The Victorian Government is gearing up to honour people and organisations that have strengthened the state's multiculturalism.
Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence today opened nominations for the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence, which pay tribute to champions of diversity and others who have supported Victorians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The annual awards will look different in 2020 - not just due to the pandemic - but also because they will feature seven new categories reflecting the many fields in which diversity is being embraced.
It includes the Community Response and Recovery category to honour the remarkable efforts of those who have assisted during the coronavirus pandemic and the bushfires of early 2020.
Victorians can be nominated for either paid or voluntary work across another 14 categories, including the Premier's Award for Community Harmony, Youth Leadership Media, Refugee Advocacy, Police, Business, Community Innovation and Health.
Award recipients will be honoured during an online ceremony hosted by the Victorian Multicultural Commission later in the year.
The Victorian Multicultural Awards were first held 19 years ago, recognising the state's strong diverse history and many Victorians that contribute to it.
For more information about the awards, eligibility or to submit a nomination, go to multiculturalcommission.vic.gov.au/multicultural-awards-for-excellence. Nominations close 11.59pm on Sunday, 11 October 2020.
Next year, the Victorian Refugee Awards will be re-introduced to acknowledge the contributions and achievements of Victorians from refugee backgrounds.
As stated by Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ros Spence
"Victoria's success as a multicultural society is due to the extraordinary and ongoing contributions of Victorians of all backgrounds."
"It is a great privilege to invite nominations for this year's Multicultural Awards for Excellence so we can formally acknowledge those who help make our state such a welcoming, inclusive and wonderful place to live."
As stated by Victorian Multicultural Commission Chair Vivienne Nguyen
"We are pleased to announce new categories that reflect the depth and breadth of inspiring work being undertaken to promote and embed diversity and inclusion in the areas of justice, refugee advocacy, health, the arts and sport."
"And to recognise the truly remarkable and selfless efforts by and for multicultural communities in response to coronavirus and the bushfires of 2020, we have introduced a community response and recovery category."
