October 28, 2024
An interplay of light and dark, shadows can also represent hidden or unacknowledged aspects of our selves and societies. No wonder shadows have inspired artists across the world and time – perhaps most famously in Indonesia.
Master Storyteller Pak Sumardi is returning to Australia to present Indonesia’s renowned Wayang Kulit puppet theatre to schools, early childhood and community centres around Australia. Details for this rare opportunity and other interactive programs can also be found in our new cultural education brochures.
Our world-first holistic diversity data tool Diversity Atlas brings to light aspects of identity that are usually hidden, making it the most effective and ethical tool available to assist intercultural understanding among groups of people. For people who want to deepen their engagement with Diversity Atlas’s everyone-included-no-one-left-behind ethos and practice, we are convening a network of people in a new membership program. Our team are busy as usual participating in conferences and symposiums around the world, we look ahead to the light of Diwali and our special offers continue.
Table of Contents
Dalang Sumardi Returns
We’re happy and proud to announce Master Storyteller Pak Sumardi is returning to Australia to present Wayang Kulit puppet theatre and insights into Indonesian culture and this renowned ancient storytelling form to schools, preschools and community groups.
Originally from Sragen Regency in Central Java, Sumardi was just eleven years old when he began his nine years of study to become a Dalang (Master Storyteller), which involves training in many different arts. Sumardi controls the voices of more than twenty different Wayang Kulit characters, moves them expertly and plays the accompanying Gamelan percussion with his feet – all at the same time.
Theatrical storytelling brings to life the ancestral spirits said to dwell inside the Wayang Kulits. The climatic scenes are based on Hindu epics, such as the Ramayana Cycle, adapted expertly into English and tailored for a school setting.
Audiences are given an opportunity to watch Pak Sumardi perform from both sides of the screen to experience the magic of the show, as well as learn some skills and techniques.
“Cultural Infusion gives me a chance to introduce Indonesian culture to the students of Australia and help them understand and appreciate their neighbouring country. Over the past few years, I have combined Wayang Kulit (shadow puppets), Wayang Golek (wooden puppets), Wayang Kancil (animal puppets), Tari Kidang (deer dance) and Gamelan music to engage Australian audiences with the deep traditions and legends of Indonesia.”Pak Sumardi, 2017
Watch Pak Sumardi’s play-full performance to his delighted audience.
Pak Sumardi and Alan Harris’s Extraordinary Meeting in the Desert
Watch this video from 2017 where Western Creation’s Alan Harris and Pak Sumardi tell the story of how they bumped into each other at Eucla in the middle of the desert!
Australia’s 2024 Multicultural Framework Review: Follow the Debate
Did you see the response to the Australian government’s commissioned review of the Multicultural Framework from our Founder and CEO, Peter Mousaferiadis, who writes in the Mandarin that the proposed framework needs a stronger foundation and expands on these ideas in a separate paper? Everyone in Australia has a stake in our cultural diversity and how well managed it is, so please read both and keep the conversation going.
New Brochures
Our 2024/2025 brochures are now available with exciting and excellent programs covering a vast range of cultural traditions and expressions from across the world that provide engaging interactive experiences tailored to any age level. Our programs are sought after by primary and secondary schools (including specialist schools); preschools and early learning centres; youth centres; libraries and councils; shopping centres and strips; arts venues and galleries; corporate events and team-building; churches; holiday and aftercare, including OSHC, OOSH and camps; community groups, such as Scouts, Guides and sports clubs.
Designed to match the Australian Curriculum’s focus on intercultural understanding; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures; and Australia’s engagement with Asia, many of our programs are designed around specific cultural events, such as NAIDOC Week, but others are available throughout the school year and even during the holidays.
Let Diversity Atlas Foster Meaningful Inclusion at Your School
Do you know how many languages the students at your school speak? What about dialects? The religions and worldviews they embrace? How might your community benefit if you had more knowledge of the attributes everyone brings?
Diversity Atlas by Cultural Infusion is the world’s leading diversity analytics tool, underpinned by its vast holistic Global Database of Humanity, which can help schools precisely measure and understand the cultural and demographic diversity within their staff and student bodies.
