Multicultural Queensland Awards

Mary Ngarongo Bartlett‑Johnston is a respected leader whose lifelong commitment to Māori, Pasifika and multicultural communities has made a lasting impact across Queensland. As Founder and President of Te Korowai Aroha, she has created a “home away from home” for families, helping people settle into life in Australia while staying connected to culture.

Known as “Mama Mary”, she supports young people through programs like Tūhono, helping them build resilience, cultural pride and leadership skills. Her vision has also grown events such as Waitangi at Twilight into major celebrations that share Māori and Pasifika heritage with the wider community.

Mary also advocates for culturally safe services through her role on the Pasifika and Māori Health and Wellbeing Strategy governance group.

Dr Ram Mohan is a respected community leader whose generosity and mentorship have supported Queensland’s multicultural communities for more than 15 years.

He has guided communities through times of crisis, helping them navigate grief and uncertainty. He has strengthened participation in civic, cultural and sporting life, earning a Community Champion Award for mobilising communities during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026.

Alongside a distinguished career in academia, business, media and public service, he established news organisations and a podcast studio and delivered major multicultural events such as the Cultural Fashion Showcase.

Known for his integrity and collaborative leadership, Dr Mohan’s service continues to create lasting change and inspire future generations.

Tautua Group is a social enterprise creating practical pathways into work for Queenslanders from multicultural backgrounds. Through businesses like its barber shop and Kokolanis Café, Tautua offers real‑world training, jobs and skills development in supportive, culturally aware settings.

Their model combines business activity with community impact bringing together National Disability Insurance Scheme services, community programs and commercial ventures to create sustainable income, build workforce skills and deliver measurable community outcomes.

With strong cultural understanding, entrepreneurial thinking and hands‑on delivery, Tautua Group shows how community‑led businesses can unlock new and inclusive economic opportunities across Queensland.

Ms Saba Abraham OAM is a respected community leader and social entrepreneur dedicated to empowering migrant and refugee women in Queensland. As a political refugee from Eritrea, she founded the Eritrean Women and Family Support Network Inc. to provide employment and traineeship opportunities for women facing the impacts of war, poverty and limited education.

This includes the establishment of Mu'ooz Eritrean Restaurant and Catering, an award‑winning social enterprise that provides training, jobs and financial independence, while sharing Eritrean culture with the wider community.

Her leadership has helped build stronger, more inclusive communities while creating opportunities for women and families to thrive economically, socially, and culturally.

The Toowoomba Hockey Association’s Belong in Hockey program shows how sport can create real social change. What began as support for the local Yezidi refugee community in collaboration with Multicultural Australia has grown to welcome people of all cultural backgrounds and abilities, older community members and retirees, and now engages with a wide range of local community organisations.

Belong in Hockey helps address social isolation by creating safe, supportive spaces where people can make friends, build confidence and connect with their community. Through regular participation in hockey, individuals and families improve their physical and mental wellbeing while gaining valuable social networks. The program also enriches the lives of volunteers, many of them retired who say supporting new arrivals has given them purpose and a deeper understanding of refugee experiences.

The program promotes gender equality by ensuring women and girls have opportunities to participate, lead and thrive within the sport—and the organisation has created a lasting community legacy that strengthens social cohesion and provides a world-renowned best-practice model for other community groups to follow.

LatinOz Queensland Inc. is a grassroots organisation strengthening Queensland’s Latin American community while building bridges across cultures and generations. Through Lazos LatinOz, their monthly family and community program, they help children and their families stay connected to their heritage and build a strong sense of belonging.

Through its Queensland Women in Business program, they have supported more than 100 migrant women through business development, mentoring and professional networks. LatinOz also delivers major community events like the Latin Kids Fiesta and the Latin American Awards Australia, powered by volunteers, facilitators, families and community leaders.

The organisation creates spaces where culture is preserved, migrants are empowered, contribution is celebrated and communities connect, and demonstrates the power of a grassroots organisation to strengthen belonging, create opportunity and generate lasting impact across multicultural Queensland.

Janeth Deen OAM is a pioneer and leader whose five decades of service have strengthened intercultural understanding, social cohesion and community wellbeing in Queensland. As founder of the Queensland Muslim Welfare Association, the first Muslim charity of its kind in Queensland, she created practical support pathways for vulnerable community members while encouraging volunteerism and skills development.

Her commitment to preserving and sharing cultural heritage led to the co-founding of the Queensland Muslim Historical Society and established the Queensland Muslim Mini Museum, preserving cultural heritage and celebrating Muslim contributions to Queensland, while fostering greater public understanding and respect.

Throughout her career, she has promoted interfaith dialogue, youth development and community engagement, helping build bridges between cultures. Her enduring legacy is one of compassion, inclusion and institution-building, creating lasting opportunities for connection, belonging and service across Queensland’s multicultural society.

Highly Commended: Tej Man Monger

Tej Man Monger is a respected Far North Queensland volunteer who strengthens and unites multicultural communities. Through local organisations, he supports refugee families affected by grief and tragedy, mentors vulnerable young people, assists isolated elders and helps new arrivals settle into Australian life. He also worked for emergency services during natural disasters to support those in need.

Respected across faith communities, Tej Man is known for fostering cross-cultural understanding, resilience and social cohesion through genuine compassion and service.

