Media Release by Senator the Hon Concetta Fierravanti-Wells

Learning the lessons of Harmony Day through sport

Joint Media Release with:

  • Russell Matheson MP
    Member for Macarthur

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services and Mr Russell Matheson MP today attended Briar Road Public School in Campbelltown with former Socceroo Craig Foster to celebrate the release of the Harmony Games Schools Pack.

Briar Road Public School is one of the 7,900 Australian primary schools distributed with the Harmony Games Schools Pack, a resource for teachers to educate and encourage students and take ideas about diversity and cultural identity from the football field to the classroom and into the wider community.

“In March, the Australian Government, in partnership with SBS and Football Federation Australia, announced a one-off investment to deliver the programme as a Harmony Day initiative,” said Senator Fierravanti-Wells, who has special responsibility for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services.

“The Harmony Day Schools Park provides an opportunity to strengthen the spirit of Harmony Day, every day. The release of the Pack with its football themed activities is particularly timely as our Socceroos head to Brazil to represent Australia in the FIFA World Cup.

“Like the World Cup we represent the diversity of nations in Australia. A total of 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia since 1945 and today around 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have a parent who was born overseas.”

Macarthur MP Russell Matheson congratulated SBS and the Football Federation of Australia for developing this resource with funding from the Australian Government.

“Harmony Day has always been a very special day for many schools and community groups in Macarthur. It is a day where we come together to celebrate all of the wonderful cultural backgrounds of our residents who make this community the best place to live in Australia,” said Mr Matheson.

“I am sure these packs will complement the programs our teachers are already running at Briar Road, to support harmony between cultures and celebrate the multicultural society we live in,” he added.

For more information, visit the Harmony Day website at www.harmony.gov.au/schools