The UC Harmony Program reaches into several areas of university life to:

• focus the already existing interest and enthusiasm for diversity at University of Canberra
• promote and facilitate discussion and action on diversity issues in the University of Canberra community
• strengthen links between the wider Canberra community and the University of Canberra community
• challenge the University of Canberra community to continue to develop and implement a culture which not only embraces diversity but provides a range of forums in which it can flourish
• provide opportunities for University of Canberra students to have community development experience on campus

The Program highlights the many benefits of a multicultural society and encourages the university community to develop its own flourishing diverse culture. It provides many opportunities for staff and students from all backgrounds and lifestyles to mix, meet, celebrate and engage in dialogue.

When we embrace someone from another culture, we are connecting with the basic things that make us human. Too often these areas of common human experience are forgotten in our busy, insular and alienating world and differences are exaggerated by lack of contact, ignorance or fear.

The Harmony Program evolved from the Harmony and Faith Project, a twelve-month project undertaken in 2004 and jointly funded by the Australian Government’s Living in Harmony (LIH) Community Grants program and the University of Canberra.

The University of Canberra has committed to develop and extend the Living in Harmony project, under the auspices of the Harmony Program by providing ongoing funding in 2005 and 2006.

Administered by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, the Living in Harmony initiative aims to promote community harmony. For more information on the LIH initiative, visit http://www.harmony.gov.au

Report of Student Focus Groups

The report is available here in PDF format for which you will need a recent version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or the equivalent plug-in on your browser.