Mayflower's Harmony Week: A Global Celebration of Culture

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion at Mayflower during Harmony Week

Harmony Day, held during Harmony Week at Mayflower was a vibrant celebration of the many cultures, backgrounds, and experiences that make up our team.

Team members from across Mayflower Home Care, Mayflower Reservoir, Mayflower Edith Bendall in Pascoe Vale, and Mayflower Brighton, came together to embrace the spirit of inclusivity, connection, and belonging.

With orange decorations adorning each location and the theme ‘Everyone Belongs’ at the heart of the event, team members were encouraged to wear orange or traditional attire and share a dish from their cultural heritage.

"Harmony Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the amazing and vibrant cultural diversity that enriches our Mayflower community. We believe cultural diversity is crucial to our success as it fosters innovation in care approaches, creativity in engagement activities, and inclusivity within our community, enabling us to better serve both residents and clients," says Kate, our Executive General Manager of People & Culture.

A Global Feast of Cultures

The celebration became a culinary adventure, with an incredible spread of flavours from around the world. Spanakopita spirals and Halva from Greece, Falafel from the Mediterranean, white lentil dumplings known as Dahi Vada, and carrot Burfi from India, along with fish curry and samosas, delighted many. Vegetarian spring rolls from Asia, Kutsinta steamed cakes from the Philippines, and Chow Mein noodles from Nepal added even more variety to the table.

Happy Birthday, Con!

Among the delightful array of cultural dishes sat a beautifully presented French cake from Laurent Bakery – brought in to celebrate Con, our Assessment Coordinator, as Mayflower Brighton's 60th birthday.

There was just one little twist – the cake was mistaken for another cultural contribution as it sat on the buffet table! Team members couldn’t resist and began enjoying it before everyone sang 'Happy Birthday!'

Though there was a bit of a mix-up, it all led to a great laugh and a special moment shared with everyone.

A Celebration of Talent and Connection

Beyond food, the day was filled with music and performances that highlighted the richness of our team’s diverse backgrounds.

Sabina from our rostering team performed two spectacular dance pieces. "I am from Nepal, so I did a group Nepali dance with others on stage,” says Sabina. Her performance saw members from different departments hit the stage with her.

Sabina’s second performance was especially enchanting, “I can speak Hindi, the Indian language as well, so I did a Bollywood song and dance as a single performance" she says. Sabina wore a stunning orange floral sari that added colour to her spectacular cultural performances.

Maria, our People & Culture Administrator, represented her home country of Ireland with a spirited Irish dance performance, dancing to the tune of “Tell Me Ma” by the Northern Ireland band ‘Sham Rock’.

At Mayflower Brighton, Care Manager Rowena treated everyone to a heartfelt rendition of Gloria Gaynor’s 1978 hit "I Will Survive."

Mayflower Brighton General Manager Rumesh surprised his audience with his vocal talent, performing the Backstreet Boys’ hit “I Want It That Way” – which he sang for the very first time. He showed off his harmonising vocal skills, delighting the crowd with his unexpected performance.

Everyone Belongs

Our extended Mayflower family, including allied health professionals from Empower Healthcare, also joined in the festivities. Their presence reinforced the strong sense of community and connection we share, regardless of workplace roles or backgrounds.

Celebrating Harmony Week at Mayflower Reservoir

At Mayflower Reservoir, residents also joined in celebrating Harmony Week, with a delightful happy hour, music, and culturally diverse food.

Embracing Inclusivity Year-Round

Harmony Week is just one of the many culturally significant occasions we celebrate at Mayflower. With team members from all over the world, we take pride in fostering an environment where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected.

The orange decorations adorning our locations were more than just festive - they served as a symbol of the deep respect and appreciation we have for one another.

By embracing diversity, we strengthen the care we provide to residents and aged care clients every day. After all, it’s our differences that make us stronger together.

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