Local council Burwood, in Sydney's multicultural inner west, has worked with community groups, schools and the police to develop the 'Different People Different Voices Project'.
"We realised there was a need within the inner west area to address cultural intolerance and race violence within schools and the community,” said project coordinator, Georgina Vega.
Using giant board games, school kids participate in games and discuss issues related to racism identity and belonging.
“It's great fun playing games,” Ms Vega said . “That's what will get their interest and involvement in an issue so sensitive as cultural bullying.”
A study into racism by the University of Western Sydney has found that while a majority of residents say they value diversity, 40 per cent believe certain ethnic or cultural groups don't belong in Australia.
“We see our involvement in the 'Different People Different Voices Project' as a contemporary tool to build cultural and religious tolerance within our community,” said Mark Bazevski from the NSW Police Counter Terrorism Unit.
See the different cultural groups living in Sydney's Burwood using SBS Census Explorer
The project is based on Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth studies, which show high school intervention as being the best way to prevent anti-social behaviour later in life.
The goal is to get kids feeling less isolated and more connected to their community.
The project has been pilot-tested in schools in the Burwood area and will be expanded throughout Sydney's inner west in the coming weeks.
