This year to celebrate Cultural Diversity Week we're sharing 4 stories from 4 different walks of life to highlight the connections that bring us together.
K from South Melbourne
Can you share a cultural tradition that is important to you?
A cultural tradition that is important to me that happens once a year is Ramadan, its important to me because its my culture and my families culture. It's important because it help connect a lot of people.
How does culture help you feel connected to others?
Culture helps me feel connected because I can relate to people from the same culture and because I'm surrounded by a lot of people who share my culture so it's easier for me to talk about my emotions and feelings.
What helps you feel a sense of belonging in the place where you live and in your community?
I'm included and approachable. When I come to Skinners I feel that I belong because I have people that I can talk to. My friends give me a sense of belonging.
K from South Melbourne at Skinners Adventure Playground.
Rohini during one of her Multicultural Storytime sessions.
Rohini from Port Phillip Libraries Services
Can you share a cultural tradition that is important to you?
Sharing food during festivals is very important to me. Growing up in India, celebrations meant cooking together, exchanging dishes and making sure everyone felt included. For me, food represents kindness, generosity and connection. Even now, in Melbourne, I continue this tradition by inviting people from different cultures to share meals and stories together.
How does culture help you feel connected to others?
As a storyteller, culture helps me connect with people through shared stories, music and language. When families come together to listen, laugh and participate, we quickly realise how much we have in common despite our different backgrounds.
What helps you feel a sense of belonging where you live and within your community?
Feeling able to contribute meaningfully gives me a strong sense of belonging. Working with libraries and community groups to create multicultural storytelling programs has helped me build relationships and feel at home in Melbourne.
Sol from Balaclava
Can you share a cultural tradition that is important to you?
Keeping kosher is really important to me because it allows me to constantly check in with myself and keep in touch with my heritage and Jewish community in a really mindful way.
How does culture help you feel connected to others?
It's a big touch point for me, it's the regularity of having a community to be, pray and sing with, it's having places I can feel at home in, like the Jewish Museum of Australia. If I ever feel lonely or disconnected I always have the people from my cultural community to fall back on and be nourished by.
What helps you feel a sense of belonging in the place where you live and in your community?
It's often the small things- I always notice the City of Port Philip rubbish bin signs in and around Balaclava that include pictures of bagels, the kosher food signs in the supermarkets or the Jewish books on library shelves. It's something that most people don't notice, but I do! Coming from a rural community, these inclusions are still new to me and make me feel at home. I can walk around my local area and see people who look like me, who share in my culture, so my sense of belonging grows from the people to the places around me.
Sol is standing in front of a painting titled Figures Dreaming, David Asher Brook, 2023.
Connie Sarkizas from Port Melbourne
Can you share a cultural tradition that is important to you?
I come from a Greek background, so Greek traditions are part of my life things like our national dancing, our food and coming together as a community. But for me, culture is not just one thing or one way. I believe all cultures have good things to share, and that is something very special about living in Australia. People from many cultures live together, learn from each other and share their traditions. I've always said to my children, live your life in a way that makes you happy. I don't force traditions on them. What matters most to me is living a good life, being kind to others, and respecting everyone, no matter where they come from.
How does culture help you feel connected to others?
Culture helps me connect to people through sharing and caring. My family includes people from different cultural backgrounds, and I love that. If my children are happy, then I am happy too. I respect all traditions because every culture has something good to offer and something to teach us. I believe connection comes from giving help, giving kindness, and being open to others. When you share your culture, your ideas and your heart, people respond in a good way, and that brings everyone closer.
What helps you feel a sense of belonging where you live and within your community?
Port Melbourne has been my home for nearly my whole life. I came to Australia when I was 17, and I've lived in the same neighbourhood since the 1970s. I'm now 84 years old, and I've grown up here alongside my community. I love the people, I love where I live, and I don't want to leave. I feel safe and secure here. I've volunteered in Port Melbourne and South Melbourne for over 14 years, especially with Greek seniors and community clubs. Some of these groups include up to 60 older people. I help organise meals, run fundraisers and support people in need. For me, belonging comes from looking after each other, living peacefully, respecting everyone and giving back to the community that has given me so much.
