Awards to honour our city’s multicultural champions

Nominations are now being sought to honour Canberrans who contribute significantly to the vibrancy of our city's multicultural sector through the 2011 ACT Multicultural Awards, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Joy Burch said today.

Winners will receive their awards - glass trophies sculptured by the talented hands of artists at Canberra Glassworks - at a gala dinner reception to be held at the Hellenic Club on November 30.

Multicultural champions will be recognised in seven categories that include: outstanding volunteer; community organisation; business employer; public sector; education; media; and ACT Multicultural Advocate of the Year.

"Canberra is a community that has at its heart a thriving hunger for multiculturalism," Ms Burch said.

"We live and breathe multiculturalism every day - from the food we eat, to the clothes we wear, to the friends we keep and the traditions we share.

"Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths. It underpins our economic prosperity and contributes to our social, cultural and intellectual wealth.

"The ACT Multicultural Awards recognise the people and groups who have helped make our city such a caring, dynamic and prosperous place to live."

The awards will be judged by an independent selection panel comprising representatives from across government, education, volunteering and community sectors.

Nominations will close on November 18.Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.dhcs.act.gov.au/multicultural or by phoning 6207 0555.