Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll inductees

Azadeh Doosti has been an active community member and volunteer since arriving in Australia in 2012. She is a School Community Hub Leader at Bell Park North Primary School where she connects families with each other, their school, and with services.

Azadeh supports families with refugee backgrounds to settle into life in Australia, build English conversational skills, engage in becoming active members of the community, and prepare for the Australian Citizenship test.

Prof. Bianca Brijnath is committed to raising awareness and furthering research on dementia in people from multicultural backgrounds. Her advocacy includes exploring digital technologies to create resources that are free, available 24/7, mobile-optimised, and help multicultural communities navigate services.

Bianca is also working on making medical research more inclusive by engaging with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to develop a CALD Dementia Research Action Plan.

Bosede Adetifa is an active member of Victoria’s Nigerian community, particularly in regional areas. She spearheaded many Yoruba and Nigerian cultural activities across metro and regional communities, and proudly promotes her cultural heritage and embrace of multiculturalism.

Boseda was recently involved in establishing the first Yoruba language class in Australia.

Christina Chia is a community leader who fosters opportunities and connections within Melbourne's multicultural communities, particularly for migrants from Malaysia, Singapore, China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia. In the past 10 years, she's helped raise over $300,000 in charitable funds through volunteer and community roles.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Christina co-founded MYC Heart Connectors; a not-for-profit online community that connects multicultural communities and explores topics of interest and relevance via guest speakers.

Dr Christos Fifis is a leading Greek-Australian historian, translator and educator based in Melbourne. He has devoted more than 50 years to supporting and initiating the establishment of Greek translation services, historical documentation, and literary works.

Christos is a prominent advocate for social and community services, a broadcaster for Greek Australian media and has been a volunteer broadcaster for Melbourne's multicultural radio 3ZZZ program for over 30 years.

Since arriving in Australia in 2009, Donald Betts has been an active community member who supports and mentors young people and those from multicultural communities. With his vast experience in law and politics, he speaks at events and mentors young Vietnamese-Australian leaders participating in the Dual Identity Leadership Program.

Donald co-founded the Norton American Australian Lawyers Alliance (NAALA) where he serves as president and was instrumental in creating a designated position for an Indigenous NAALA board member.

Elias Diacolabrianos has made lasting contributions to multiculturalism in Victoria since he arrived in Melbourne over 50 years ago. He is an advocate for the Greek Australian community and voluntarily championed accessible translation, welfare, and community support services.

Elias advocates for increased diversity in Australia's media landscape and is himself a media broadcaster, having been involved in the expansion of community radio since the 1970s. He was one of the first broadcasters to work for Melbourne's multicultural radio 3ZZZ program and continues to present a weekly program
and is a sitting board member.

Emily Unity works as a multicultural mental health advocate and lived-experience consultant, advocating the importance
of elevating the voices of underrepresented and marginalised populations, particularly culturally diverse young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Her experience of the cultural nuances relating to mental health for multicultural communities is central to

her advocacy and support for young people facing barriers to mental health support. Emily's mission is to advocate for inclusive and accessible mental health reform for everyone.

Fartun Farah arrived in Australia on a refugee humanitarian women at-risk visa. In 2007, she saw that her community had unmet
needs and established the East African Women's Foundation; a grassroots community organisation that works directly with the community to combat issues. Through the Foundation, Fartun supports her community on issues including domestic violence, housing, accessing services and promoting health advice, including COVID-19 information.

She advocates to develop leadership opportunities for girls and young women, supports parents with training and information sessions, and celebrates and promotes cultural heritage through language and identity.

Guosheng Yang Chen is a community leader who has dedicated nearly 40 years in Australia to promoting multilingual and multicultural education. She contributes to multiculturalism in Victoria through her work in higher education, community engagement, and strategic advisory groups, such as the Department of Education and Training’s Victoria Workforce and Planning Group.

Guosheng applies her leadership and expertise to the development and implementation of multilingual and multicultural policies.

