MEC Languages and Culture
The Minister for Education's Award for Excellence in Languages and Culture
The Minister for Education & Development's Award for Excellence in Languages and Culture is run by the Australia Day Council of South Australia and provided by the Multicultural Education Committee on behalf of the Minister for Education. The Award is presented at the Australia Day Awards Ceremony held on Australia Day Eve in the grounds of Government House.
Nominations are closed for the 2013 Award, and will reopen later this year for 2014.
The Minister for Education & Development's Award for Excellence in Languages and Culture 2013: Hashem Bahmaneadah
Hashe is an outstanding member of the community, tirelessly working with the Afghan community and also with Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps as part of the Afghan Youth Project. Despite only arriving in Australia 5 years ago from Afghanistan where he endured a great deal of trauma and the loss of both his parents Hashem has worked hard to learn English, graduate from high school and complete a university degree in Nursing at Flinders University.
He has made a strong commitment to utilise his experiences as a refugee and skills in language to assist those who are new to Australia in assisting them to integrate positively into the community. Hashem sees his main role outside his studies should be to assist those who are less fortunate than himself and he is a tremendous example of how language and culture of new arrivals to Australia can strengthen the country.
Congratulations Hashem!