This week, a group of students gathered for a workshop run by Multicultural Australia, focused on unpacking discrimination and bias for young people, and in schools. The workshop allowed for us to learn more about multiculturalism in Australia, to share our opinions on important topics, and to examine discrimination as actions that result as the manifestation of prejudice and attitudes, which are formed from even before primary school.
We started the workshop by sharing our own experiences with culture and discrimination; it was great to be in an encouraging environment that celebrates everyone's varying cultures, as well as how all of our differences combine to create diversity within the QACI community. By sharing our opinions and experiences with discrimination, and listening to others perspectives, we were able to generate a really interesting dialogue and expand our understanding of each other, celebrating how other cultures operate within Australia. We then looked at specific scenarios, investigated the problems around discrimination, and imagined how we might deal with the example, before sharing as a group to hear others’ thoughts, and collectively arrive at a conclusion.
The workshop revealed some useful ways to generate strategies in combatting discrimination, and the trainers, Scott and Farin from Multicultural Australia, facilitated some really pertinent and insightful discussions around bias, perspective and stereotypes. It was particularly interesting to learn about the differences between safe and brave spaces; a safe space is somewhere where everyone feels comfortable to share and communicate, compared to a brave space where discomfort is embraced in order to discuss learn and challenge preconceived ideas.
Thank you to Ms Newcomb for organising and Scott and Farin for running this workshop - it was incredibly valuable, and I know that everyone who participated is incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
...article written by Anna Ryley, Year 12