Did you know the first known Muslims to visit Australia are thought to be fishermen from Indonesia back in the early 1700s? Then, in the 19th century, men from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan came to our country as expert camel handlers and played a critical role in the development of the nation.
Unbeknown to many, Muslims in Australia have a long and rich history and have played a fundamental role in helping to shape the country we know today!
In 2025, A Taste of Harmony coincides with Ramadan and provides a fantastic opportunity for non-Muslims to learn more about the significant spiritual festival along with the broader Islamic culture. For that reason, we’re partnered with the Islamic Museum of Australia (IMA) to enable workplaces to build their cultural understanding and promote empathy and respect for practicing Muslims.
The IMA aims to raise awareness of the contribution of Muslims to Australia and foster social cohesion through art and cultural heritage. Facilitated by Education Director Sherene Hassan OAM, the IMA cultural awareness program leads the way in assisting workplaces to counter some of the divisive public discourse around Islam helping establish a more inclusive work culture.
Considered one of the most influential educators on intercultural dialogue, Sherene has delivered over 1,000 information sessions to diverse audiences for IMA. A former teacher and Vice President of the Islamic Council of Victoria, Sherene was selected as Muslim Woman of the Year in 2016 and awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2018 for her work on building bridges between the wider community and Islamic culture.
IMA training packages are tailored to each workplace and may include the following:
- A guided tour of the IMA
- An introduction to Islam
- A workshop covering the fundamentals of Islam, de-bunking stereotypes, demographics of Muslims, barriers and challenges to inclusion in the workplace, and Q&A sessions.
For more information visit https://www.islamicmuseum.org.au/cultural-awareness/ or email info@islamicmuseum.org.au .
