Created to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Harmony Week (March 18-24) reinforces the importance of creating a culturally safe and inclusive environment for everyone.    

As our Organisational Culture Specialist, Florisa Anolin (she/her) supports Benevolent in cultivating a diverse and inclusive culture. Using each of the letters in H-A-R-M-O-N-Y, we asked Florisa seven questions about her role, her cultural heritage and what Harmony Week means to her.  

Image: The Benevolent Society Organisational Culture Specialist, Florisa.

How does Benevolent promote cultural inclusivity in the workplace?

I love that cultural inclusivity at Benevolent isn't just a box tick - it's woven into everyday moments of our being. It's in the way we start our gatherings respectfully by acknowledging the various lands on which we work; how we spice up team meetings by acknowledging a cultural celebration that our colleague is observing such as Lunar New Year; how we actively support our Muslim employees as they observe Ramadan, the person-centred ways in which we engage our diverse clients and our strong stance that racism is never acceptable. It’s a joy to see Benevolent's inclusive culture in action, but I know that we can't be complacent. That's why it's so important that we continue the work set out in our Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) Strategy while reminding ourselves that small everyday actions can create meaningful change within our workplace.   
 

Ancestry: Can you share a bit about your cultural heritage and how it has shaped who you are today? 

I was born in the mountains of Baguio City, Philippines but my mother hails from the lush seaside region of Ilocus Sur. Ilocanos are known to be humble, sharp witted and deeply spiritual. Growing up, she would tell me to respect the land because each rock, plant and tree had spirits that dwelled in them, that they would protect us if we worked together to live in harmony.  Ma would often say that before visiting a friend’s house or walking on new lands that we would need to ask permission from the guardian spirits first. Today, as I live and work on Gadigal and Wangal lands, it makes me happy to honour the practice of acknowledging country here in this ancient country I now call home. That in my Australian identity and in the context of my Ilocano roots, I am expected by the Elders to respectfully present myself and ask for safe passage. During our recent trip to the Philippines, Ma translated the Ilocano verse into English in its entirety - Dear spirit realm (Bari Bari). Please do not stir. It is I (I belong), and I have been here before.  

Reflecting on your role, what’s the most rewarding part of your work here at Benevolent?

The most rewarding part of my role at Benevolent is taking people on the journey of inclusion. As part of this it’s important to meet everyone where they are at because we all sit somewhere on the spectrum of inclusion — be it fear, resistance, ambivalence, acceptance, or advocacy—and it’s deeply fulfilling to support that progression. For me, the key to shifting mindsets is connecting people to the voices of our colleagues and clients through storytelling and reflective listening. There is richness in connecting to the lived experiences and diverse perspectives of others to unlock empathy, and even more powerful when we ground this work in outcome-focused, data-driven and evidence-based approaches. I believe that when that "aha" moment drops and someone feels inspired to do more, that’s when real and sustained change can happen. Right now, we need this more than ever as we face into increasing resistance to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). In the face of the current climate on DEI, this work is both a commitment and an act of resistance, ensuring we remain firm on the value and importance of inclusion as this benefits the wellness of our people and the outcomes of the communities we serve.   

Many workplaces, including Benevolent, celebrate Harmony Week. What does this week mean to you?

As a woman of colour I've experienced firsthand the pain of being judged due to the colour of my skin and the intersectional experience of coming from a single-parent migrant family which excluded us from opportunities simply because we couldn’t afford them. Racism and prejudice are insidious and have a way of leaving long lasting effects on individuals, especially young people, in subtle and harmful ways. For me, this meant being mindful of how my early experiences at times impacted me through internalised racism, feelings of low self-worth and shame— healing this and then recognising what I can do today to stop racism and prejudice in its tracks when I witness it. I love that Benevolent celebrates Harmony Week as it's a sign that our organisation is a safe space for multiculturalism to exist. That I am welcome to be fully me.   

On a personal level, how do you celebrate diversity and share your heritage with others?

Whenever I travel, I make sure to bring back tapestries, textiles, or fabrics from the communities I visit. Today, my home is filled with batik and ikat prints, Inabel and Igorot weaves, H'mong embroidery, and kilims, which I hang on walls and drape over furniture whenever I need a boost of colour. They remind me of the many people I’ve met and I like to think that each piece connects me to the generational wisdom passed down through the hands of the women who’ve created them. And of course, as a Filipino, I celebrate my proud heritage at home through food—think adobo, lechon, pinakbet, longanisa, and pancit—shared with my family (familia) and friends (barcada).  

Now tell us, since launching the D&I strategy in July 2024, what milestones has Benevolent achieved in fostering a more inclusive workplace?

Benevolent's People & Culture team are deeply committed to creating the right environment for inclusion to flourish, and lately we’ve made lots of progress. We've launched our Reasonable Adjustment Policy to support employees with disabilities access accommodations in our workplace, benchmarked ourselves through the Australian Disability Network, are building our Stretch RAP and continuing to invest in lifting our cultural and inclusive leadership capability through our partnership with Yamurrah. Very soon we’ll be launching more Benevolent Employee Networks to include the LGBTQIA+, Disability, Neurodivergence and CALD communities, so that more of our people can connect while providing a voice to the communities they represent. It only feels like yesterday when we launched our D&I strategy but it's great to see how much progress we've collectively driven so far.  

Your thoughts on how we can create a more inclusive and harmonious future?

That's a big question! Well…there's a Sanskrit mantra I chant which keeps me grounded in my purpose - Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu. It translates to May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may my thoughts, words and actions in some way contribute to the happiness and freedom of all. I think this mantra is a perfect way to close this interview, especially as it aligns with the spirit of Harmony Week.