News • 18 Mar 2019

Harmony Week, World Down Syndrome Day, and Close the Gap Day

This week Open Minds is celebrating several important dates on the calendar: Harmony Week, World Down Syndrome Day, and Close the Gap Day. Have a look at events taking place across Queensland and join in the celebrations.

Open Minds is committed to welcoming people from all different backgrounds who work in and access our programs and services. 

Whether you are from a multicultural background, live with Down Syndrome, or are Indigenous, we see it as our responsibility to ensure that every member of our diverse community feels safe, valued, represented and appropriately supported.

What is Harmony Week?

Harmony Week celebrates Australian multiculturalism, and the successful integration of migrants into our community.

Throughout the week, celebrations will be taking place to mark Australia as one of the most successful multicultural countries in the world. 

This year is the 20th anniversary of Harmony Day, and for the first time the event has been renamed Harmony Week to recognise diversity and inclusion activities taking place throughout the week. Harmony Week will include 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Below are the Harmony Week Events taking place near to our offices:

LocationName of EventDate/TimeAddress
BrisbaneHarmony Day Service21st March 2019 – 10am – 12pm373 Ann Street Brisbane QLD
ToowoombaHarmony Day in the city14th March 2019 11am – 2pmCivic Square 155 Herris Street QLD
Townsville – RasmussenBring a Plate Harmony Day Lunch21st March – 23rd March 2019 11am – 12:30pmUpper Ross Community Centre, 1/43 Allambie Lane Rasmussen
LoganA taste of Harmony28th March 2019 9am – 10amHoward Centre Marsden State School 32 Hickory Street QLD
KingstonHarmony Day Sports Showcase21st March 2019 – 3pm – 6pm558 Kingston Road, QLD, 4114

What is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day?

World Down Syndrome Awareness Day is celebrated on 21st March every year all around the world – the date 21/3 signifies three copies of chromosome 21, the most common form of Down Syndrome.

The day is an opportunity to dispel some myths and raise awareness of living with Down Syndrome.

Below is an event taking place to celebrate this day, why not get involved:

LocationName of EventDate/TimeAddress
Brisbane Picnic at the pointThursday 21st March 4pm-7pmKangaroo Point Park, Brisbane, QLD

What is Close the Gap Day?

The national ‘Close the Gap’ campaign has been running for 10 years to raise awareness of the need to close the health and life expectancy gap between Indigenous Australians and non-indigenous Australians.

Indigenous Australians and Torres Strait Islander people live, on average, 10 years less than non-Indigenous Australians. 

Below are the events taking place to celebrate this important date, Open Minds is proud to have a stall at both of theses events so pop by to say hello:

LocationName of EventDate/TimeAddress
West EndNational Closing the Gap Day West EndThursday 21st March 2019 11am – 2pmBunyapa Park (WEST END)
CapalabaNational Closing the Gap Day CapalabaThursday 21st March 2019 10am – 1pm1 Finucane Road, Capalaba, Qld, 4157

Related articles

International Day of Happiness: 10 tips for increasing happiness

20 Mar 2024

International Day of Happiness is celebrated annually in March and aims to make people around the world ...

Read More
International Day of Happiness: 10 tips for increasing happiness

Open Minds celebrates one year of Lismore Head to Health

22 Feb 2024

Open Minds has celebrated the first birthday of Lismore Head to Health and its support for the ...

Read More
Open Minds celebrates one year of Lismore Head to Health