From Ireland to Indonesia, and everywhere in between, the dozens of different cultures that make up Claremont-based Mercy Place Mont Clare were celebrated when the not-for-profit, aged-care organisation celebrated its cultural heritage last week.
World Refugee Day, held each year on 20 June, provides an opportunity for Australians to commemorate the strength, courage, and resilience of millions of refugees – and these traits resonate at Mercy Place Mont Clare, where staff and residents represent more than a dozen different countries from all over the world.
Team members celebrated by attending work in their traditional national costumes which was then followed by an afternoon tea for both residents and staff, to commemorate their cultural backgrounds.
Mercy Place Mont Clare Service Manager, Jenny Jones, said World Refugee Day gave residents and staff an opportunity to celebrate their diversity and heritage.
“Our residents at Mercy Place Mont Clare, along with our staff, are really keen to embrace World Refugee Day,” Ms Jones said.
“We think it’s important to create opportunities for both our staff and residents to learn about and celebrate other cultures in an inclusive way, and several of our team members have experience of arriving in Australia as child refugees,” she said.
“Our home is almost like a small United Nations as we have people from a range of countries, all of whom are looking forward to seeing each other in their traditional dress, whether that’s kimonos, saris, Hawaiian grass skirts or even Aussie shorts and bush hats.
“I think our whole team really respects the reasoning behind World Refugee Day, which is one of respect for each other, and this is also an important value here at Mercy Health.
Mercy Health is a Catholic community, not-for-profit provider of care, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2,000-year history of caring for those in need.
The organisation is a national service provider of health and aged care throughout Victoria, Southern New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory.
In Western Australia, the organisation cares for over 300 people across six residential homes, with 78 independent living units.