29 Jul 2015
It is that time of year again. The third Australian Migration and Settlement Awards, hosted by the Migration Council Australia (MCA), will recognise the contribution of organisations and individuals in supporting migrants settle in Australia.
Twenty-one individuals and organisations have been selected as finalists in 2015, including in a new category, “Empowering Women”, that recognises efforts to promote safety, participation and leadership for migrant women.
MCA Chief Executive Officer Carla Wilshire said the finalists demonstrate how welcome and support can bring out the best of migrants living in Australia.
“Diversity is a virtue for multicultural Australia. Individuals and organisations like these selected as finalists in the Australian and Migration Settlement Awards show how important the value of support is to newly arrived migrants. Social cohesion doesn’t just appear, it is created by many within our community,” Ms Wilshire said.
The nominees’ efforts in assisting new migrants and refugees will be recognised and the winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner, held in the Great Hall of Parliament House on 18 August. An independent judging panel undertook the selection of finalists and award winners, chaired by Ms Quentin Bryce and assisted by Dr Hass Dellal, Ms Naomi Milgrom and Mr Andrew O’Keefe.
The awards include eight categories:
- Settlement Innovation Award
- Case Worker of the year Award
- Diversity and the Law Award
- Journalism Excellence Award
- Business Inclusion Award
- Sports Leadership Award
- Empowering Women Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
The Migration Council Australia would like to thank all of the individuals who took the time and effort to nominate themselves, colleagues, organisations or friends.
A full list of finalists is available in the appendix below.
Contact MCA Media: 02 6162 0361 or MCA CEO Carla Wilshire: 0409 363 888
Appendix: Australian Migration and Settlement Award finalists
Settlement Innovation Award
To recognise an organisation or initiative that has demonstrated the most innovative methods in the support of new refugees, migrants or the local community.
Finalists:
- TasTAFE ‘Students Against Racism’ for their inspirational workshops and performances making a huge impact on young people sharing their stories of settlement in Australia.
- Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre WA for their ‘Sharing Stories’ program, which uses theatre, filmmaking, art and drama to communicate sexual health and blood borne virus education to migrant communities.
- Community Migrant Resource Centre ‘Integrated Settlement Delivery Practice’ which collaborates with existing service providers to create innovative and sustainable programs to encourage migrants and refugees to better navigate pathways to education, job opportunities or to start up small businesses.
Case Worker of the Year Award
To award individuals, recognised by their employer and/or community who have performed beyond expectations in the settlement of newly arrived refugees or migrants.
Finalists:
- Roshni Chhetri for her work with Spectrum Migrant Resource Centre and for her sincere respect, warmth and professionalism helping to build the capacity of her clients so they can reach their full potential.
- Ali Faraj for his work with the GWS Giants and for his knowledge and experience of multicultural issues in helping deliver harmony and social cohesion outcomes.
- Nedhal Amir for her work with Settlement Services International and her genuine passion to actively seek and create solutions for her clients.
Business Inclusion Award
To recognise a business that has successfully delivered a community-orientated program aimed at improving the inclusion of migrants within the Australian workforce.
Finalists:
- ANZ for their ‘Given The Chance’ program which assists in building bridges between migrant jobseekers and the mainstream workforce.
- Hunter TAFE for their work with Maria’s Farm Veggies Pty and Penola House in training migrants and refugees for future employment within the horticulture industry.
- Teys Australia (Biloela) for their ongoing commitment to employ individuals from migrant backgrounds and support their settlement within the community.
Sports Leadership Award
To recognise an Australian sports code, organisation or individual that has developed programs or strategies to include new migrants and people from diverse backgrounds.
Finalists:
- Newington Gunners for their tireless work to engage with newly arrived asylum-seekers and refugees through sport and their commitment to inclusiveness and participation.
- Australian Football League’s (AFL) Multicultural Program for their continuous commitment to better sporting, health, leadership, education and employment outcomes for multicultural communities.
- Life Saving Victoria ‘CALD Aquatics’ Program for raising sports and leisure participation, safety and settlement for over 13,000 CALD community members within Victoria.
Journalism Excellence Award
To recognise excellence in reporting on issues relating to Australian migration.
Finalists:
- Claudia Taranto and Laurence Grissell for their story ‘Workers without Borders’ which explores individual and community stories, highlighting the benefits and drawbacks of people moving out of their home country for opportunities to work elsewhere.
- Peter Mares for his story ‘Living at the Wrong End of the Queue’ which presents the story of Priority Group 5 – migrants who lodged valid applications for permanent residency more than four years ago and still face an indefinite wait for processing.
- Ben Doherty and Sarah Malik, for their stories in The Guardian, examining the issues of asylum seekers and refugees, in Australian, regional and global contexts.
Diversity and the Law Award
To recognise an organisation or individual who has worked to raise awareness of our social and justice systems among new migrants and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
Finalists:
- Women’s Legal Centre ACT for their ‘Divorce Clinic’ program which draws upon the pro bono services of private family law solicitors to assist CALD women who are seeking a divorce to obtain one.
- Qld Eidfest Association’s violence awareness campaign, taking domestic violence within the community out into the open.
- inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence’s in-house legal centre which is the first multicultural women’s legal centre in Australia to specialise in family violence matters.
Empowering Women Award
To recognise an organisation, individual or initiative that has empowered migrant women through a focus on safety, participation, or leadership.
Finalists:
- Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland for providing a voice to migrant women with a particular focus on refugee women in assisting them in becoming more independent and resilient.
- Immigrant Women’s Health Service for supporting and empowering vulnerable women from immigrant and refugee backgrounds so that they can make choices that will enable them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives in a new country.
- Tamara Stewart-Jones for her championing the introduction of mums and bubs programs at Multicultural Youth SA (MYSA). These programs go beyond play-based learning and have elements to provide genuine empowerment and support for CALD young women at risk.
Lifetime Achievement Award
The winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced on the night.