Adhering to high ethical standards, Diversity Atlas data is 100% voluntarily given, anonymous and disaggregated (meaning you will know if there is someone born in the Philippines, someone who speaks a dialect of Italian, someone who identifies with American culture, someone who is Hindu, someone whose maternal grandfather was born in Kenya and so on, but not even Diversity Atlas knows if all these attributes belong to the same individual). For the third year running, Diversity Atlas has achieved ISO 27001 certification, the international standard for information security management.
Diversity Atlas offers actionable insights to support schools in creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for everyone. We provide teacher resources, including tailored lesson plans, to effectively integrate insights into your school’s curriculum.
Key benefits when you use Diversity Atlas:
- Comprehensive snapshot of your students and staff
- Culturally responsive teaching
- Meaningful representation and inclusion
- Helps address bullying and racism
- Helps create inclusive school events
- Access for teachers to Professional Development with our online DEI courses
Join the Diversity Atlas Global Community Network!
“Emboldened by the results of our world-leading holistic diversity data tool, Diversity Atlas, we have decided it’s time for an intervention – an end to repetitive, expensive, destructive conflicts at every level of our societies, born of ignorance, fear and good intentions gone wrong.
“The Diversity Atlas Global Community Network is open to individuals, academics and organisations of all sizes from all sectors. We call on all who want a more culturally harmonious world to join our endeavour.” Peter Mousaferiadis, October 2024
Sustainable change begins with informed action.
Diversity Atlas has launched a membership program for people who want the right support, ethical tools and fully inclusive community to navigate our complex and rapidly changing world.
Come aboard!
Events and Appearances
Top: Diversity Atlas Business Development and Sales Head Eileen Lim and Tech Lead Abdolnabi Zameni pitching Diversity Atlas at the Digital Gateway to Southeast Asia Business Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, organised by Austrade and Global Victoria; bottom left: Wanah Bumakor presenting at the UNESCO Intercultural Competences Conference in Nairobi; bottom right: Peter Mousaferiadis delivering keynote at the D&I Summit in Perth.
Here are just a few of the many events our Diversity Atlas team are participating in. For the full list and rundown, subscribe to the Diversity Atlas newsletter.
Big Data and AI Trade Mission, 6 to 11 October, Malaysia and Singapore
Diversity Atlas participated in this year’s trade mission to Malaysia and Singapore, organised by Global Victoria and Austrade.
UNESCO Chair on International Competences Conference 2024, Nairobi, Kenya, 14 to 15 October
Transformation Consultant Wanah Bumakor represented Diversity Atlas at this conference.
APACE Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Summit, 16 to 17 October, Malaysia
Diversity Atlas, represented by Chief Experience Officer Michael Walmsley and Busines Development and Sales Head Eileen Lim, partnered with LeadWomen at the first APAC DEI Summit in Malaysia.
DEI Reframe Summit, 4 to 6 November, London, UK
Diversity Atlas is participating in this summit.
WORKTECH24 Los Angeles, 12 November
Diversity Atlas is participating in this summit.
Big Data & AI World London
Finally, Marios Chatzidamianos (pictured above with Kasia) represented Diversity Atlas at Big Data & AI World London. Don’t miss his wonderful presentation!
Calendar Spotlight: Diwali, 28 October to 3 November
Diwali, known by various names, including Deepavali, Dipawali and the Festival of Lights, is an important annual festival and official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. For five days, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and communities from all over the world celebrate Diwali. Renowned for its magnificent, luminous illuminations that bring the community together, this festival is celebrated throughout the world.
At Cultural Infusion, we offer many workshops to understand and learn about Indian and Nepalese cultural traditions in a fun way with the following programs:
• Bollywood Infusion (VIC, QLD, NSW, WA)
• Indian Instrumental Infusion (VIC, QLD)
• Classical Indian Dance (VIC, NSW, SA)
• Rhythm of Nepal (QLD)
Our presenters are fully booked for this year’s Diwali but there may still time to run an event for the UNESCO’s International Day For Tolerance and we have lots of options to pick and choose from. We take bookings for schools, communities and corporate groups!
Special Offers Continue
To thank you for booking a program with us we are continuing to offer 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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