Victoria’s MulticulturalAwards for Excellence 2015

Guidelines & Nomination Form

It is my pleasure to officially invite nominations for Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence 2015.

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence recognise and celebrate the individuals and organisations who significantly contribute to our vibrant, multicultural community.

I encourage Victorians to consider nominating an inspirational individual, organisation, business, service provider and/or media outlet for the 2015 Awards. Please find details regarding the award categories and how to submit a nomination within these guidelines.

The Awards have celebrated the contributions of individuals and organisations to the state’s diverse society since 2002. We are proud to continue to acknowledge and really celebrate the diversity of culture for which Victoria is so well recognised.

ROSS ALTASASActing Chairperson

Victoria is one of the most cohesive multicultural societies in the world. We openly embrace and celebrate our diversity as one of our greatest assets.

Our success in multicultural affairs is largely due to the dedicated people who work tirelessly and passionately to support our diversity and social cohesion.

The annual Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence recognise the many inspirational individuals and organisations who make outstanding contributions in the field of multicultural affairs.

I encourage nominations for the 2015 Awards to honour the exceptional achievements of people and organisations whose work continues to strengthen Victoria as a diverse, cohesive and inclusive society.

HON DANIEL ANDREWS MPPremier

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence honour the outstanding contributions and achievements of the many people who continue to make our state one of the most diverse and cohesive societies in the world.

The esteemed awards, now in their 14th year, recognise the exceptional work of individuals and organisations across a range of fields including community service, service delivery, business and community harmony.

The Victorian Government places a high priority on supporting and promoting our many multicultural and multifaith communities who enrich every aspect of our way of life.

I encourage nominations for the 2015 awards to celebrate the achievements of people who continue to work tirelessly for a multicultural, harmonious and inclusive community.

HON ROBIN SCOTT MPMinister for Multicultural Affairs

Message from the Acting Chairperson

Message from the Premier of Victoria

Message from the Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Victoria’s MulticulturalAwards for Excellence 2015 Guidelines and Nomination Form

AWARD CATEGORIES

Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll

Award for Meritorious Service to the Community

Award for Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria

Premier’s Award for Community Harmony

Victorian Multicultural Business Awards:

> Corporate Innovation Award

> Victorian Multicultural Marketing Award

Ambassador Award

Education and Early Childhood Award

Local Government Award

Media Award

Victoria Police Multicultural Awards:

> Police Annual Multicultural Award

> Police Multicultural Media Award

> Protective Service Officer Multicultural Award

> Police Community Exemplary Award

Victoria’s MulticulturalAwards for Excellence 2015

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence honour Victorians for their outstanding dedication and commitment to cultural diversity and for the positive impact they have made in their local community.

Awards are presented across 10 categories to recognise the breadth of work being undertaken in support of Victoria’s multicultural community.

Victorians are invited to nominate individuals and organisations they feel have made a significant contribution to social cohesion and harmony. Nominees must meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria as outlined in these guidelines.

Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence 2015 i

NOMINATION GUIDELINES

How to prepare and submit your nomination 1. Complete the attached nomination form and submit with a statement of support

addressing the ‘Selection Criteria’ for the category for which you are submitting a nomination. We recommend completing the form electronically. Hard copies will be accepted, however, please ensure your nomination is written in a clear and concise manner.

2. Attach any relevant material to support your nomination. For example, printed articles, CDs and DVDs for the media category. Please note support material will not be returned.

3. Submit your nomination form to the Victorian Multicultural Commission prior to

5.00 pm Monday 14 September 2015. Please note late submissions will not be accepted.

Submitting your nomination Nomination forms may be submitted electronically or in hard copy.

For electronic submission please complete your nomination form online at multicultural.vic.gov.au or email your completed form to: rsvpvmc@vmc.vic.gov.au

Send completed hard copy nomination forms to:

Awards CoordinatorVictorian Multicultural CommissionGPO Box 4698Melbourne VIC 3001

Nomination requirements

- All nominations must meet the eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and include contact information for two referees. Please refer to the details provided for each award category.

- Individuals and organisations can be nominated for more than one category.

