Multicultural Queensland Awards

Muhammed Haniff Abdul Razak, Director of the Multi-Faith Multicultural Centre, is a local leader advocating for multifaith and multicultural harmony in Toowoomba.

His work has included the creation of the Scriptures 360 — a compilation of scriptures from 10 major religions, establishment of interfaith working groups, a radio series promoting religious and social harmony, and organising international peace conferences.

Kim Price is a Multicultural Community Development Officer with the Sunshine Coast Council and an advocate for amplifying marginalised voices in the Sunshine Coast.

Through initiatives such as “Multicultural Conversations”, “Shine a Light on Racism” campaign, and “Migrant Work Ready”, Kim has helped create pathways to participation and championed a more inclusive and collaborative community.

Gigi Lacey is a consultant who helps community and multicultural organisations across Queensland. She provides these groups with valuable skills training, registration and grant-writing assistance, volunteer management and governance, among other services.

Gigi provides her services pro-bono 10 hours each week, to help vital community groups to continue and to thrive.

Dr Chanchal Kurup is a researcher, educator and policy influencer advocating for Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQNs) in Australia.

Dr Kurup works to address the systemic underutilisation of their skillsets, and the problems of bias in recruitment processes. Her main focus is helping healthcare organisations to make more informed and equitable hiring decisions and ensuring internationally trained nurses are best able to use their skills to benefit the Queensland healthcare system.

Alex Salvador has spent more than 25 years advocating for inclusivity and cross-cultural unity through music. He uses drums and drum circles as a platform for people from diverse cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic background to come together.

In addition to his musical advocacy, Alex has spent 30 years supporting the settlement of thousands of refugees and migrants through his work at the Migrant Resource Centre and at James Cook University.

The late Dr David Levitt was a dedicated paediatrician with a passion for providing care for refugee children and their families.

Through his leadership and introduction of change at Brisbane’s Mater Children’s Hospital, Dr Levitt worked tirelessly to ensure refugee children could access the care they needed. His long-term commitment to the healthcare rights of children, and his pivotal role in establishing and sustaining the paediatric refugee unit, have left a lasting legacy that continues to benefit refugee communities today.

Centacare FNQ is a social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Cairns working in Far North Queensland.

The organisation provides disaster recovery and resilience support, as well as counselling and employment services, job training, and programs for newly arrived refugees and migrants. Through its ‘Our Regional Way’ program, Centacare FNQ has helped hundreds of people from diverse backgrounds find work, access training, and further their education.

The Reaction Theory and BIPOC Arts Australia provided opportunities in theatre for 15 emerging culturally diverse artists in order to foster sustainable and culturally safe arts practices.

Their co-production Scenes from a Yellow Peril by Nathan Joeused theatre as a powerful tool to explore themes of migration, orientalism and otherness.