Winners - 2007 Queensland Multicultural Awards
Individual Category - Community Services
Giuliano Cordenos, Mareeba
Giuliano is a post war migrant from Italy who came to Australia in 1962. For 20 years, Giuliano has been actively involved in a range of projects and activities that support multiculturalism in Mareeba Shire. He has been chairing and organising the multicultural festival in Mareeba since 1999 and has brought a broad section of community members and entities together providing opportunities for them to work together towards the ideals of multiculturalism.
Remadevi (Rema) Dhanasekar, Rockhampton
Rema moved to Rockhampton in 1992 from India. She is the President of the Central Queensland Multicultural Association and is holding an academic position at Central Queensland University in Engineering. Rema has been involved in activities to promote multiculturalism within the Rockhampton community for the past ten years. She has participated in many community projects and activities. She also initiated the introduction of community language schools for migrants to learn their mother tongue as well as for community members to learn a foreign language.
Kayla Szumer, Buderim
Kayla was born in 1936 in Sydney to Russian migrants. Since her arrival at the Sunshine Coast in 2003, Kayla has been active in both her local community in Buderim as well as in the wider Sunshine Coast community. Kayla has coordinated the educational project Courage to Care and has also volunteered her time to the plight of refugees through Buddies Refugee Group. She also provided assistance to the settlement of migrants through her work as an active member of the Buddies Refugee Group.
Individual Category - Refugee Services
Sister de Lourdes Jarrett, Nudgee
Sister de Lourdes Jarrett has shown exemplary dedication through her enormous commitment of time and generosity of spirit and has gone beyond what may be expected. By dedicating her time and energy to the most vulnerable and marginalised people she has been extraordinarily effective in her work for the welfare of refugees and their families. Through her exceptionally giving and loving ways Sister de Lourdes' work has had a huge impact on people who have just arrived in the community.
Outstanding Young Achiever
Hawzheen Zandi, Sunnybank Hills
SHawzheen has made a significant contribution in the resettlement of Kurdish refugee families and is an exemplary role model and inspiration for young people, especially Muslims. Her roles as mentor, member of the Queensland Youth Council and Vice President of the Kurdish Association of Queensland have been of great value.
School Category Award Winners
Primary school winner - Moorooka State School, Moorooka
In the past three years Moorooka State School has had an increase in enrolment of students with refugee status, with the majority of these students from countries in the Horn of Africa. Approximately 25 per cent of students are classified as English as Second Language speakers with 24 different languages spoken by these students.
The school planning and policy implementation demonstrate high consideration of community demographics and incorporation of the principles of multiculturalism. The principles of multiculturalism are incorporated into the school curriculum across all levels.
Moorooka State School engages with the wider school community to implement and support the incorporation of multiculturalism through a number of initiatives and services that go well beyond what may be expected.
Secondary school winner - St James College, Brisbane
The College has demonstrated ongoing professional development and strategic planning and policy implementation to improve teaching and learning outcomes for students with a first language other than English. Subjects are included that provide students with a broader understanding of the needs and rights of migrants and refugees. The multicultural nature of the school environment is celebrated in a range of ways and activities, such as Arts performances, the college's annual Diversity Gala and sports events. These initiatives have proven to be immensely effective in supporting multicultural communication and understanding.
Community Based Organisation Category Award Winner
MultiLink Community Services Inc
MultiLink's achievements are many and significant. The organisation has consistently and proactively undertaken innovative and responsive programs that meet the needs of culturally diverse communities as well as the broader community.
Through its holistic approach the organisation has a broad scope of activities and projects that result in a high level of community engagement and community development, with positive impacts even outside the Logan area, where the organisation is based.
The judges were particularly impressed by MultiLink's Strategic Plan 2007-2010, which demonstrates a creative way to support migrants and refugees in and around Logan.
It does this by providing greater access to an extended range of services and programs that facilitate more empowering experiences of settlement and community participation.
Business Category Award Winners
Small business - Horn of Africa Employment Services, Annerley
Horn of Africa Employment Services provides assistance to jobseekers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds who have suffered long term unemployment.
The Agency focuses on refugees and recently arrived migrants from Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. The business commenced operation in July 2004 and is located in Annerley.
The staff at Horn of Africa Employment Services has excelled in proactively approaching employers to advocate on behalf of disadvantaged employment seekers, which has resulted in a trusting relationship with those in need.
Large business - Anglo Coal Australia, Brisbane
Anglo Coal Australia is one of Australia's leading coal producers with extensive mining interests and prospects in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
With a history dating back to the late 1800's in South Africa, Anglo Coal has demonstrated a rich heritage of employing and supporting people form a wide variety of cultures. Anglo Coal commenced operations in Australia in 2000 and has continued the custom of embracing cultural diversity.
Government Category Award Winner
Legal Aid Queensland
Legal Aid Queensland is a statutory authority that provides legal information, advice and representation to financially and socially disadvantaged Queenslanders.
Legal Aid Queensland has demonstrated the agency's commitment to deliver best practices in the concept of multiculturalism by developing and adopting a Multicultural Action Plan.
Legal Aid Queenslan's innovation and pro-activeness as a statutory authority, sets an excellent example for all government departments and agencies.
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