2020 Multicultural Awards: Australian Indians shine among Victorian recipients

In 2020, 71 Victorians were recognised from more than 450 nominations across 15 categories, highlighting the passionate work of individuals and organisations that are strengthening multiculturalism. Australian Indians in Victorian community dominated to shine in many categories.

Youth Leadership Award

This award recognises the outstanding contributions of a young person, group or organisation that provides leadership, empowerment, and support to young Victorians from culturally diverse backgrounds. Winner is Sarah Ghassali she is a 19-year-old Syrian migrant who fled Aleppo, Syria with her family to Melbourne in May of 2012. Sarah established the youth-led podcast Refugees on Air at the age of 16 with her twin sister Maya as a platform to raise awareness and bring a voice to refugee and migrant stories in the Melbourne community. Highly commended were Ayushi Khillian and Swathi Shanmukhasundaram.

Media Award

This award recognises outstanding reporting of issues of importance to diverse communities and reporting that contributes to Victorians’ improved cross-cultural understanding. Winners are Stephanie Corsetti: Journalist Stephanie Corsetti is dedicated to giving multicultural communities a voice in media. Her work relays the experience and explores the stigma of family violence in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters Council. On 1 May 2020, the NEMBC launched a Multilingual Radio News Service in seven languages: Spanish, Greek, Hindi, Arabic, Punjabi, Pacific Islander English, and Mandarin. News editors collected and provided news scripts at 8.00am every morning, which were translated and produced as audio files for the morning and daily news. Highly commended were Olivier Nzovu and SBS Radio.

Multicultural Police Award

Police Annual Multicultural Award was received by Leading Senior Constable Ash Dixit along with 8 others. Ash Dixit has done valuable police liaison work with Punjabi and Sikh community groups in the Cities of Hume and Whittlesea to address family violence. Senior Constable Dixit works across numerous multicultural communities and has been described as a true multicultural champion by community and police alike for his steadfast dedication to ensuring that Victoria remains a safe place to live for those newly arrived persons who seek to call

Senior Constable Ash Dixit (left)Australia home.

Community Response and Recovery Award

Sukhvinder ‘Sunny’ Duggal, Sunny Duggal is recognised for his inspiring efforts in supporting communities across Melbourne and East Gippsland during the Victorian bushfires and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Through his incredible work delivering over seven tonnes of food and other essential items to frontline healthcare and emergency services workers, residents of aged care, international students, and other communities in need, Sunny has demonstrated how much impact one person can have on so many. Sunny’s passion and drive to serve the community throughout 2020 has motivated individuals and organisations to follow his lead, as an exemplary model of what support of multicultural communities in Victoria should look like. 6 others also shared this prestigious award with Mr Duggal.

Education Award

Coordinated by Merri Health, Ready, Set, Prep! is a place-based, collective impact initiative that aims to improve early childhood development and school readiness for pre-school children and their families. Originating in the suburb of Fawkner, the project is currently scaling up across northern Moreland. Though Highly Commended was ECMS, Tarneit Central Kindergarten the Tarneit Central Kindergarten’s Bilingual Early Childhood Language Program provides children with the opportunity to learn in Punjabi. Educators have observed that the children have become more connected with one another and more willing to share aspects of their own culture through the program.