A Taste of Harmony, Australia

A Taste of Harmony

With one in four Australian workers born overseas, the need to acknowledge and support our rich cultural diversity has never been more important.

An initiative of the Scanlon Foundation, A Taste of Harmony is a national campaign that recognises and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity in the workplace.For one week in March, A Taste of Harmony invites Australians to host a multicultural lunch at work to promote open conversation about the diverse cultures that exist across Australia’s workforce. With each staff member bringing in dishes that represent their cultural background, or a culture which they have experience with, a non-threatening environment for sharing cultural stories is created.

A Taste of Harmony is supported by the Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF). The AMF and Robert Bean Consulting conducted research which revealed that effective management of diversity in the workplace benefits businesses, making them more efficient, innovative, better at problem solving and creating new products.

Recognition of Australia’s rich cultural background has also gained momentum in the food industry with 20 celebrity chefs donating their time to promote the campaign over the years.

The chef ambassadors for 2012 include:

-Guy Grossi (Grossi Florentino, Merchant)

-Tobie Puttock (The Kitchen Cat, Melbourne)

-Ed Halmagyi (Better Homes and Gardens, Channel 7)

-Shannon Bennett (Vue de Monde, Melbourne)

-Adam Liaw (MasterChef winner 2010, Network Ten)

-Julie Goodwin (Monthly column in The Australian Women’s Weekly,

MasterChef winner 2009, Network Ten)

-Alastair McLeod (Bretts Wharf, Brisbane and Ready Steady Cook, Network Ten)

-Maeve O’Meara (Food Safari, SBS and director of Gourmet Safari tours)

-Matt Stone (Greenhouse, Perth)

-Miguel Maestre (El Toro Loco, Sydney, regular contributor to Australian Good Food)

-Dominique Rizzo (Ready Steady Cook, Network Ten and Pure Food Cooking, Brisbane)

-Marion Grasby (MasterChef contestant 2010, MasterChef Magazine columnist)

-Steve Sunk (Northern Territory’s Walkabout Chef and regular ABC Radio Darwin guest chef)

-Judith Sweet (Regular ABC Radio Hobart guest chef)

-Serif Kaya (Ottoman Cuisine, Canberra and Sydney).

In 2011 more than 175,000 Australians participated in A Taste of Harmony. Since it was first launched in 2009, participation numbers has continued to increase every year making A Taste of Harmony Australia’s biggest celebration of cultural diversity in the workplace.

In 2012, A Taste of Harmony runs from 19-25 March, coinciding with National Harmony Day on 21 March.

http://www.tasteofharmony.org.au/home