Victoria’s multicultural community was celebrated in full spirit as the 2025 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence honoured a diverse group of individuals and organisations, including many from South Asian backgrounds. This year, eight South Asian awardees were recognised among the forty honourees, reflecting their outstanding contributions to cultural inclusion, social cohesion and community well-being.
Among the celebrated winners was Dr Anindita Banerjee, who received the Arts Award for her impactful work as a multidisciplinary artist, curator and arts leader. Her projects-ranging from public art installations to cross-cultural exhibitions-have resonated across communities in both India and Australia.
The awards also recognised service in civic infrastructure and social integration. Sergeant Rajesh Sambamurthy was given the Police Annual Multicultural Award for his efforts in making law enforcement more accessible for the Indian community, including providing safety-awareness sessions and organising multilingual communications for international students.
Community service and social outreach were further acknowledged: Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar Officer received the Premier’s Award for Community Harmony for promoting interfaith dialogue, providing free community meals and creating support initiatives that bring together people from diverse backgrounds.
Women’s leadership and media influence were also in the spotlight. Ruchi Sharma was honoured for her longstanding record of community activism and for founding the “Hello Zindagi” radio show, which offers a platform for people across faiths, cultures and generations to share their stories. Her wellbeing initiative “HuHaHo (Human Happiness and Hope)” further reinforces inclusive community support.
The Awards acknowledged stories of resilience and refugee-community leadership as well. Parsu Budathoki, a former refugee turned community leader, was recognised for founding Nepali language schools and advocating for the Bhutanese-Nepali community’s access to healthcare and education. Meanwhile, younger voices were also celebrated: Yuwalaxshayan Kannan won the Refugee Young Leader Award, and Adriel Abinav Appathurai earned the Youth Leadership Award for his policy-focused work in health and education.
This year’s ceremony, now in its 24th edition, reaffirmed why such recognition matters. As the state’s official multicultural body noted, Victoria draws its strength from cultural diversity – with residents representing hundreds of languages, faiths and ethnic backgrounds. Awards like these underscore the contributions of migrant and refugee communities to the social, cultural and civic fabric of the state.
Through their efforts – in arts, public service, community welfare, youth advocacy and more – the 2025 South Asian awardees have demonstrated how important multicultural engagement is for building an inclusive, united society. Their recognition stands not just as individual honours, but as a testament to the power of community, empathy, and collaboration in modern Australia.
