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This
Cultural Diversity Calendar features a range of cultural and
religious days and festivals celebrated around the world,
in Australia and at QUT. The aim of the calendar is to increase
staff and student awareness of some of the special days and
events observed by members of QUT's culturally diverse community.
An awareness of these cultural and religious observances may
also help managers and lecturers anticipate special needs
of your staff or students. It is also an invitation to join
in the celebrations of significance to your colleagues and
peers.
This
calendar is not an exhaustive list of cultural and religious
days events or countries. Rather, we hope it will serve to highlight
some of the days, and to direct you to other sources for more
information. Furthermore, the calendar is presented in good
faith. It is not the intention of the University or the Equity
Section to cause offence to any group or individual, and our
apologies are extended in advance for any inaccuracies that
may emerge.
What
became clear in undertaking this project is the diversity
of perspectives on the meanings of festivals and commemorative
days. Similarly, a variety of dates were found for some events.
In part, this is due to the diversity of calendars that are
in use across cultures and religions: the Chinese lunar calendar, the
Gregorian and Julian calendars, the Islamic lunar calendar and the Baha'i calendar, to cite a few.
The
Cultural Diversity calendar will be continually updated to
correct information and to include further events. We acknowledge
that many staff and students at QUT will have a greater understanding
of particular days and festivals than we do, so your comments and suggestions for
amendments and additions would be greatly appreciated.
Acknowledgements:
The
information presented in this calendar was initially researched
by Ravinder Sidhu, Cultural Diversity Project Officer, QUT
Equity Section, December 1999.
Several sources were used, in particular the Diary of Multicultural
Events produced by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural
Affairs, and various Internet sites including those of Australian
and overseas universities, the Australian Cultural Network,
and other sites referred to throughout the calendar.
The calendar is updated annually in November/December.
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