- If a person has already received an award in a specific category in a previous year, they are not eligible to receive another award in the same category.

- A nominator may put forward a maximum of two nominations.

- Prospective recipients will be required to submit a probity declaration and the VMC reserves the right to decline or withdraw any award.

- All nominations submitted will receive notification of receipt.

- An assessment panel will review all nominations before selecting award recipients for each category.

- Once the assessment process has been completed by the assessment panel, all nominators will be notified of the outcome.

- Only successful recipients and nominators will be notified and invited to attend a presentation ceremony.

For more information contact:Victorian Multicultural Commission

Phone: (03) 9651 0655

Email: rsvpvmc@vmc.vic.gov.au

Website: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

If you would like to nominate an individual or organisation for an award, please follow the steps below.

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AWARD CATEGORIES AND SELECTION CRITERIAVictorian Multicultural Honour Roll

The Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll recognises newly arrived migrants and refugees who have played an outstanding leadership and volunteering role contributing to Victoria as a harmonious and diverse community. The recipient may also be eligible to receive a $3,000 grant towards a project/program nominated by the recipient and approved by the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Selection Criteria

- Demonstrates outstanding leadership and volunteering qualities which give support to the values cultural diversity has made towards building Victoria into a harmonious multicultural state.

Eligibility: Individuals who arrived in Australia as a refugee, humanitarian entrant or newly arrived migrant and is a permanent resident/citizen of Victoria.

Please note – the recipient of the Honour Roll will be considered by the assessment panel and will include all other nominations received. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Award for Meritorious Service to the Community

The Award for Meritorious Service to the Community recognises the outstanding achievements of a community group or an individual who has had a minimum of 10 years voluntary service.

Selection criteria

- Served a minimum of 10 years of voluntary service in community organisations.

- Promotes multiculturalism and improves community relations.

- Develops or enhances programs to assist Victoria’s multicultural community.

Eligibility: Individuals and community groups. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Award for Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria

The Award for Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria recognises excellence in a specific area of service delivery (paid) such as aged care, arts, community services, education, emergency services, employment, health, local government, planning, regional development and tourism.

Selection criteria

- Professional involved with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in paid roles.

- Establishes or delivers good service relationships in a specific area.

- Actively participates in existing projects designed to improve services and relationships with culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse communities.

Eligibility: Individuals and community groups. Self-nominations are not accepted.

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Victorian Multicultural Business Awards

Corporate Innovation Award

The Corporate Innovation Award recognises inclusive practices or initiatives by a business or corporation that utilises and promotes Victoria’s multicultural advantage.

Selection criteria

- Develops innovative internal practices to promote cultural diversity, harmony and citizenship in the workplace.

- Implements effective practices in increasing the number of people from diverse backgrounds in the organisation.

Eligibility: Businesses and corporations based or operating in Victoria. Self-nominations accepted.

Victorian Multicultural Marketing Award

The Victorian Multicultural Marketing Award acknowledges and rewards businesses which have used a multilingual workforce (employment and diversity) in their overall marketing strategies.

Selection criteria

- Uses innovative marketing and communications strategies to engage multicultural audiences in the Victorian community with their service and/or product.

- Uses the awareness and reach of their brand/reputation to promote the benefits of cultural diversity, harmony and citizenship to the Victorian community.

- Uses a multilingual workforce to engage the diverse Victorian community.

Eligibility: Businesses and organisations whose focus is the inclusion of cultural diversity within their workforce. Self-nominations accepted.

Ambassador Award The Ambassador Award recognises achievements of exemplary leadership in the promotion of Victoria’s cultural diversity. Awards could be given to:

- an individual or family,

- an organisation, or

- a young person under 25 years of age.

Selection criteria

- Demonstrates leadership in the promotion of Victoria’s cultural diversity through the articulation and implementation of a vision, idea or activity for the benefit of the whole community.

- Makes an outstanding and inspirational contribution to the achievement of outcomes that positively influence and increase cultural awareness in the general community.

Eligibility: Individuals, organisations, businesses and corporations based or operating in Victoria. Self-nominations are not accepted.

