Victoria has honoured its leading advocates for diversity and inclusion, recognising artists, community workers and faith leaders at the 2025 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.
Now in its 24th year, the awards are coordinated by the Victorian Multicultural Commission and celebrate those who strengthen multiculturalism and help Victorians from migrant, refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds participate fully in community life.
Fourteen award categories were open for nomination this year, reflecting the many ways multicultural communities enrich the state. The ceremony, streamed live on 4 December, also featured the Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll, acknowledging local champions who have helped keep communities safe, connected and resilient.
Among the recipients was multidisciplinary artist and curator Dr Anindita Banerjee, who received the Arts Award for her work empowering diverse communities through inclusive storytelling, public art and participatory exhibitions. Her collaborative practice has made a lasting impact on Victoria’s cultural and civic spaces.
Sergeant Rajesh Sambamurthy was recognised with the Police Annual Multicultural Award for his efforts to strengthen relationships between Victoria Police and Indian community members. His Tamil and Telugu language skills have supported safety presentations for international students and helped deliver community-focused radio broadcasts on security issues.
Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra, a senior engineering lecturer at Federation University and a leader at Gurdwara Siri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer, received the Police Community Exemplary Award. He has worked closely with Life Saving Victoria to address high drowning rates in multicultural communities and has partnered with police to foster a deeper understanding of Sikh and Indian cultural practices.
The Premier’s Award for Community Harmony was presented to Gurdwara Sri Guru Nanak Darbar in Officer, a Sikh organisation established in 2019 that has become a centre for multicultural collaboration, interfaith dialogue, crisis response and community development. Its initiatives expand access to health, safety, education and environmental programs while promoting social cohesion.
Community advocate Ruchi Sharma was also honoured for her work in promoting multicultural harmony through media, arts and civic engagement. A member of the Knox Council Advisory Committee and former secretary of the Australia India Society of Victoria, she founded the Hello Zindagi radio show on Radio Eastern 98.1 FM and created HuHaHo (Human Happiness & Hope), a wellbeing initiative that fosters connection and inclusion.
The Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll for 2025 recognised five long-standing contributors to community life: Sukhvinder (Sunny) Singh Duggal, Nilaufer Singh, Bhakta Dasa, Dr Raju Adhikari, and Pavan Kumar Rangaraju.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
