Join your community to walk against racism

Council, with the support of its Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Advisory Committee, will host three community walks throughout Harmony Week (15-21 March 2020).

Each walk will follow a different route, and culminate with educational talks from community members. The walks correspond with Harmony Week’s key message of inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. It is also in line with the ‘Racism. It Stops With Me’ campaign, which is part of the National Anti-Racism Partnership led by the Australian Human Rights Commission.

To help spread the message, walkers will be encouraged to share photos on social media of the walks with the hashtag #InCardiniaRacismStopsWithMe.

Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Jeff Springfield encouraged community members to join the march and take a stand against racism. 

“Racism and racial profiling can have serious consequences and has no place in our shire. It works against our goal of building a fair, inclusive community.

“We’re proud of our shire’s rich cultural diversity and are committed to ensuring an inclusive and connected community for everyone,” Cr Springfield said.

Council’s CALD committee was established in 2017, and seeks to mobilise and coordinate local community resources to improve the wellbeing of the shire’s new and emerging communities.

CALD councillor representative Councillor Leticia Wilmot explained that the walks were a “step in the right direction” towards creating a liveable community where residents feel included and connected.

“One of the committee’s key goals is to encourage people not to turn a blind eye to incidents of racism, to understand the harmful effects and deep impact of racism, and to know how to take a stand against prejudice,” Cr Wilmot said.

“For me, the reason I want to do these walks is to bring to people’s attention the fact that members of our community are being subjected to racism, and the harm that it is causing to the victim as well as communities they represent.

“I think it’s important to remember that everyone has the right to live and go about their daily lives in a safe and inclusive environment, free from the hate that racism brings,” said Cr Wilmot.

Cardinia Shire Council warmly welcomes our community to join us on these walks.

To register for one of Council’s walk against racism, visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/stopracism or phone Council’s Safe and Inclusive Communities on 1300 787 624.

Start point: Beaconsfield Park: Corner of Princess Highway and Beaconsfield Emerald Road, Beaconsfield Finish point: Cardinia Civic Centre, 20 Siding Avenue, Officer Start time: 1pm Finish time: 3.30pm Walk length: 6km

Start point: Cardinia Civic Centre, 20 Siding Avenue, Officer Finish point: Cardinia Cultural Centre Start time: 1pm Finish time: 4pm Walk length: 6.6km

Start point: Cardinia Life – 4/6 Olympic Way Pakenham (outside the front foyer) Finish point: Living Learning Pakenham at the outdoor stage, 6B Henry Street Pakenham Start time: 1pm Finish time: 2pm Walk length: 3.1km

For more information about the walk against racism or ‘Racism. It stops with me’, visit Council’s website at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/stopracism.

To report instances of racism within the community, Council encourages residents to report it securely and confidentially to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission through the tool on council’s website: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/stopracism.