Last week, two Commission officers travelled to Katanning to support the Harmony Festival held on Friday 20 March. Over two days, they visited ten local service providers and hosted a stall at the festival itself.
Aside from being the ‘glowiest’ stall at the fair, the Commission’s participation was a strong success, with high levels of engagement across the community. Young people, in particular, were keen to connect, ask questions, and take part in activities. The festival also created valuable opportunities to network with local service providers and other government departments in attendance, strengthening relationships and laying the groundwork for future regional engagement.
The Harmony Festival also provided an opportunity to trial a new engagement activity, which proved hugely popular. Using a ‘put a token in a jar’ concept, festival‑goers were invited to place a token in the jar that best reflected a form of discrimination they had experienced most often. The three options were race discrimination, sex discrimination, and disability discrimination.
One notable insight was the high level of sex‑based discrimination reported, particularly by young people. The activity demonstrated how a simple and accessible approach can encourage meaningful participation across a wide demographic, while also building a deeper understanding of people’s lived experiences. These insights will help inform how we tailor education and engagement approaches in specific local areas moving forward.
This visit marked the third consecutive year the Commission has participated in Katanning’s Harmony Festival, and we look forward to continuing our involvement in the years ahead. The Commission’s Strategy, Engagement and Education team will continue to use the knowledge gained through events like this to inform and shape its regional engagement plan. This work is underpinned by a strong commitment to approaches that are accessible, responsive, and relevant to the diverse communities across Western Australia.
If you are hosting a community event, festival, or initiative and think we should be involved, we would love to hear from you. We also offer free, rights‑based training for community groups and organisations, tailored to local needs and delivered in accessible, practical ways. To touch base or find out more, please contact us at training@eoc.wa.gov.au
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