Awards showcase champions of multiculturalism
The Shire of Katanning has been recognised for its outstanding contribution towards multiculturalism at the Western Australian Multicultural Awards 2021.
The awards are the premier event for Harmony Week, which runs from March 15 to 21 and an opportunity to experience, explore and appreciate WA’s wealth of cultural, religious and linguistic diversity.
Hosted by the Office of Multicultural Interests, the awards recognise individuals, businesses and community groups for their outstanding work in advancing multiculturalism in WA.
Eleven awards were presented across 10 categories:
- Local government
- Youth
- Communications
- Business, Community organisation
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) community organisation
- Judge’s choice
- Outstanding individual achievement
- Minister’s award for distinguished service
- Laksiri Jayasuriya lifetime community service award.
The Shire of Katanning won the local government award for showing a fundamental and sustained commitment to inclusivity and participation, which has been recognised at a national level. The Shire undertook extensive consultation for its Strategic Community
Plan in 2017 and, based on feedback, established a Cultural Collaboration Officer in 2019.
The officer works on projects and initiatives that enhances services for, and engagement with, the CaLD community. The Shire also hosts the highly popular annual Katanning Harmony Festival in partnership with the community. This festival has become one
of the most popular in the South West and celebrates the cultural diversity of the area.
You can read more about the achievements of the other 2021 award recipients on the OMI website.
More than 200 community leaders attended the gala ceremony held at Optus Stadium to celebrate the many achievements of the winners.