Mercy Health Hails Harmony Day

From India to Indonesia and everywhere in between, the dozens of different cultures that make up Mercy Health will be celebrated when the not-for-profit aged care organisation marks Harmony Day later this month.

The Claremont aged care home has a team of carers who hail from more than a dozen countries, including Africa, Japan, Nepal, India, Indonesia, England, Scotland and the Philippines.

Mercy Place Mont Clare Service Manager, Dorothy Wijangco, said Harmony Day - which is held each year on March 21 – provides a great opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity within the aged care community.

“Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are,” says Ms Wijangco. “Not only does it make Mercy Place Mont Clare a great place to live, but it also makes Australia a wonderful country for us all to call home.

“Our residents, along with our staff, embrace Harmony Day. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, this diversity has enriched our nation, and has certainly enriched our own community at Mercy Health.”

Harmony Day on March 21 celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity and promotes values of inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone, which align with Mercy Health’s values of compassion, hospitality, respect, innovation, stewardship and teamwork.  The aged care home will be celebrating on the day with a lunch for all residents and staff.

Carer Priyanka Gyawali, who hails from Nepal, has worked for Mercy Place Mont Clare for close to four years and is currently studying to become a nurse via Edith Cowan University.

“I studied nursing back in Nepal but had the opportunity to come to Perth in 2019 and I really jumped at the opportunity, particularly as I was aware of how multicultural Australia is, and how new migrants are welcomed.

“When I began work at Mercy Place Mont Clare it immediately felt like one big family and I have been so happy to be part of the team here, not only are my colleagues amazing but also the residents are wonderful and feel like my second family.”

Colleague Solana Poole echoes the same sentiments: “Harmony Day reminds me that people can be from different backgrounds, different nationalities and have different skin colour, but that we all belong and have created a wonderful multicultural community, not only here at Mont Clare, but also as a nation.”

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