Dr. Harpreet Singh Kandra is a leader in the Sikh community and the driving force behind the opening of the new Sikh temple: Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer in Melbourne’s south-east. He promotes multiculturalism, demonstrates mutual respect and compassion for those in need and champions equal opportunity for all. Harpreet raised awareness and appreciation for Sikh culture by organising stalls at culturally significant events for Harmony Day and Australia Day.

A keen advocate for young people and student learning, he has supported the Youth Leadership Program at Cardinia Shire Council and given guest lectures to the Youth Councillors.

Hemant Ganesh Gokhale is a founding member of the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria, the Maharashtra Mandal of Victoria, Gujrati Association, and the Hindu Society of Victoria. At the age of 83, he continues to be an active community leader and is involved in numerous community events and activities.

Hemant’s expertise and counsel on social policy, economic support, arts, and cultural initiatives are regularly sought from migrant and emerging communities.

James Henry is a quiet achiever, with a knack for drawing people together to achieve a common goal. He has been President of Cook Islands Community of Victoria since its inception and was recently appointed President of the National Cook Island Community of Australia. Under James’ leadership, many at-risk youths have become significant leaders in their own communities.

This had made a huge impact on the lives of these young people, their families and churches in Victoria’s Cook Islands and Pacific Islander communities.

Over the last 20 years, Jaya Manchikanti has contributed to volunteering efforts to support Victoria’s Indian and broader South Asian communities. Her leadership in the Telugu Ladies Club has enabled new Telugu speaking women to become more integrated into Australian society.

Jaya was instrumental in setting up IndianCare, which serves as a conduit between the Indian community and the service sector in Victoria, and has benefited service providers who wish to engage and build relationships with the Indian community.

June Anderson is the founder and former president of the Australian Asian Business Women’s Association. She has generated opportunities for multicultural communities to network and establish relationships, especially with women from Chinese, Korean, European, Indian, Jewish and African communities.

June raises funds to support vulnerable women facing sudden illness, family issues and disability. Through training and cultural language discussion groups, she has helped migrant women build confidence, consider new business opportunities, and integrate into multicultural Victoria.

Maha Htoo Sein is a young person from Bendigo’s Karen community who is passionate about community support and works at Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services. As a trusted source of information, he provides information in English and Karen on topics critical to the wellbeing of the community.

During COVID-19, Maha was instrumental in leading the response to support multicultural communities in Bendigo. He produced and broadcasted timely information in many different languages to ensure his communities were provided with accurate information about rules, restrictions, and hygiene practices.

May Red Zafra pioneered and established a not-for-profit organisation called Tagalog Learning Inc., which aims to promote and preserve the Tagalog language for second and third generation Filipino migrants. The initiative changed the way that young Filipinos view their community language, culture, and heritage and has more than 1000 members who engage online, for example through the Tagalog Learning YouTube channel.

Since arriving in Australia in 2009, Melvin Mata has been an active Filipino community leader in Victoria. He is the anchor of Good Vibes Pilipinas, a program on 979FM community radio, through which Melvin has been involved in many volunteer initiatives benefiting multicultural communities.

During the 2019– 20 bushfires, he and his radio colleagues collaborated with other community groups to acquire resources to donate to victims in Gippsland.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Melvin shared key information tailored to the Filipino community through interviews with medical experts, WorkSafe practitioners, mental health experts, family violence experts, police and businesses.

Since he arrived in Australia in 1998, Dr. Mohajer Hameed has led major cultural ceremonies and community gatherings, and proactively engages with members of all ages in Shepparton’s Iraqi-Shia wider community.

His promotion of cultural participation and the social and cultural benefits of diversity strengthened community connections, preserved cultural norms, customs, and traditions, and built collective cultural well-being, faith-based healing, and safety.

Myint Myint Wai came to Australia under a humanitarian assistance visa after she was incarcerated by the military junta for her beliefs. For over 10 years, she has been actively involved in supporting Burmese communities by translating for those with limited English, supporting vulnerable members with no immediate next of kin, offering financial support, and volunteering at numerous fundraising events.

