Decoration Contact us

Navitas students harmonise to the beat of a drum

By Fiona West | March 26, 2021

Harmony Week concludes today (March 15-21). But as schools, community groups and workplaces across Australia pack away their decorations for another year, Navitas English is stepping up activities, including a cross-college, cross-cultural youth event with at Cabravale Memorial Park, Cabramatta, next Thursday (March 25).
 
For Navitas English students and staff, celebrating cultural diversity and the contribution our clients make to the Australian community is a natural daily occurrence. That’s why we are celebrating “Harmony Month”.

Along with a range of activities at our South West Sydney colleges (see below), the highlight will be a half-day youth celebration at Cabravale Memorial Park, Cabramatta, for students from Fairfield and Liverpool. In the first collaborative activity since COVID-19 disruptions, about 30 students will be joined by staff from STARTTS, who will run drumming and self-defence workshops.
 
STARTTS (Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors) provides culturally relevant psychological treatment and support for people affected by torture and refugee trauma. 
 
The event, from 10am to 2pm, will also include conversation practice, fun social games, and a “Clean Up” activity, to allow students to give back to their community by picking up rubbish around the park.
 
Navitas English is Australia’s leading provider of English language, digital and workplace skills to newly arrived Australians, or those who  have been in Australia for many years and want to improve their skills. Navitas works with hundreds of migrants and refugees from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, supporting them to learn English and develop digital and workplace skills to confidently attain employment, further education, volunteer positions, learn life skills and become part of their local community in many ways.

“Harmony Week has been a wonderful opportunity for people everywhere to appreciate Australia’s multiculturalism, based on the successful integration of migrants into our community, and an acknowledgement of the valuable contribution each and every one of us can make,” says Navitas English’s General Manager, Jetinder Macfarlane.

 “At Navitas English we have proudly been part of the integration process for more than 20 years, working with migrants, refugees, government and the wider community to provide genuine support and opportunities that change lives and reinforce the true character of our nation. Harmony Week’s messages of inclusiveness, respect and belonging go well beyond the week-long celebration at Navitas English. It is lived by us, every day.”

Navitas English welcomes people from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, including African, Arabic-speaking nations, Chinese, Indian, Korean and Vietnamese.

During “Harmony Month” students at colleges in Auburn, Bankstown, Cabramatta, Fairfield, Liverpool and Parramatta are engaging in a range of activities, including:

  • Traditional costume parades;
  • Traditional food sharing;
  • Harmony Week-themed posters and craft competitions;
  • Vlogging exercises on “What Harmony Week means to me”; and
  • Cross-campus story sharing on personal experiences relating to settlement.

Notice: On 1 December 2021, Navitas English changed its name to Navitas Skilled Futures. This name change reflects our programs, the focus of our work, and our positive impact on the people we serve. Find out more here.

Tags

aaron caulfield adult migrant english program Afghanistan amep Award bankstown Basim Shamaon Cabramatta canberra career transition assistance Chen Zhao childcare Citizenship COVID-19 CTA Employment EST Event Expo Fairfield FSFYF Harmony Health japan jobseekers Liverpool Marcella Aguilar mental health Navitas Bankstown NSW Own Your Story Premier's Award PtW Refugee refugees Refugee Week SEE Short course SSI STARTTS student success sydney Volunteer VTS Youth

Recent posts

Share this article

Tags