Project Title: Challenging Youth Racism and Stereotypes
Location:  Rockhampton City Council, QLD
Local Government Project

Project Details
The aim of the project was to equip young people and school students in rural and regional areas to challenge racist attitudes, confront negative cultural stereotypes and celebrate local diversity.  Cross-cultural education sessions, interactive forums, Indigenous art workshops and a public art competition were used as tools to break down cultural barriers and improve community cohesion.

Rockhampton City Council’s Harmony in Rockhampton project reached out to the broader Rockhampton community through a large media campaign, encompassing radio and television advertisements, local newspaper coverage, leaflet/poster distribution and public art workshops and exhibitions.

A crowd of about 800 people celebrated Harmony Day 2003 at Rockhampton’s Riverside Park with performances by local Indigenous and multicultural groups, live music and food stalls.  Winners of the Harmony in Rockhampton Youth Art Competition were announced on this day.
The two winning entries of the Rockhampton Youth Art Competition were reproduced on large timber billboards as murals, which were mounted permanently at the Rockhampton Municipal Library.  The murals are a tribute to Rockhampton’s commitment to multiculturalism and a reflection of the community’s success as a harmonious and culturally diverse city.

Contact: Community Information and Planning Unit
Rockhampton City Council
Ph: (07) 4927 0955

Project Title: Cultural Outreach Program
Location:  Townsville City Council, QLD 
Local Government Project

Project Details
The Cultural Outreach Program taught children in their schools about different cultures in a friendly and positive way.  It also raised awareness of the issues facing newly arrived migrants and refugees in the settlement in a new country.   The workshops in the schools allowed participants to learn about and experience other cultures, to express a wider understanding, and to share and value one another’s cultural heritage.

The main activities of the project included:

• In partnership with Townsville Migrant Support Group Inc, planned the structure of 40 workshops in Townsville schools 
• Identified bi-lingual facilitators from diverse cultural backgrounds from TMSG Inc. 
• Facilitators attended two days training 
• Met with facilitators to set outcomes, identify schools and materials required and format the workshops 
• Produced materials for the workshops
• Sent information to schools with details of the program  
• Conducted the workshops in the identified schools in Townsville City 
• Each workshop varied in its components.  They included cooking, craft, traditional music and dance, traditional dress, story telling, explanation of culture and customs and sharing of the settlement experience.

Contact: Community Relations Officer
Townsville City Council
Ph:  (07) 4727 9000