Harmony Day: Diversity, Inclusion and Respect Strengthen Communities
- Shane Warren
- Mar 18
- 2 min read
MEDIA RLEASE / AWARENESS STATEMENT
For Immediate Release
21 March 2026
As Australia marks Harmony Week, with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination observed on 21 March, the Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association of Australia (VMHPAA) is encouraging communities to celebrate diversity while renewing their commitment to inclusion, respect, belonging, and action against racism. Harmony Week 2026 runs from 16 to 22 March, and the Australian Government describes it as a time to recognise Australia’s diversity and promote inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
VMHPAA believes days such as these matter because healthy communities are built not only on celebration, but also on a clear refusal to accept racism, exclusion, or discrimination in any form. Recognising cultural diversity and standing against racial discrimination are both essential to community wellbeing and social cohesion.
Shane Warren, Chair of VMHPAA, said diversity is one of the great strengths of modern Australia and should be protected, honoured, and actively embraced.
“Harmony Day is an opportunity to celebrate the richness that different cultures, backgrounds, stories, and identities bring to our communities,” Mr Warren said. “Every person adds something valuable to the social fabric of our society, and when people feel respected, included, and safe to belong, communities become stronger, healthier, and more connected.”
Mr Warren said the observance should also be a reminder that harmony cannot exist without a willingness to confront racism and exclusion wherever they appear.
“Celebration is important, but so is courage,” he said. “If we are serious about harmony, then we must also be serious about eliminating racial discrimination. Inclusion is not just a sentiment it is something we practise in our schools, workplaces, services, neighbourhoods, and public life.”
VMHPAA notes that racism can have a significant impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing, affecting people’s sense of safety, identity, confidence, and belonging. Creating inclusive communities where diversity is genuinely valued is therefore not only a social goal, but also an important part of supporting mental wellbeing.
“The beauty of diversity is not simply that we are different,” Mr Warren said. “It is that we learn from one another, grow through one another, and become more compassionate and capable communities because of one another. That is something worth protecting.”
On this Harmony Day, VMHPAA encourages individuals, families, schools, workplaces, and community leaders to stand together against racism, celebrate cultural diversity, and continue building communities where everyone has the opportunity to belong.
Media Contact:
Shane Warren, Chair
Susan Sandy, Secretary
Philip Armstrong, CEO
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