A total of 55 culturally and linguistically diverse organisations have been awarded grants totalling $27,500 under the new Harmony Champions Program.
Citizenship and Multicultural Interests Minister Mike Nahan said the grants were part of a larger program to recognise the many achievements and efforts of volunteers involved in promoting multiculturalism within our communities.
"The Harmony Champions Program grants give associations and organisations the opportunity to say 'thank you' to those who volunteer their time to help create strong community groups and advance multicultural inclusiveness and participation," Dr Nahan said.
"I was very pleased to see so many diverse organisations apply for the grants so that they could honour the people who work so hard for their organisations and ultimately to enhance community harmony."
The $500 grants to help with event or activity costs were awarded to groups such as the Bulgarian Association, Damayang Filipino, the HAAKA Association and the Kuku Community and organisations including Ishar Multicultural Women's Health Centre, the Australian Red Cross and Carers WA, which run programs for culturally diverse communities using volunteers.
Many of the events or activities to thank volunteers will be held in in the lead up to or during Harmony Week 2014 (March 15-21).
A State Government recognition event for nominated volunteers will be held during Harmony Week and the names of the volunteers or Harmony Champions will be displayed in an honour roll on the Office of Multicultural Interests' website.
Fact File
Harmony Champions Program grants total $27,500
For further information on the Harmony Champions Program see http://www.omi.wa.gov.au
Minister's office - 6552 5700
Harmony Champions Program grant recipients 2014
Alif Arts Hub
African Professionals of Australia
Annalakshmi Cultural Centre of WA
Australian Anglo Indian Association Inc
Australian Arab Association
Australian Red Cross
Buddhist Society of WA (BSWA)
Bulgarian Association
Bunbury Multicultural Group
Cambodian Buddhist Society of Western Australia Inc (CBSWA)
Carers Association of WA Inc
Canadian Club of WA Inc
Case for Refugees
Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees (CARAD)
Cook Islands Community WA
Council on the Ageing WA Inc (COTA WA)
Damayang Filipino Inc
Ethnic Communities Council of WA Inc (ECCWA)
Givlife Inc
Guinean Community Association of WA
HAKKA Association
Hare Krishna Food for Life
Hindu Association of WA (HAWA)
Hungarian Golden Village and Cultural Centre
Ilankai Tamil Sangam of WA (Inc)
International Forum of Reconciliation and Peace
ISHAR Multicultural Women's Health Centre
International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
Islamic Council of WA
Kuku Community of WA
Lorikeet Centre - a program of the Mental Illness Fellowship of WA (MIFWA)
Macedonian Community of WA
Meerilinga Young Children's Services Inc
Mt Magnet Aboriginal Corporation Inc
Multicultural Ministry Commission
National Council of Jewish Women WA
National Italian Women's Association of WA (NIAWA WA)
Nepali Association of WA
Ocean Ridge Junior Cricket Club
Pakistanis In Australia Inc
Pilbara Multicultural Association
Sikh Association of WA
St Mark & St George Coptic Orthodox Church
St Vincent de Paul Society (WA) Inc
Sudanese Australian Youth Association in WA
Temple of Fine Arts Inc
The Midwest African Association
The United Eritrean Association of WA
Umbrella Multicultural Community Care Services
Vietnamese Community in Australia
Volunteer South West Inc
WA Deaf Society Inc
Western Australian Multicultural Association (WAMA Inc)
Watan Sport & Recreation Association of WA
Women's Health & Family Services
