Awards highlight the best of Multicultural Canberra


Released 25/07/2017

This afternoon I was delighted to participate in the 2016 Multicultural Canberra Awards Ceremony. The Awards acknowledge the efforts of an exceptional group of individuals and organisations from across Canberra who serve our multicultural community each and every day.

This year’s ACT Multicultural Advocate of the Year was Lucky Prasad whose efforts have supported initiatives ranging from BeyondBlue to the ACT Cancer Council, Mirinjani Retirement Village, Soup Kitchen and the National Multicultural Festival. Mr Prasad has also been involved in multicultural radio broadcasting.

The Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award was jointly presented to Dean Sahu Khan and Dr Willy Senanayake. Both winners have long standing roles with the Canberra Interfaith Forum. Mr Khan has been co-organiser of the annual Federal Parliament Harmony Day function while Dr Senanayake’s works to support Claire Holland House.

The Multicultural Young Person of the Year was Laura Welsh, a home tutor volunteer for Red Cross Canberra’s Multicultural Services Program Homework Club whose efforts support, among others, children of families seeking asylum.

The winners of the Media Award were Rosemarie John and Joseph Ellis co-founders of the successful blog and social media channel Travel and Beyond. To their thousands of followers the couple promotes the various multicultural foods of Canberra as well as tales of their trips around the world.

Derek Jiang was winner of the Business Enterprise Award. Mr Jiang is the founder of DR Print and also founder of the Australian Guangxi Friendship Association.

The winner of the Community Organisation Award was the Spielwelt German Parents Association, a volunteer group promoting German as a language for families of German, Austrian and Swiss heritage living in Canberra.

The Education Award was presented to the ACT Community Languages School Association which promotes the teaching of languages and cultures through its membership of more than 50 schools and 2,500 students who are learning 36 languages.

The ACT Health Environmental Health Unit was given the Public Sector Award in recognition of their efforts to promote positive food handling practices during the National Multicultural Festival.

On behalf of the ACT Government and all Canberrans I congratulate all the nominees and winners today.  Each individual or organisation have worked tirelessly to promote cultural diversity and social inclusion in our community.

- Statement ends -

Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases

Media Contacts

Name Phone Mobile Email

Emma Webster

(02) 6205 8144

0422 928 437

emma.n.webster@act.gov.au


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