Highly Commended: Oyuntsetseg Badarch

Oyuntsetseg Badarch is a dedicated volunteer and community leader who has played a pivotal role in supporting Queensland’s Mongolian community since 2014. She has also often volunteered to facilitate project planning, funding applications, event coordination, partnerships and administration at the Mongolian Community Association in Queensland. Through her hard work, she transformed the Naadam Festival into a major multicultural event attracting more than 2,000 people and championed initiatives like Harmony Bridge to support women and raise awareness of domestic violence.

Her collaborative leadership and commitment to community participation have created lasting social impact and stronger multicultural connections.

Highly Commended: Rejoice Thomson

Rejoice Thomson is a Brisbane-based Filipino-Australian entrepreneur, chef and community leader, and the Founder of Dovetail Social restaurant. Through Dovetail, she has built a distinctive destination that brings together Filipino‑inspired food, inclusive dining and cultural connection. She also mentors young people from multicultural backgrounds, supporting pathways to employment.

Her entrepreneurship demonstrates how a small business can create economic opportunity while contributing to inclusion, cultural understanding and stronger communities.

Highly Commended: Ashish Katta

Ashish Katta is a Queensland entrepreneur, investor and community leader whose journey from international student to business success reflects resilience and innovation. He helped grow iCollege into the ASX‑listed NextEd Group and has created education and employment pathways for thousands of multicultural students. He also mentors emerging entrepreneurs, supports multicultural organisations and champions inclusive leadership.

Through his work in renewable energy and community initiatives, including strengthening First Nations engagement, he continues to promote economic opportunity, collaboration and social cohesion across Queensland.

Highly Commended: Jean Teamoke

Jean Teamoke is a passionate community leader empowering Pacific Island women across Queensland through sport, leadership and entrepreneurship. Through Challenge of the Nations Netball, she’s created a culturally safe space where women build confidence and practical business skills and strengthen community connections. Her grassroots approach has helped participants launch small businesses, and her leadership demonstrates the power of community-led action to promote economic independence and inclusion, and has achieved a long-term positive social impact.

Highly Commended: Village Connect project by Village Connect

Village Connect is a community hub supporting Māori, Pasifika and multicultural Queenslanders through culturally responsive, wraparound support. By bringing health, education, family support and community programs together, they help individuals and families navigate challenges while strengthening connection, confidence and wellbeing. Its community‑led “village” model strengthens cultural identity, trust and collective care, reducing barriers and fostering long‑term resilience. Through empowerment and participation, Village Connect is helping build stronger, more inclusive and connected communities across Queensland.

Highly Commended: Ageing Gracefully program by Thriving Multicultural Communities

Ageing Gracefully program is a unique initiative that supports older multicultural Australians on the Gold Coast to stay connected, active and engaged. It offers culturally responsive activities that reduce isolation and build digital inclusion, learning and wellbeing. With participants from more than 35 cultural backgrounds, the program strengthens confidence and independence through social connection, recreation, creative activities and digital skills.

By fostering inclusion, intercultural friendships and community participation, Ageing Gracefully is strengthening social cohesion and improving quality of life for multicultural seniors.

Highly Commended: Matu Community of Queensland

The Matu Community of Queensland (MCQ) is a grassroots, community-led organisation, supporting young people and families and local multicultural communities across Logan and surrounding areas. MCQ promotes pathways for leadership, education, leadership development, youth wellbeing and social connection through variety of programs such as Football Academy and Toastmasters Sessions.

MCQ also works with local multicultural communities, leaders and partner organisations to share resources, create inclusive opportunities and support community‑led initiatives that strengthen participation and cross‑cultural connection.

Highly Commended: Daraja Impact Hub

Daraja Impact Hub is a Queensland-founded grassroots not-for-profit organisation empowering African and multicultural youth through mentorship, leadership development and innovation. By connecting students and early-career professionals with experienced mentors, it creates pathways to education, employment and community participation. Through structured mentoring programs, workshops and networking opportunities, Daraja is breaking down barriers to opportunity, fostering inclusion and helping develop the next generation of multicultural leaders.

Highly Commended: Sitagata Hanamenn Louis Hunt

Sitagata Hanamenn Hunt is a Samoan community leader whose decades of service have strengthened multicultural communities across Queensland. Through Aiga Samoa Association North Brisbane Inc., he has supported settlement, education, language preservation, youth development and community leadership. He has also helped families navigate key systems while building strong partnerships across sectors. His advocacy and mentoring create lasting inclusion, empowerment and opportunity for Pacific and multicultural Queenslanders.

Highly Commended: Dr Inez Fainga’a Manu Sione

Dr Inez Fainga’a Manu Sione is a respected Pasifika researcher, community leader and advocate who has supported multicultural communities across Queensland for more than 25 years. Through research, community development and policy work, she has embedded Pasifika and Māori perspectives in health, justice and social services. Her scholarship, partnerships and lifelong service continue to create lasting benefits for multicultural communities and future generations.

Highly Commended: Rajabu Mudanzi

Rajabu Mudanzi is a multicultural leader whose work across policing, healthcare and community advocacy has created lasting impact in North Queensland. He has built trust between diverse communities and public institutions, improving access to essential services for refugee and migrant families. Through his leadership in developing rare language interpreter pathways and supporting emerging community leaders, Rajabu has influenced long term institutional practice across the health and community sectors. His work continues to empower diverse communities, strengthen inclusion, and inspire future generations of multicultural leaders.