Gold Coast Health has celebrated Queensland Multicultural Month with a new Multicultural Festival, the first of its kind for the organisation.
Aimed at raising awareness, the initiative highlights our culturally and linguistically diverse staff, patients, and community.
The Multicultural Festival took place on 26 August, bringing together more than 600 staff members to share their culture in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
It was a feast for the senses with cultural performances from the Australian National Chinese Women’s Federation Inc (traditional Chinese dance), Gold Coast Filipino Australian Performing Arts Ensemble (traditional Filipino dance), and Drum Pulse – African Drumming presenting hands-on demonstrations.
Attendees were treated to tastings of traditional Turkish and Vietnamese food and invited to take part in hands-on First Nations cultural therapy and art activities.
The Multicultural Festival is a new initiative developed by Gold Coast Health’s Diversity and Inclusion team supported by corporate sponsors and internal partners.
Gold Coast Health Acting Executive General Manager Emergency and Specialty Services, Malcolm McCann, said it gave staff the opportunity to take a break and engage with different cultural performances, activities and of course, lots of delicious food.
"Most importantly, it was an invitation for staff to share their own culture and connect with others across the health service,” Mr McCann said.
“The Gold Coast is an incredibly diverse multicultural community and is essential that our health service is representative of the people we serve.
"We see that diversity reflected in the makeup of our workforce.
"In the last quarter, almost 14 per cent of Gold Coast Health staff identified as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse.
“Our goal is to foster an inclusive workplace culture - one where all staff, patients, and visitors feel safe, engaged, respected, and valued.
"That starts with how we celebrate and recognise the diversity of our team.
"If we are to have our patient’s and community’s best interests at heart, we need an inclusive and diverse workforce,” he said.
