SOCIAL INCLUSION | Today marks the start of Australia's first Social Inclusion Week
Social Inclusion Week runs from 23 to 29 November, and aims to be a 'call to action for all Australians to realise the benefits of engaging with their fellow citizens and communities'.
The week of community events will bring together young and old across Australia to foster a sense of belonging and and is an initiative of Jonathon Welch, the founding Music Director of the Choir of Hard Knocks (now known as the Choir of Hope and Inspiration). Already the Australian Government's agenda has had many benefits for young people with the establishment of the Family Support Program earlier this year and other initiatives to help young people at 'greatest risk of long-term disadvantage'.
The 'pinnacle event' of the week is the National Street Party. See below for a link to its website which lists street parties taking place across Australia.
Source: Australian Government Social Inclusion website, www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Pages/SIWeekCountdown.aspx; Social Inclusion Week website, socialinclusionweek.ning.com; and the national street party website, www.nationalstreetparty.com.au, all viewed 24 November 2009.