Across Queensland, Neighbourhood Centres open their doors to people from all backgrounds, creating spaces where everyone can connect, contribute and feel welcome. By celebrating the strength of diversity in their communities, Centres showcase Queensland as a place where everyone belongs.
An example of this is the Tastes of Home (ToH) initiative, part of the Migrant Development Program at Maryborough Neighbourhood Centre. Designed to meet the needs of the local culturally and linguistically diverse community, the initiative creates a sense of belonging by inviting community members to share their stories, cultures, and cuisines.
The Tastes of Home initiative offers an innovative opportunity to bring people together by creating connections to support services, the broader community, and each other. It offers a platform for participants to share their experiences and cultural heritage while accessing valuable support and resources.
The cooking demonstrations, where participants showcase dishes from their country of origin, are a key component of ToH. Understanding that food can evoke memories and trigger emotions, these demonstrations act as a unique approach to storytelling, creating a greater understanding of diversity and helping to build a greater appreciation for culture.
So far, the initiative has featured Brazilian, Maltese, Filipino, Nepalese, Vietnamese and Iranian cuisines, with Thai and Indonesian dishes showcased at a multicultural meet and greet event earlier this year. Last month included a Chinese, Singaporean and Indigenous cooking demonstration and tasting.
The recipes shared during these events will be published in the Tastes of Home cookbook, ensuring they will continue to be enjoyed by the wider community for years to come.
Written By: Ally Kodet-Moran.
Published: October 2024.