Community champions who are strengthening multiculturalism in Victoria walked the red carpet last night at the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence. Now in its 24th year, the event celebrated achievements across 14 award categories and highlighted the significant contributions of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers to the local community.

The ceremony was opened by the Governor of Victoria, Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC. The Governor stressed the profound importance of the awards, noting that multiculturalism is a reason to hope that Victorians “are and will continue to be open-minded and practical people” focused on making progress a reality. She emphasized that every new wave of Victorians enriches diversity, deepens the understanding of the world, and expands the state’s possibilities and horizons.

The awards recognized advancements made by local champions of diversity in areas including arts, business, emergency services, and media. The 2025 ceremony also acknowledged individuals placed on the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll, highlighting their vital role in keeping communities safe, connected, and strong.

Among the key winners recognized were:

• Dr Anindita Banerjee received the Arts Award for her work as a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and arts leader who empowers multicultural communities through inclusive storytelling and public art.

• The Philippine Times earned the Media Award for connecting Filipino-Australians through trusted reporting and cultural storytelling.
• The Centre for Muslim Wellbeing was honored with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Award for being a community-led organization dedicated to improving mental health, spiritual wellbeing, and social inclusion for Muslim communities in Victoria.

• The Greater Shepparton City Council’s Emergency Management and Resilience Team won the Local Government Award for facilitating the co-design of community resilience programs through an inclusive approach with multicultural organizations.

• In law enforcement, Senior Constable Ding Cai, a Multicultural Liaison Officer, demonstrated a longstanding commitment to creating meaningful relationships between Victoria Police and multicultural communities, receiving the Police Multicultural Media Award.

• The Premier’s Award for Community Harmony went to Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar (SGND) Officer, a Sikh community organization established in 2019 that provides a platform for interfaith dialogue, crisis response, and health access across Victoria.

• Peter Cinzah received the Refugee Achievement Award for proactively fostering unity and inclusion, supporting diverse communities through youth sports, education, and cultural events.
• The Bachar Houli Foundation secured the Sport Award for empowering young Australian Muslims and multicultural communities through sport, leadership, and education.

• The Youth Leadership Award was given to COOK4CALD, a youth-led charity addressing food insecurity in Melbourne’s South-East with culturally inclusive meal programs.

The list of recipients also included multiple police officers, religious leaders, advocates, and organizations dedicated to safety and support, such as Sergeant Verity Newport for challenging racial bias in schools, Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi for countering religiously-inspired violent extremism, and Luba Tanevski for over 35 years of advocacy supporting migrant and refugee women fleeing family violence. The sheer breadth of the achievements recognized demonstrates how multiculturalism operates as a cornerstone of Victorian community life.