you book a program with us. But first…She Got Game.
Table of Contents
She Got Game
Is there anyone left in the world who hasn’t heard of Raygun? Her performance at the Olympics has propelled breaking into the global spotlight like never before. Everyone’s talking about it! On that note, we’re excited to share that Cultural Infusion has staged hip hop events, workshops and festivals throughout Australia since 2009, including the renowned National Freestyle Competition, drawing international artists and judges. ‘She Got Game’ was tailored especially for girls. Beyond just entertainment, these events have served as a platform to celebrate the diversity and creativity inherent in hip hop culture, while actively working to dismantle the stereotypes and stigma often associated with it.
Cultural Infusion remains passionately engaged in delivering hip hop programs to schools across the country. These programs educate students about the rich history and global influence of hip hop and empower them by promoting self-expression, confidence, and cultural understanding.
We invite you to watch these videos showcasing our work, including the National Freestyle Events at Federation Square, which featured a range of workshops in MCing, krumping, locking, breakdancing, and beatboxing with participants ranging in age from 2 to 80. These gatherings were a vibrant space for people of all backgrounds to come together, learn, and share their love for hip hop.
Beat the rush, book Hip-Hop Infusion (Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland), Multicultural Moves (Victoria) and/or Hip Hop Lyric Writing (South Australia) for your group today and make sure our next dancers are best prepared for when breaking returns to the Olympics.
Australia’s 2024 Multicultural Framework Review
As one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations, Australia has more to gain or lose from its diversity than most. At best, we are a multicultural society where innovation thrives and mutual curiosity and respect is the norm. At worst, we are fearful, insular, judgmental of each other and torn by internal conflict. The stakes could not be much higher.
Australia’s 2024 Multicultural Framework Review (MFR) was initiated in recognition of the importance of managing diversity. On 2 June 2023 Andrew Giles, the minister leading the review, delivered a brilliant and honest launch speech, saying ‘Well-managed diversity leads to social cohesion.’
On 24 July 2024, the Australian government released the 202-page MFR, ‘Towards Fairness – a multicultural Australia for all’ as a ‘generational reform agenda’ ‘that will position Australia to realise its full potential as a nation made up of many cultures, faiths and lived experiences.’
Does the MFR position Australia to realise its full potential? Keep your eyes open for a fuller response from our Founder and CEO Peter Mousaferiadis, who says the Multicultural Framework needs a stronger foundation.
Events and Appearances
IMAGINE: Nonprofit Event
IMAGINE: Non-Profit, presented by Amazon Web Services (AWS), came to Melbourne on 14 August, with events in Sydney and Brisbane the following week. This in-person event brings together nonprofit leaders, purpose-driven technologists and social enterprise innovators to explore how technology can drive positive change in the world.
Our Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Rezza Moieni took part in a lightning talk alongside Dr Kristen Moeller-Saxone, Data Catalyst Network Lead at Infoxchange, and Dr Andrew Bivard, CTO of The Australian Stroke Alliance to discuss ‘Leading Your Organisation with a Strong Data Foundation’.
Diversity & Inclusion Summit 2024: When Awareness Meets Action
Peter Mousaferiadis is presenting the importance of a data-driven approach to inclusion and diversity in Perth on 23 August. Once organisations discover their rich cultural diversity through data they can become more inclusive and perform better.
Diversity Atlas is proud to be a part of the Diversity and Inclusion Summit 2024.
Association of Music Educators (VIC) Inc (aMuse) F-10 Conference 2024
Join us at the aMuse Conference on Sunday 25 August, where we will host a stall, Demetrius will be giving a workshop for Opa! Greek Dance, and Culture and Music of the Andes will help kick off the proceedings.
Sietar Australasia 2024 Virtual Conference
Peter Mousaferiadis has participated in a few Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research (SIETAR) conferences over the years and invites everyone to explore the question ‘Multiculture: What Does It Mean for You?’ with him and many others on 21 and 22 September 2024.
Don’t miss out on this global event!
Seventeenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum
Our Marketing Coordinator Marios Chatzidamianos is presenting Diversity Atlas at the Seventeenth International Conference on the Inclusive Museum taking place from 13 to 15 September in Vienna.
Join the Inclusion Revolution!
Did you know Diversity Atlas is piloting a ‘Catalyst for Peace’ project with the Johannesburg Holocaust & Genocide Centre?
Diversity Atlas is an amazingly versatile tool. We invite you to join the inclusion revolution and book a demo for your institution or organisation today.
Multicultural All-Days
Courtenay Gardens Primary School celebrated cultural diversity with two Multicultural All-Day Incursions on 31 July and 1 August, including workshops for Aboriginal Infusion, Opa!, Bollywood Infusion, Chinese Drumming and Mime Magnifique. There was also a multicultural parade. This is how you do it! (Create cultural harmony in your community.)
Social cohesion is work of painstaking care with an eye to sustainable outcomes. It requires immense dedication. Australia’s owes its relative cohesiveness to many tireless workers on the ground and organisations like Courtenay Gardens Primary School who promote the conditions for cultural diversity to thrive.
Testimonials
Colour My World Children’s Centre in West Ryde embraced First Nations Barkindji Educator Djarrin’s new touring program for New South Wales, offering this response: ‘The children really enjoyed dancing around to Djarrin (pictured above left) playing different animal sounds on the didgeridoo.’
Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Primary School, Sunshine, shared this feedback with us: ‘Aunty Mon engaged with the student’s brilliantly! When she did the acknowledgment of country she really explained so much about the Indigenous groups in our area. She was full of joy and energy and the kids and all us staff adored her!! We are grateful to have her visit and perform for us! 10/10’
We also received lovely feedback from Nino Early Learning Adventures, Elsternwick on our Bastille Day Exclusive With Chris (above right): ‘Very engaging with not only the children but the educators also. Was able to flow with children’s demands if a child got up to join when not needed. Energy was fantastic and the incursion overall was wonderful.’
Calendar Spotlight: Chuseok and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, 17
September
Chuseok, also known as Hangawi, is a traditional Korean harvest festival. Cultural Infusion offers Korean Classical Dance in Victoria and New South Wales. You could book this on its own or combine it with some of our immersive Chinese cultural programs for a joint celebration. The Moon Festival is one of the most important traditional festivals observed in China.
Our offerings to help celebrate this day include Chinese Lion Dance, Chinese Martial Arts, Chinese Calligraphy & Brush Ink Painting, Chinese Classical Dance, Chinese Classical Music, Chinese Drumming, Chinese Face Painting or Chinese Culture for a Day.
Special Offers
Remember that booking a program with us entitles you to 3 months’ free educational resources from our Learning Lands platform comprising 6 innovative resources including lesson plans, internationally award-winning apps, games and activities to support and encourage intercultural competence.
As a proud partner of fka Children’s Services (fkaCS), Cultural Infusion is also pleased to offer the following benefits to fkaCS members:
- 6 months’ free access to Cultural Infusion’s Learning Lands platform upon booking any program with us.
- An additional 10% discount when you book any of the following 5 pre-primary programs:
To activate these offers, contact us quoting your membership number:
Website: https://education.culturalinfusion.org.au/
Phone: 03 9412 6666
Email: [email protected]
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