2010 Awards winners

Outstanding volunteer

Award recipient: Mr Hari Khadka

For the past 15 years, Hari Khadka has been actively involved in fostering cultural understanding between Nepalis and the wider Queensland community.

A passionate advocate for social justice and equity, Hari is a respected community member, well known for his warmth, enthusiasm and organisational skills.

He played a leading role in establishing the Nepali Association of Queensland, and has supported international students from Nepal by supporting them to access employment advice, transport and accommodation.

Hari is currently an adviser to Radio 4EB's Nepali radio program and has organised many community events that further promote multiculturalism.

Highly Commended:

• Ms Poh Choo Wright
• Mr David Yohan

Community organisation

Award recipient: Townsville Multicultural Support Group

The Townsville Multicultural Support Group is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation that assists migrants in the wider Townsville area.

With the help of a dedicated group of volunteers, the support group provides community support services and programs, including assistance with accommodation and employment.

Over the past few years, the group has organised a range of activities that promote multiculturalism within the community, including Harmony Day events, Refugee Week discussion circles and public lectures by international refugee advocates.

This year the support group has partnered with Townsville City Council to coordinate a living library project featuring settled refugees, and successfully negotiated with the council to have the city publicly declared a Refugee Welcome Zone.

This award was accepted by Ms Meg Davis and Ms Consulata Sakaria Townsville Multicultural Support Group.

Highly commended:

• Queensland Eidfest Association Inc
• Islamic Women's Association of Queensland
• Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland

Education

Award recipient: Centenary Heights State High School

Centenary Heights State High School has a proud history of embracing and celebrating multiculturalism.

The school actively incorporates multiculturalism in its core values and business. For example, staff and students are encouraged to undertake cultural competence training; a dedicated international lunch room has been built for senior students and international students; and students study an internationalised curriculum gain skills for an increasingly globalised workplace.

Each year Centenary Heights State High School also elects a cross-cultural captain from the student body to promote harmony and organise multicultural events.

This award was accepted by Mr Jeff Usher and Ms Kathleen Hennant, Centenary Heights State high School.

Highly commended:

• Kirwan State High School
• Kedron State High School

Media

Award recipient: Ms Koren Helbig, Quest Community Newspapers

Journalist Koren Helbig and Quest Community Newspapers have been recognised for a series of informative and engaging articles on refugee and asylum seekers published in early 2010.

Observing a backlash against Logan City's migrant communities, Koren undertook a three-month investigation on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in the local area

Her resulting special three-page report was run by two Queensland newspapers, as well as online, resulting in substantial positive feedback from the community and increased cross-cultural awareness.

Highly commended:

• 612 ABC Radio - Brisbane Mornings (Ms Terri Begley)
• SBS Radio (Mr Stefan Armbruster)

Public sector

Award recipient: Queensland Government Queensland Health (Multicultural Services)

Queensland Health Multicultural Services is a leader in the promotion of health services, policies and programs that respond to the needs of people from culturally diverse backgrounds across the state.

The organisation established the Queensland Health Interpreter Service in 2007, which has resulted in the increased use of interpreting services.

Queensland Health Multicultural Services also established Refugee Health Queensland in 2008 which provides a health assessment, catch-up vaccination, short-term health management and supported referral to ongoing care to all newly arrived humanitarian entrants and refugees to Queensland.

This award was accepted by Ms Ellen Hawes, Ms Marina Chand, Ms Ann Garred, and Ms Ita Szymanska, Queensland Health Multicultural Services.

Highly commended:

• Local Government - Brisbane City Council (Employment Services)

Private enterprise

Award recipient: AWX Agribusiness

AWX Agribusiness works daily with refugee settlement service provider, the Multicultural Development Association, to recruit people from refugee backgrounds to work in the agricultural sector.

In the past year alone, AWX has employed 140 people in the meat industry in Rockhampton and 40 people in Brisbane.

AWX also employs specialist support workers from refugee backgrounds to support the transition of other refugees into the workplace and local community.

The company works closely with local councils, communities and businesses to support employees to resettle in the local area.

This award was accepted by Mr Cameron Hart and Mr Greg Gladman, AWX Agribusiness.

Highly commended:

• Teys Brothers (Biloela) Pty Ltd
• Australian Innovative Systems (AIS) PTY Ltd
• Multicultural Community Centre

Minister's awards

Minister's Multicultural Encouragement Award

Award recipient: Ms Kieu Oanh Do, Police Liasion Officer, Inala

Kieu Oanh Do works as a Police Liaison Officer in the Inala and South Brisbane area, helping to build bridges between the Australian and Vietnamese communities.

Well respected by fellow officers and community members, Kieu Oanh has also strengthened partnerships between the Vietnamese community and the Queensland Police Service.

Kieu Oanh shares her extensive cultural and linguistic expertise to police officers from throughout the greater Brisbane area.

In addition to her work as a Police Liaison Officer, Kieu Oanh organises many community activities, including cultural celebrations for the Vietnamese community, and volunteers to provide English and Vietnamese language lessons.

Mr Bob Atkinson, Commissioner, Queensland Police Service and Dr Cuong Bui, President of the Vietnamese Community in Australia (Queensland Chapter) accepted the award on behalf of Ms Do, who was overseas and unable to attend the ceremony.

Minister's Multicultural Community Award

Award recipient: The Indian Community

So far this year, Queensland has also played host to almost 16,000 international student enrolments from India.

Whether here for a short time to study, or for generations, Queensland's Indian Community makes a strong contribution to this state's economic and cultural vitality.

Queensland's Indian community is incredibly diverse and Queensland benefits enormously from this cultural, religious and linguistic diversity.

This award acknowledges and commends all members of Queensland's Indian community, in particular those who have worked closely with the Queensland Government, through the department, over the past 12 months to support international students in this state to have a positive educational, social and cultural experience.

Over the past year, Indian community and faith organisations have supported international students by coordinating student meetings and forums, linking students groups to the broader community and vice versa; and assisting students to access relevant government assistance.

The department has convened three Roundtables with the Indian community since June 2009 to discuss the issues facing international students from India in Queensland.

The results of these roundtables have been very positive and have been an important opportunity to discuss whole of government strategies to ensure Indian students studying in Queensland are welcomed and treated with respect.

Professor Sava-Daman Singh, Honorary Consul, Consulate of India accepted this award on behalf of the Indian community.