From a young age, Raj Nanra was encouraged to appreciate the diversity of Australian society.

His parents, who arrived from India in 1967 and settled in Melbourne, were one of the first Punjabi Sikh families in the community. Nanra says they always encouraged him and his sister to mix with whoever they chose.

Open-minded approach

“My father taught us not to worry what a person looked like, where they came from or what their religion was, as long as we could have a conversation,” Nanra shares.

“He taught us to put ourselves out there, which was a bit risky, but it meant that we never felt that we didn’t belong. We were a part of the community.”

Growing up in Australia, that open-minded approach stood Nanra in good stead. “Staying within your comfort zone, among your own people can inadvertently create barriers,” he says.

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