Harmony in Care

Harmony Week is especially meaningful for organisations like Embrace, because cultural diversity is not an abstract idea in care, it is actually lived every day through the people who show up to support children, older Australians, and people living with disability. In Australia, the care and support workforce is one of the country’s largest and fastest growing workforces. Health Care and Social Assistance accounts for around 15 per cent of Australia’s workforce, and Census data shows that more than 40 per cent of Registered Nurses and Aged and Disabled Carers were born overseas. Almost 40,000 people working in those occupations had arrived in Australia since 2016, a share well above the national average across all occupations.

That is one of the reasons Harmony Week matters so much. Officially, Harmony Week celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and the values of inclusiveness, respect and belonging for everyone. In 2026, it runs from 16 to 22 March and includes 21 March, which is also the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

At Embrace, Harmony Week is also a chance to recognise the real people behind Australia’s growing care economy. This year, we are proud to celebrate one of our own: David Appiah.

David migrated from Ghana to build a life in Australia, not only for himself and his family, but also in service of the community he and his wife now call home. At Embrace, David has become a valued support worker whose care, presence and commitment reflect the very heart of what this sector is about. His wife, Anastasia, is also part of the care economy, working in child care. Together, they represent something deeply important about modern Australia: families who arrive with hope, work hard, care for others, and help strengthen the communities around them.

With the support of Embrace, David has been able to continue building a life for himself and his family, including their three beautiful daughters. His story is one of contribution, resilience and belonging. It is also a reminder that when we welcome people into our communities and workplaces, we do not just fill jobs but we build stronger neighbourhoods, richer cultures, and a more compassionate country.

This Harmony Week, we celebrate David, Anastasia, and all the care workers from around the world who are helping shape Australia’s future through kindness, service and dedication. We thank them for the care they give so generously, and for the many ways they help our communities thrive.

At Embrace, we believe harmony is more than a theme for one week of the year. It is something we live through respect, shared purpose, and care for one another.

And in a world that can sometimes feel divided, we also take this moment to wish for something bigger: global harmony, peace, and a deeper sense of humanity for all.