This day is a worldwide observance held on 21 February each year to promote awareness of cultural diversity and multilingualism.
Each year we celebrate by holding an event to acknowledge the day.
Multicultural March
As part of International Mother Language Day Blacktown City Libraries host Multicultural March, celebrating the diversity in the Blacktown area, in honour of United Nation’s International Mother Language Day.
Multicultural March invites the community during the month of March to participate in a range of multicultural activities to commemorate United Nation’s International Mother Language Day and bring the community together to celebrate the diversity and harmony of Blacktown City.
See a full list of activities and events occurring during Multicultural March here.
Harmony Day has been celebrated since 1999. In 2019 the event was renamed Harmony Week to recognise diversity and inclusion activities that take place during the entire week. Harmony Week will include 21 March, which is the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Harmony Week coincides with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The week aims to engage people to participate in their community, respect cultural and religious diversity and foster sense of belonging for everyone.
Each year an event/s is held to celebrate and acknowledge Harmony Week in our city.
Refugee Week is celebrated nationally in June every year. It is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about issues affecting refugees and celebrate the positive contributions made by refugees to Australian society. Celebrated since 1986, Refugee Week coincides with World Refugee Day (20 June).
Each year an event/s is held to celebrate and acknowledge refugees in our city.
This film, Refugee Resilience - Finding Freedom with Family and Community was created by SydWest Multicultural Services for Refugee Week 2023. It shares with the Australian community, some of the challenges that refugees face when fleeing their home country. As a key theme of Refugee Week, the film also focused on the role and importance of family in making the settlement journey successful for our refugees.
2025 Refugee Week events
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2025 Blacktown City Council supported community events
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Tuesday 17 June
12.00pm - 2.00pm
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SydWest - Caring for Humanity: Conversations on Refugee Rights and Our Collective Responsibility(PDF, 2MB)
Exploring opportunities to increase the humanitarian intake and improve the settlement experience
WestHQ 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill
Bookings essential(PDF, 2MB)
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Thursday 19 June
10.30pm - 1.30pm
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(PDF, 2MB)SydWest - Celebrating Refugee Week 2025(PDF, 2MB)
Rooty Hill School of Arts, 32 Rooty Hill Rd, Rooty Hill.
(PDF, 2MB)Bookings essential(PDF, 2MB)
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Friday 20 June
12.00pm - 1.30pm
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MECA - Refugee week Finding Freedom: Celebrating Diversity in Community(PDF, 297KB)
Blacktown Civic Centre, Nirimba Room, Level 5, Blacktown.
Bookings essential(PDF, 297KB)
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| Other Blacktown City Refugee Week community events |
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| Monday 16 June
12.00pm – 1.00pm
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The Transcultural Mental Health Centre(PDF, 300KB)
Self-care recommendations to improve mental health among Arabic-speaking communities with refugee-like backgrounds in Australia.
Register Now
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Tuesday 17 June
12.00pm - 1.00pm
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The Transcultural Mental Health Centre(PDF, 300KB)
Neurobiological approaches to understanding refugee trauma and post-migration stress
Register Now |
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Thursday 19 June
12.00pm – 1.00pm
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The Transcultural Mental Health Centre(PDF, 300KB)
The role of emotion regulation in refugee mental health
Register Now
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Friday 20 June
10.30am -11.30am
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Engaging Effectively Refugee Communities Forum 2025(PDF, 61KB)
This forum is presented by the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service in partnership with NSW Refugee Health Service and Settlement Services International with the support of the NSW Ministry of Health.
Register Now
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For more information about any of the celebrations, please contact Community Development on 9839 6203 or Community.Development@blacktown.nsw.gov.au.