Premier’s Award for Community Harmony

The Premier’s Award for Community Harmony recognises outstanding achievement of an individual or organisation that has developed programs, strategies or activities, which furthered cross-cultural and cross-religious harmony in Victoria.

Selection criteria

- Undertakes bilateral or multilateral initiatives which seek to increase understanding and acceptance between cultural and/or religious groups.

- Leads unilateral initiatives that promote tolerance of other cultures and religions.

- Initiates community activities involving more than one cultural or religious group working together on a community project that demonstrates or promotes harmony.

Eligibility: Individuals, organisations, businesses and corporations based or operating in Victoria and local governments. Self-nominations are not accepted.

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Education and Early Childhood Award

The Education and Early Childhood Award recognises outstanding practice in education and early childhood services that raise awareness and support the implementation of civics and citizenship, multicultural education and builds social cohesion in education settings.

Selection criteria

These could include but are not limited to:

- Learning and teaching programs that incorporate local, national and international perspectives across the years of schooling and in early childhood settings.

- Programs/initiatives that raise awareness and support the educational and settlement needs of communities from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

- Programs/initiatives which promote informed civic participation in Victoria’s multicultural community.

- Programs/initiatives that build the civics, citizenship and intercultural capabilities of educators and early childhood professionals.

- Programs/initiatives that promote social cohesion and community resilience in education settings.

Eligibility: Educators, schools, early childhood centres and not for profit community education organisations. Self-nominations will not be accepted from individuals, but schools, early childhood centres and not for profit community education organisations may self-nominate.

The Local Government Award recognises major improvements made, or initiatives developed, by a local municipal council that promotes and strengthens multiculturalism and meets the identified needs of that municipality’s culturally, linguistically and/or religiously diverse communities.

Selection criteria

Delivers major improvements or initiatives that:

- Respond to culturally and linguistically diverse communities with enhanced and culturally relevant services.

- Promote enhanced and inclusive participation and engagement of culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the civic life of the municipality.

- Promote greater communication and access between culturally and linguistically diverse communities and council.

Eligibility: Local governments. Self-nominations accepted.

Media Award The Media Award recognises excellence in the reporting of multicultural affairs and acknowledge outstanding efforts by those in the media that highlight issues of social importance and/or contribute to an increasing level of awareness about Victoria’s diversity.

Selection criteria

- Increases awareness and understanding of multicultural affairs in Victoria.

- Shows sensitive understanding of a relevant issue.

- Is of public benefit.

- Has a constructive impact or change.

Eligibility: Individual journalists or media organisations for work published/broadcast between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015. Self-nominations accepted. Must have proof of original work.

Local Government Award

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Victoria Police Multicultural Awards

The Victoria Police Multicultural Awards acknowledge police members and community groups/providers and/or the community, who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to the development and enhancement of harmonious relations between police and Victoria’s culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse communities.

Please note - these awards are managed through Victoria Police and require a separate nomination form.

Please contact Bruce Colcott of the Victoria Police for more information and a separate nomination form on (03) 9247 6194.

Selection criteria

Police Annual Multicultural Award- Recognises a Police Member who has established relationships with multicultural

communities by developing innovative strategies.

Eligibility: Victoria Police members.

Police Multicultural Media Award- Recognises a Police Member who communicates police/multicultural issues

via ethnic and/or mainstream media outlets.

Eligibility: Victoria Police members.

Protective Service Officer Multicultural Award- Recognises a Protective Services Officer who has established relationships

with multicultural communities by developing innovative strategies.

Eligibility: Victoria Police Protective Service Officers.

Police Community Exemplary Award- This award is open to Police, a community group/provider or a community

person/s. This award recognises the development of innovative strategies and initiatives that promote positive relations between Police and multicultural communities.

Eligibility: Members of Victoria Police, community groups/providers and/or the community.

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VICTORIA’S MULTICULTURAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2015 NOMINATION FORM

Please complete and submit your nomination form to the Victorian Multicultural Commission by

5.00 pm on Monday 14 September 2015. Please note late submissions will not be accepted.

