Summary

One of two copies of the publication 'Neighbourhood Harmony', published by Maribyrnong City Council with funding from the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship in 2012. The booklets promote values of respect for diverse cultures, faiths, abilities and the environment and their importance for creating and maintaining socially cohesive communities. They focus on the diverse Maribyrnong community and aim to be an educational resource for teachers and parents with an emphasis on young people's voices and perspectives. The booklets outline methodologies for working with students to develop the content and use terms such as 'compassion', 'social justice', 'kindness' and 'mutual and self respect.'

Physical Description

28 page booklet, full colour printing on matt gloss paper. Front colour primarily green and blue with white title typeface and illustraions of young people and a streetscape featuring culturally diverse local businesses. Reverse cover features speech balloons with quotes by young people and the logos of Maribyrnong City Council and the Australian Government coat of arms.

Significance

The booklets reflect a particular shift in political and social values, language and educational methodologies in regards to issues around cultural diversity, social cohesion, difference and community. It acknowledges the challenges for diverse communities and the strategies being utilised by local government to combat prejudice, racism and to integrate new and emerging cultural communities. Such publications can be used to document the history of government strategies across time which have worked in different ways to achieve social cohesion, such as the assimilation policies of the 1950s and 1960s, the multicultural policies of the 1970s and 1980s and the 'unity in diversity' language of the 1990s.

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