RSL Care Celebrates Harmony and Diversity

The staff at RSL Care Treetops have come together to celebrate Harmony Day the best way they know how, with a party! 

The residential aged care community located in the heart of New Farm boasts an impressive number of staff from different cultural backgrounds.

Clinical Manager Jane Narain said at last count there were 23 different nationalities represented in her team of over 100.

“Despite the fact we all come from different backgrounds, speaking different languages and observe different customs the team at Treetops gel together really well,” she said.

“Harmony Day is every day here at Treetops; the team are so accepting and caring of other cultures and customs, it is something we love to celebrate.”

Harmony Day is celebrated with staff coming to work in their traditional dress, not only to the delight of their other team members but for the residents too explains Diversional Therapist Pauline Mammino.

“The residents love to see the staff in traditional dress and learn about where they are from. They especially love the bright colours, flowers and jewellery worn by the Fijian and Samoan women, they think it’s beautiful,” she said.

Team members who did not have traditional clothing to wear came to work in orange the official colour of Harmony Day explains Jane.

“The colour orange is used as it relates to social communication, stimulating two-way conversations,” she said.

“It aids in the development of new ideas and frees the spirit of its limitations, giving us the freedom to be ourselves. At the same time it encourages self-respect and respect of others.”

In addition to coming to work dressed in beautiful clothing the team also gathers for a delicious feast boasting food from all the different nationalities including curries, dumplings, rices, vegetables, breads, vegetable stews, puddings and more.

Enrolled Nurse Ashwini Prakash proudly woke up at 2am to prepare her delicious Butter Chicken for her team mates.

There were even caramel-o koalas and meat pies! 

Countries Represented at RSL Care Treetops

• Australia
• Fiji
• New Zealand
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• United Kingdom
• Papua New Guinea
• Sudan
• South Africa
• Zimbabwe
• Japan
• Philippines
• Samoa
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Kenya
• China
• Mongolia
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Tibet
• Romania  

Click here to find out more about RSL Care's aged care services.