- Dr Themelina Paraskeva and Mrs Thuy Thanh Tran recognised at 2026 Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards
- 2025-26 Community Languages Program supported by Cook Labor Government with $2.345 million funding, including 67 community language schools teaching 43 languages
- Part of the Cook Labor Government's commitment to supporting multicultural communities to help build a safer, more inclusive and connected Western Australia
The dedication, drive and expertise of Western Australia's community language teachers was celebrated at last night's 2026 Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards.
Dr Themelina Paraskeva from the Greek Language and Culture Institute of Evangelimos was awarded Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year, in recognition of how her exceptional contributions have significantly enhanced the quality of teaching and learning in a community language group in WA.
The Emerging Community Language Teacher of the Year Award, for an educator in their first three years of community language teaching, went to Mrs Thuy Thanh Tran from Hung Vuong Vietnamese School, highlighting the hard work and commitment of new teachers to community language schools.
Presented by Community Languages Western Australia in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Interests, a total of 41 nominations were submitted across the two award categories.
Nominees reflected a wide range of community languages including Dari, Tamil, Greek, Malayalam and Russian.
The 2025-26 Community Languages Program is supported by the Cook Labor Government with $2.345 million funding.
As part of this, a record $1,562,100 was allocated to 67 community language schools teaching 43 languages.
Administered by the Office of Multicultural Interests, the Community Languages Program provides support to eligible not-for-profit community organisations to teach languages other than English for students from Kindergarten to Year 12 out of school hours.
More information about the Community Languages Program can be found at the Office of Multicultural Interests website .
As stated by Multicultural Interests Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"Congratulations to Dr Themelina Paraskeva from the Greek Language and Culture Institute of Evangelimos and Mrs Thuy Thanh Tran from Hung Vuong Vietnamese School, for their well-deserved acknowledgement in the 2026 Outstanding Community Language Teacher of the Year Awards.
"With most community language teachers being volunteers, these awards offer an important way to highlight their significant efforts to instil an appreciation for language and cultural traditions in the next generation.
"Western Australia is enriched by the cultural diversity of the communities who call our State home, and the Cook Labor Government is proud to invest in a strong, vibrant and connected multicultural society as part of building safe and inclusive communities."
