The Allan Labor Government, in collaboration with the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), celebrated the remarkable efforts of individuals and organisations that contribute to a united and inclusive Victoria.
Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, and VMC Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen gathered with Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria, to honour the awardees at the 2024 Multicultural Awards for Excellence.
This year’s awards attracted over 220 nominations across 14 categories, ranging from Arts and Youth Leadership to Emergency Services and Refugee contributions. These awards acknowledge the significant roles multicultural individuals and groups play in fostering cross-cultural understanding and building resilient communities.
Premier’s Award for Community Harmony
The prestigious Premier’s Award for Community Harmony was presented to the Wyndham Central College Community Hub. The Hub’s initiatives, including language programs and cultural support services, enhance family capacity, improve student outcomes, and strengthen community ties.
Refugee Young Leader Award
Diba Jalal received the Refugee Young Leader Award for her contributions to Afghan cultural revitalisation and her dedication to inspiring young engineers through the Victorian Afghan Students Association and RMIT’s Afghan Student Association.
Multicultural Honour Roll Inductees
Acknowledging the tireless efforts of multicultural Victorians in various fields, 25 individuals were inducted into the Multicultural Honour Roll. For the full list of award winners and nominees, visit multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au.
Awardees of Greek Heritage
The event also highlighted the achievements of several individuals of Greek heritage, showcasing their impact across diverse sectors:
- Media Award – Highly Commended: Steve (Sotiris) Hatzimanolis
- Mental Health and Wellbeing Award – Winner: Associate Professor Iraklis Harry Minas
- Police Annual Multicultural Award – Winner: Senior Sergeant Stylianos (Steve) Spyrou
- Multicultural Honour Roll Inductees: Associate Professor Josefine Antoniades, Professor Nicholas John Papastergiadis, and Costa Alex Vasili
Celebrating unity in diversity
Premier Jacinta Allan praised the unity and diversity that define Victoria:
“The Victoria I love is a place where we come from hundreds of different backgrounds, but we are one community – tonight we celebrate and honour individuals and organisations for their remarkable contributions to a united Victoria”.
Minister Ingrid Stitt highlighted the importance of the awards in strengthening community bonds:
“From arts to youth leadership, the awards shine a light on the ways these efforts foster cross-cultural understanding, strengthen community bonds and create a more inclusive Victoria”.
VMC Chairperson Vivienne Nguyen commended the recipients for their transformative work:
“Our multicultural champions create positive and lasting change, building bridges between communities to improve the lives of others”.
