Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence returned for their 24th year with a broad line-up of recipients whose work reflects the state’s changing communities and the way people continue to support one another across culture, faith and lived experience. Hosted by the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the ceremony highlighted the efforts of individuals and organisations working in fields ranging from the arts and media to policing, emergency response, business, youth leadership and mental health.
The awards aim to recognise people who help newcomers feel at home, build trust, share culture and improve access to services. This year’s nominations spread across 14 categories, giving a sense of just how wide the work is and how varied the contributions can be. The event also featured the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll, which spotlights local leaders whose work keeps communities informed, connected and resilient.
In the arts category, Dr Anindita Banerjee was recognised for her curatorial and community practice, while Asamina Theatre Company was commended for its platform that nurtures cultural storytelling. VicReturn received the business and employment award for engaging multilingual communities in Victoria’s Container Deposit Scheme, and CAVAL Ltd was acknowledged for its long-running commitment to multilingual access in libraries.
Emergency service contributions were brought into focus through the Multicultural Emergency Management Partnership, which works closely with culturally diverse communities to build emergency preparedness. Firefighter and community leader Ahmad Jahfar was also highlighted for his outreach in Melbourne’s southeast.
Local government initiatives in Greater Shepparton and Wyndham drew attention for bringing multicultural residents into planning, youth engagement and resilience programs. In the media category, The Philippine Times and journalist Dellaram Vreeland were recognised for reporting that amplifies diverse voices and promotes understanding.
Awards in mental health acknowledged the Centre for Muslim Wellbeing for community-led care and GenWest for its multilingual health education program supporting migrant women. Victoria Police presented several awards across liaison, youth engagement, chaplaincy and community partnership roles, recognising officers and community leaders who have helped bridge cultural gaps and strengthen trust. Recipients included Leading Senior Constable Leigh Johnson, Sergeant Rajesh Sambamurthy, Sergeant Verity Newport and Dr Jennie Barrera OAM, among many others who play active roles in connecting police with multicultural communities.
The Premier’s Award for Community Harmony went to Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer and community leader Ruchi Sharma, both recognised for building inclusive spaces, improving access to services and encouraging cross-cultural participation.
Family violence prevention work was acknowledged through the award for Luba Tanevski, who has supported migrant and refugee women for more than three decades, and a commendation for Benevolence Australia’s faith-aligned relationship education program.
Several refugee-focused awards highlighted people strengthening settlement, education and employment pathways. Leaders such as Peter Cinzah, Parsu Budathoki and Yuwaluxshayan Kannan were recognised for work ranging from youth mentoring to community health and language education. Organisations like Arabic Welfare Incorporated and the tutors behind Bendigo’s Harambee Homework Club were also acknowledged for helping communities navigate early challenges and build confidence.
Sport’s contribution to inclusion was recognised through the Bachar Houli Foundation and Diana Lin’s work with the Box Hill Hawks, while in public sector categories, Northern Health and VETASSESS were noted for creating more accessible, culturally responsive services.
Youth-led charity COOK4CALD received the youth leadership award for its community meal programs, and medical student Adriel Abinav Appathurai was recognised for advocacy that brings multicultural youth perspectives into health and education policy.
Across all categories, the awards painted a picture of Victoria’s multicultural life as something shaped daily by volunteers, practitioners, advocates and everyday residents who bring people together through practical action. The ceremony, streamed live on 4 December, served as a reminder of how broad the work of inclusion can be and how many people contribute to it quietly, consistently and with a focus on community wellbeing.
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