Victorian Multicultural Commission

Phone: (03) 9651 0655

Email: rsvpvmc@vmc.vic.gov.au

Website: www.multicultural.vic.gov.au

Award Category Please indicate the award category for which this nomination is to be considered (please tick)

Victorian Multicultural Honour Roll Meritorious Service to the Community

Service Delivery to Multicultural Victoria Premier’s Award for Community Harmony

Ambassador Award Education and Early Childhood Award

Local Government Award Media Award

Victorian Multicultural Business Awards:

Corporate Innovation Award Victorian Multicultural Marketing Award

Contact Information

PART A NOMINEE DETAILS Fields marked (*) are mandatory

INDIVIDUAL (please complete if you are nominating an individual)

Title* First Name* Last Name*

Postal Address*

Town/Suburb* Postcode* State*

Telephone Mobile

Email

Years of Service in a voluntary position in community organisations: (please complete if you are nominating in the category of Meritorious Service to the Community)

Did this person arrive as a refugee/humanitarian entrant/newly arrived migrant? Yes No

If yes, what year?

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Statement of SupportPlease provide a statement of support (no more than 2 pages) demonstrating the nominee’s achievements against the ‘Selection Criteria’ for the category for which you are submitting the nomination. Statements that do not refer to the Selection Criteria, which are outlined in the Guidelines document, will not be accepted.

PART C REFEREE DETAILS Fields marked (*) are mandatory

Please provide the details for two people who are familiar with the work of the nominee and who have agreed to support this nomination. Referees are requested to read all details of the nomination – If further clarification is required referees will be contacted.

REFEREE 1

Title* First Name* Last Name*

Organisation Position

Telephone* Mobile

Email

Relationship to Nominee*

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ORGANISATION (please complete only if you are nominating an organisation)

Organisation*

Postal Address*

Town/Suburb* Postcode* State*

ORGANISATION CONTACT PERSON

Title* First Name* Last Name*

Position

Telephone Mobile Fax

Email

Type of Organisation* Community Organisation Service Provider

Local Government Government Body Private Business

Media School/Educational Institution

PART B NOMINATOR DETAILS Fields marked (*) are mandatory

Title* First Name* Last Name*

Main Street Address*

Town/Suburb* Postcode* State*

Organisation Position

Telephone Mobile

Email*

Nominator Declaration (To be signed by the nominator)

Are you aware of the person being nominated having any criminal history within Australia? If yes, please provide further information. Yes No

I state that the information in this application and attachments is to the best of my knowledge true and correct. I will notify the Victorian Multicultural Commission of any changes to this information and any circumstances that may affect this application. I acknowledge that the Victorian Multicultural Commission may refer to this application to external experts or other Government Departments for assessment, reporting, advice, comment or discussions. I understand that the Victorian Multicultural Commission is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and that if a Freedom of Information request is made, the Victorian Multicultural Commission will consult with the applicant before any decision is made to release the application or supporting documentation. I understand that this is an application only and may not necessarily result in a successful nomination.

Nominator Signature* Date*

Print Name* Position*

The Nominee is aware of this nomination Yes No

Applications close: 5.00 pm Monday 14 September 2015

PRIVACY STATEMENT & DISCLAIMER

The personal information provided to the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) for Victoria’s Multicultural Awards for Excellence will be used by the VMC to make assessments in relation to the awards program and related processes including verification and promotion. It will not be used for any other purpose. Any personal information being provided about the nominee may be supplied to that person upon their request. The VMC does not guarantee, and does not accept any legal liability whatsoever that upon submission of this nomination that it will automatically be successful.

REFEREE 2

Title* First Name* Last Name*

Organisation Position

Telephone* Mobile

Email

Relationship to Nominee*

I acknowledge that the referees are aware of the award nomination and have agreed to be contacted for further information regarding the nominee. Yes No

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Level 3, 3 Treasury PlaceEast Melbourne, Victoria 3002

TELEPHONE (03) 9651 0651FACSIMILE (03) 9651 0612

EMAIL info@vmc.vic.gov.auWEB multicultural.vic.gov.au