2022 Multicultural Queensland Award recipients announced

Aqua English Project co-founder Sarah Scarce who has helped more than 33,000 migrants and refugees learn to swim is one of four winners of this year’s Multicultural Queensland Awards.

The annual awards ceremony held last night at Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre honours the passion and commitment of community leaders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The winners came from groups, businesses and volunteers dedicated to breaking down barriers and creating an inclusive Queensland. 

Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Leanne Linard congratulated Sarah Scarce on becoming this year’s Diversity and Inclusion Champion. 

“The awards were one of the high points of the Queensland Multicultural Month celebrations. The theme for the month was ‘Inclusion in Action” and the winners and highly commended recipients were chosen because of their outstanding example of making these words a reality,’ Ms. Linard said.

“When Queenslanders work together, support one another, and embrace community, harmony and equity, we are the stronger for it.”

Other winners on the night included Kerry McQuillan from Randstad who received the Minister’s Multicultural Award, Sheetal Deo who received an award for Outstanding Contribution from a New Queenslander, and the Indooroopilly Uniting Church Asylum Seeker and Refugee Hub, which was named Multicultural Sector Outstanding Achiever. 

“This year’s nominations were very diverse. They not only came from a variety of cultures and faith but also many different industries and initiatives,’ Ms Linard said.

“This included healthcare, sport and recreation, community services, legal services, employment support, and initiatives for young people and elders – just to name a few.” 

“It’s this power of collaboration and connection that drew me to award this year’s Minister’s Multicultural Award to Ms Kerry McQuillan from Randstad as an outstanding example of inclusion in action. 

“This unique and tailored mentoring program brings people from migrant and refugee backgrounds together with established professionals, giving both mentors and mentees a chance to learn from each other.

“The program has been run by Randstad in collaboration with Multicultural Australia and over four years has supported more than 60 people to break down barriers to employment. 

“I congratulate all recipients and nominees in this year’s awards and commend them on their leadership and dedication to creating a truly inclusive Queensland.

For more information about the 2022 Multicultural Queensland Awards including recipients, visit www.qld.gov.au/mqa. 

The winners of the 2022 Multicultural Queensland Awards are:

Minister’s Multicultural Award – Kerry McQuillan

Kerry McQuillan is a Queensland Director and the National Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Lead for Randstad, a company that is a global leader in the Human Resourcing industry. For over four years, Randstad in collaboration with Multicultural Australia has worked together on a mentoring program coaching migrants and refugees to be ‘job ready’ for the Australian employment market. Mentors from partner organisations, including Suncorp, Deloitte, Hasting Deering, La Boite, Randstad and Queensland Government, work together with mentees to create and learn employment skills. At the end of the program, participants join their mentors in a speed networking event with Randstad to discuss their career history and aspirations. More than 60 people have been through the program with many of them finding work as a result. 

Diversity and Inclusion Champion – Sarah Scarce

Sarah Scarce is a refugee lawyer and co-founded the Aqua English Project with her mother Julia Dixon 15 years ago. They set up the project after realising how many of the people who drowned in south-east Queensland were from migrant and refugee backgrounds. Since then, they have helped more than 33,000 people learn to swim through the aquatic program, with women making up more than 70 per cent of clients.

Outstanding Contribution from a New Queenslander – Sheetal Deo 

Sheetal Deo is the Founder and Principal of Shakti Legal Solutions. She has single-handedly contributed to bridging access to justice for people who are ineligible for legal aid and cannot afford a standard, or traditional lawyer fees. Sheetal recognises clients with intersecting identities are disadvantaged within the legal sector and has created a legal service that improves access to justice by making legal services more affordable to those of moderate means. She is a visible role model within the legal profession as a LGBTIQA+ woman of colour who works tirelessly to ensure under-represented voices and experiences are heard.

Multicultural Sector Outstanding Achiever – Indooroopilly Uniting Church Asylum Seeker and Refugee Hub

Indooroopilly Uniting Church Asylum Seeker and Refugee Hub provide support for asylum seekers recently released from immigration detention centres. Since 2014, the Hub has provided English classes and community meals for culturally diverse and vulnerable people. The service expanded to include clerical and administrative support, preparing protection visa applications, legal support, and mental health counselling. The Hub was started by volunteers from the church congregation who trained and supported other volunteers to meet growing needs in the refugee and asylum seeker sector. 

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Media contact: Catherine Baker, Senior Media Advisor, tel: 0498 844 783