Multicultural Queensland Award 2021 winners

Winner: Beny Bol OAM, Queensland African Communities Council

Beny is President of the Queensland African Communities Council (QACC), has been the Senior Program Manager of Logan’s Outreach Youth Off the Streets program, and is engaged with multiple other community programs.

Beny’s work with African Youth Leaders in Queensland has supported many young people of African backgrounds to challenge, highlight and recognise the many tremendous contributions that African Australians have made to Australian society and culture in the fields of business, sports, law, engineering, the arts and entertainment, politics and more.  Beny and the team of African Youth Leaders provide a united voice that facilitates and supports collective development while encouraging each African community and individual to advance their culture and skills. Everyone is encouraged and supported to reach their full potential based on their individual abilities. Beny encourages a focus on strong community bonds at every age level, and particularly youth as the future of the community.

Beny also works closely with a number of Queensland Government agencies to ensure Queenslanders of African backgrounds have appropriate information and support in place for community safety, health and wellbeing, and social and economic participation.

Beny’s ultimate goal is to create a safe and welcoming community.

Highly Commended:

• Trish Luckock, Thargomindah State School

Recognising the outstanding contribution of a Queenslander who has actively contributed to improving their local community or Queensland society. This can be through activities such as starting a social enterprise or business that provides opportunities for others, by volunteering, or actively contributing to a local community group.

This category is for individuals who have arrived from overseas to live in Queensland in the past 10 years.

Winner: Zimra Hussain

Zimra Hussain is 15 years old and arrived in Queensland as a refugee from Afghanistan seven years ago, with her older sister and mother.

Zimra has faced hardships not only as a refugee but also growing up in Afghanistan where she was unable to play or access sporting opportunities. This has motivated her to be a role model and inspire others.

In her role as Community Ambassador for both AFL Queensland and Multicultural Australia, Zimra has attended and voluntarily supported sports inclusion events. At the launch of the Connecting Through Sport (CTS) program, Zimra shared her reflections on her journey as well as experiences in sport to break down barriers and stereotypes amongst young people. Zimra is involved in promoting the CTS program to women from diverse backgrounds who would not typically participate in sport.

Highly Commended:

• Paul Penumala
• Fahima Ahmadi

Recognising individuals or groups who have gone above and beyond to create ways of helping others find belonging in Queensland. This could be through activities such as corporate or social mentoring programs, educational scholarships, employment initiatives or other supports that break down barriers to participation for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

This category is open to individuals, corporations, businesses, community organisations and government agencies.

Winner: Pushing Barriers

As a not-for-profit association, their primary goal is to develop and improve the lives and welfare of refugee youth by providing opportunities and funding to be included and welcomed into Australian culture and society through sport.

In 2020 the volunteer driving team covered 11,500km and dedicated 660 hours of their time assisting refugee youth in the community and in 2021 they activated 36 volunteer drivers to pick up and drop off young people for their sports trainings and games.

Pushing Barriers also supports the established Australian grassroots sports community by providing opportunities for club members, players, families and volunteers to connect with people not typically involved within the sporting community. This has significant benefits for social cohesion and community harmony in the local sporting environments.

Pushing Barriers continues to provide opportunities for building social capital and increasing connections for young people.

Highly Commended:

• Louise Kane, Rainbow Hub
• Upcyclinc Employment & Training Program, Centacare FNQ
• Business Connect Skilled Migrants & Refugees, Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce & CatholicCare Social Services
• David New, BEST Employment Ltd

Recognising individuals or groups from the multicultural sector who are working innovatively and achieving outstanding success in supporting Queenslanders from a diversity of backgrounds to meaningfully participate in the social and economic life of Queensland.

This category is open to the multicultural sector including employees, non-government organisations, not-for-profit and community groups.

Winner: Habib Jamal

Habib Jamal is the president of the Islamic Council of Qld (ICQ) and has supported the Muslim community with consistent leadership across more than 60 different nationalities, all with different spiritual and cultural needs.

Habib has led multiple projects during his time a President of the ICQ  including fundraising for bushfire recovery, creating training opportunities for youth, and working jointly with other religions during COVID-19 to develop plans for Places of Worship. He is the Multicultural Ambassador for Mental Health Foundation Australia, and continues his ongoing charity work and fundraising for communities.

Habib works towards the goals of unifying the very diverse Muslim community and supporting others in need.

Highly Commended:

• Mater Refugee Health Network (COVID-19 Pandemic Response Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Engagement Team Project)
• La Boite Theatre Company
• Bilge Ozgun, Wesley Mission