National Multi-Cultural Mktg Award 2011

NSW Multi-Cultural Marketing Award 2011

Flat Friends was very proud to receive the National Multi-Cultural Marketing Award in 2011.

Press Release from the Ministers office - Wednesday, 30 November 2011

A company that produces a range of hand puppets to teach children about cultural diversity has won the small business award at the National Multicultural Marketing Awards announced over night at a dinner hosted by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Minister for Citizenship and Communities Victor Dominello.

The National Multicultural Marketing Awards, which aim to draw attention to opportunities created by cultural diversity, have been presented by the Community Relations Commission (CRC) of NSW for the last 21 years.

The Small Business Award winner is Sydney company, Flat Friends, and which produces a range of educational toys designed to help children identify with the country and culture that the puppet represents and to tell a story about the puppets life in their city and country.

The story is told in the voice of a child and is about family life, school life, festivities and food. The aim is to help children become comfortable with who they are, to understand and know what life is like for children in other countries, and from this, to love and respect other cultures.

Congratulating the company after the announcement Mr Dominello said: “This is a wonderful educational tool for Australian children which will help them learn about and appreciate the cultural and linguistic diversity of their communities.

“I understand Flat Friends’ objective is to create a more tolerant and caring society by empowering children with knowledge about our cultural diversity.

“What is also impressive is that this company is now spreading its Australian message of harmony to other countries through exporting to Britain and they have had enjoyed success at number of international trade shows including the Germany International Toy Fair,” Mr Dominello concluded.

The Chair of the CRC Stepan Kerkyasharian congratulated the winners and said: “These are unique products which reflect our unique society and which will surely spread our success in establishing community harmony around the globe.