Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence

Victorian Multicultural Awards for ExcellenceThe Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence honour outstanding individuals and organisations that foster cross-cultural understanding, support migrants and refugees, and celebrate and preserve the diversity of cultures that make Victoria such a great place to live. This year, two awards were given to multicultural workers in Shepparton.


In 2021, 52 Victorians were recognised in the Multicultural Awards for Excellence, highlighting the passionate work of individuals and organisations that are strengthening multiculturalism in Victoria.

SPORT AWARD

This award recognises people and organisations that develop and implement sporting programs that aim to build social cohesion and harmony across communities.

Highly Commended – Sam Atukorala

Sam Atukorala is a well-known community leader in Victoria, a respected mentor to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and a professional in the community sector.

He is an AFL Diversity Program Ambassador and was a Community Ambassador for Cricket Australia.

He has organised footy trips, events and several key projects in Shepparton to support young people from new and emerging communities to engage in sport.  

Sam’s significant contribution to these projects not only helped break down barriers and build sustainable relationships but also created a smooth transition for young people from new and emerging communities to settle into life in Australia.

 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence
Sam Atukorala with Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Ros Spence MP, and The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria

 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence
Sam Atukorala with Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Ros Spence MP

COMMUNITY INNOVATION AWARD

 This award recognises projects or programs that have been established in the last 18 months that use outside-the-box thinking to address a problem facing a diverse community and that shares knowledge about a culture with a wider audience.

Highly Commended – African Focus, St Paul’s African House

The ‘Our voices are important in Greater Shepparton’ project was the first of its kind to perform an in-depth survey of 255 adults of African background in the Greater Shepparton area. This award wasw accepted by Kate Radevski, of St Paul’s African House.

It created a broader understanding and acceptance of different African nationalities and cultures of the team members involved.

Several special reports have also been shared with key stakeholders to provide valuable information and encourage change around particular topics, including COVID-19 vaccination rollout, language and interpreter services through Monash University and tailored support to assist the African community to gain employment.

This project also gave paid employment to newcomers to the workforce who have since gone on to develop their careers in other meaningful employment. 

 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence
Kate Radevski with the Chair of the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Viv Nguyen

 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence
Sam Atukorala, The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, and Kate Radevski of St Paul’s African House

 


 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence
Sam Atukorala, Eddie Micallef (Chair, ECCV) and Chris Hazelman of the Ethnic Council

 

Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence

Mahommed Yassin (Victorian Multicultural Commission), The Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, Sarmed Yassin (Ethnic Council of Shepparton)

Class photo

 

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