Myint Myint is the President of the Burmese Welfare Association of Victoria.

Nasteha Mohamud formerly worked as a Program Manager of Social Cohesion at The Huddle, the community arm of the North Melbourne Football Club established with the Scanlon Foundation and the Australian Multicultural Foundation. She has actively engaged with the community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and liaised with state and local governments to support vaccination efforts for African Australian communities in western Melbourne.

Nasteha’s advocacy has increased vaccination rates and established strong relationships with the community to support their needs and representation with government and non-profit organisations.

Nurcihan Ozturk has been working and volunteering with multicultural communities for over 40 years. She been President of the Turkish Women’s Recreational Group for 18 years: a grassroots organisation based in Melbourne’s northern suburbs that provides educational services and promotes Turkish culture to reduce social isolation.

As an official in the trade union movement, Nurcihan works directly with diverse communities, especially women, and has successfully advocated and mediated for unfairly dismissed workers.

Paul Singh Khumra has been working in community services for past 15 years, assisting hundreds of disadvantaged Victorians from multicultural backgrounds. As a Jobs Victoria mentor, he helps people seek sustainable employment with an intersectional lens that is mindful of complex needs and cultural nuance.

Paul’s holistic approach and mentoring methods have assisted many multicultural young people to gain independence through employment and become positive role models in their communities.

Rosita Vincent’s record of community service spans more than 25 years in volunteer and paid roles. She is deeply connected with multicultural communities across regional Victoria, including Bendigo and its surrounds, and supports newly arrived migrants and refugees to settle and establish connections with their communities.

Rosita’s legacy is her work in anti-racism and social cohesion, where she has increased the capacity of established communities to welcome new arrivals and strengthen inclusivity.

Ruel de Leon, or Beng as he is more fondly known in the Filipino community, has been a volunteer radio broadcaster at 3ZZZ 92.3 FM, Melbourne Ethnic Community Radio since 1991. He became Convenor of the Filipino Broadcasting Group and was pivotal in leading his team of broadcasters in reaching out to Victoria’s wider Filipino community.

Beng’s radio program has been vital in elevating the experiences of Filipino identity. This has inspired Filipino young people to learn their cultural language – promoting a continued connection to, and celebration of, their cultural identity

Sam Atukorala is a community leader and mentor to members from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in the Goulburn Murray community in Shepparton.

As the Strategic Engagement Coordinator (Goulburn Region) for the Ethnic Council of Shepparton, Sam has initiated, developed, and coordinated several projects, programs, and events to support multicultural people in the community, including newly arrived migrants settling and transitioning into life in Australia.

Savindhi Perera-Jainudeen is a young emerging community leader and volunteer who has contributed to cultural unity and celebration of cultural diversity, especially for the Sri Lankan and broader South Asian community. As a young woman under 30, she has spent more than 15 years advocating for multiculturalism.

Savindhi fostered inter-generational understanding in the community, enabling two-way learning between older and younger generations to celebrate and learn the nuances of diasporic cultural identities between different generations.

As President of the Filipino Australian Association of Ballarat, Sherlita Teope Hart has contributed to multiculturalism in regional Victoria, creating a positive impact in the Bendigo, Geelong, Donald, Ararat, and Horsham communities.

She was active in welcoming new migrants to the Ballarat community and supporting young community members to become job-ready and gain employment. Sherlita’s ability to build relationships across communities has challenged racist and prejudicial stereotypes, making Ballarat a more welcoming and diverse place to live, work and raise a family.

Tammy Iliou is described as a trailblazer and community leader for Melbourne’s Greek community. She has actively engaged in Greek community activities for more than 30 years and led the development of numerous welfare, arts, and community programs.

Across different cultural groups, Tammy has been focused on developing young female leaders and programs for the elderly who typically face a distinct set of challenges around language, and access to and use of technology which impacts their engagement in the broader community and access to services. She was also the first female Vice-President of the Greek Community of Melbourne and Victoria in its 140-year-old history.