By Aaron Cordy
HARMONY Day celebrations around the region have showcased the wonderful diversity of Greater Shepparton. HD is a reminder that despite differences in backgrounds, colour and beliefs, there is much more that binds us together when we let go of superficial differences.
GOTAFE in conjunction with the Ethnic Council (EC) held a HD plan discussion on Thursday, April 3. This year’s theme, Embrace the Journey, Shape Our Future. Hosted EC Board Member Kimberley Chu, with panellists WIN News Journalist Seja Al-Zaidi, former GOTAFE English student Jamal Atmanzai, Mayor of Greater Shepparton Cr Shane Sali and Domestic Violence Survivor and Advocate Lytfiye Fadime Kavci.
Embracing new and different cultures is important for new arrivals and long-established Australians, but understanding language barriers is still the biggest challenge faced, which can cause misunderstandings for people.
“Because my family came from overseas, the biggest barrier and challenge that they have is of course, the language barrier,” said Lutfiye.
“I always remember growing up, my parents taking me everywhere to translate for them, and same with the aunties in our community sometimes taking me along to their appointments or whatever to translate for them.
“I feel like they still struggle with learning English because they are grown up, they had other priorities to do, like raising their children.”
It is those challenges that had Cr Sali reflect on the October ’22 floods when he was asked what council was doing for the multicultural community.
“I remember specifically saying, ‘Well, what are you going to do to help us? How are you going to help us deliver a message to your community that perhaps you can speak in your home language and translate for us,'” said Cr Sali.
“Because nothing is possible to build social cohesion unless you try and do it together. There is not one organization that can do it, that can support all forms of multiculturalism and all forms of language barriers that we have in our community.”
While challenges will always remain, embracing differences and sharing stories, ideas and the wonderful food of many cultures.
