2020 NSW Humanitarian Awards to acknowledge the best of “humanity in action”
MEDIA RELEASE: The NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) will present the 12th NSW Humanitarian Awards on Friday 19 June, in partnership with the Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA).
Every year the Humanitarian Awards are officially presented during Refugee Week to acknowledge and thank those people who have made an exceptional positive contribution towards refugee issues in NSW.
Over 12 years, the Humanitarian Awards have honoured community leaders, youth workers, lawyers, journalists, teachers and many more – each of them making an incredible contribution to improving the lives of refugees.
This year’s awards, originally planned to be celebrated at NSW Government House, were considered against the backdrop of unprecedented crises, with bushfires that ravaged the state, followed by the outbreak of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
The Awards Ceremony will now take place in a virtual event online on the eve of World Refugee Day, featuring a special message delivered by Her Excellency NSW Governor, The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC QC.
Following the jury’s deliberations, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, Paul Power said, “The quality of nominations this year is extraordinary, highlighting the amazing work being done quietly by people of all backgrounds to make their communities places of welcome. What is noteworthy, but not at all surprising, is that many of the most impressive contributions are being made by people who once were refugees themselves.”
“The NSW Humanitarian Awards partnership with RCOA has become one of the highlights of the year for STARTTS,” said STARTTS CEO, Jorge Aroche ahead of the event.
“We get to see and acknowledge the best of humanity in action, which is incredibly inspiring and humbling for an organisation such as ours.”
The Awards Ceremony will take place online on Friday 19 June at 3:00pm and will feature Radio/TV presenter and former refugee, Davy Nguyen as Master of Ceremonies, with a performance by Ngiyampaa, Yuin, Bandjalang and Gumbangirr artist, Eric Avery by special arrangement.
Together, STARTTS CEO, Jorge Aroche and CEO of Refugee Council of Australia, Paul Power, will acknowledge those that have gone above and beyond in making an extraordinary difference in the lives of people from refugee backgrounds in 2020.
The NSW Humanitarian Awards Ceremony marks the finale to Refugee Week which celebrated the theme of “welcome”.
Register here to attend the online event via Zoom.
The 2020 winners will be announced to the public on Friday 19 June: https://www.startts.org.au/news-events/humanitarian-awards/
ENDS
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For media inquiries contact Karen Collier on 964 6700
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