Tasmanian Human Rights Awards, Nominations are Open

Winners of the 2016 Tasmanian Human Rights awards were announced at an event held at Parliament House on Friday 2 December 2016. Guest speaker was Edward Santow (photo right), Human Rights Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission.

Co-sponsor of Human Rights Week activities in Tasmania, Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, encouraged all Tasmanians to recognise the work being undertaken by award nominees, “More than 30 individuals and organisations were nominated for awards again this year. Each and every one of them has worked hard to promote diversity and the recognition of rights.”

On December 6, winners were presented with their awards by Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM at Government House.

Individual Award: Joint award to Besta Poni and Denise Delphin

Besta Poni Peter – for her commitment to supporting refugees and upholding their human rights, and for her work with the Bright Star Foundation supporting schools and communities in South Sudan.

Photo: Besta Poni Peter receives her award from the Governor. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

Denise Delphin – for her commitment over more than 30 years to building community understanding of the importance of social justice, equality and non-judgmental acceptance, and helping her community to celebrate the strength of diversity.

The Individual award is presented each year to a person living in Tasmania who has taken action to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. The award is sponsored by the Prisoner’s Legal Service, Republic Chambers.

Organisation Award: Big hART For more than 20 years’ commitment to promoting human rights and the importance of respect, diversity and inclusion through community arts based projects and, in particular, Big hART’s work with young women and children to help prevent family violence and build personal resilience.

Photo: Lix Walker from Big hART and students from Wynyard High School received the Organisation Award at Government House. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

This award is presented each year to a community organisation based in Tasmania that has acted to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. The award is sponsored by the City of Hobart.

A Fairer World School Award: Riverside Primary School For the School’s ongoing commitment to raising awareness about child labour, fair trade, Aboriginal issues and the rights of refugees and, in particular, the practical and creative approaches taken to raising human rights issues.

Photo: Teacher, Lindy Bailey, and students from Riverside Primary School with Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Robin Banks, at the Parliament House ceremony. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

High Commendation: Wynyard High School

For their creative work in instilling the values of equity and respect in the schools curriculum and culture and, in particular, their work with young women and children experiencing disadvantage and family violence.

Sponsored by A Fairer World with a donation from Anne & Tony Peacock, the School Award acknowledges work in Tasmania by schools or school-based groups that have promoted human rights in schools and/or the wider community.

Angus Downie Print Journalism Award: Doug Dingwall For his consistently engaging writing on a wide range of social, community and political issues that directly affect community attitudes towards human rights and non-discrimination, and his commitment to encouraging a broad and informed debate about respect and inclusion.

Photo: Award co-sponsor, Michael Small, congratulates Doug at the Parliament House ceremony. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

The Print Journalism Award is presented to someone who has made an outstanding contribution to the understanding, promotion or protection of human rights in Tasmania. The Award commemorates the work of journalist, author and rights activist the late Angus Downie who wrote for the Mercury, The Examiner, and numerous interstate and overseas publications. The award is sponsored by Robin Banks and Michael Small.

Multicultural Award: Students Against Racism For the group’s sustained work in challenging racism and promoting human rights for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and, in particular, for the innovative Women’s Business project that promotes understanding, inspires confidence, celebrates difference and shares stories. Photo: Founder, Gini Ennals, and members of the Students Against Racism group at the Parliament House ceremony. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

This Award is for a person or organisation that has undertaken activities to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights with a focus on culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Tasmania. The award is sponsored by the Migrant Resource Centre (South).

LGBTI Award: PFLAG Tasmania (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) For their contribution to supporting the parents and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersex people to build resilience, encourage acceptance, inclusion and understanding, and their advocacy in support of removing all barriers to full participation and equality.

Photo: Members of PFLAG Merran Newman, Catherine Warren, Christine Walker and David Walker receive the citation from Deidre Murray (Rainbow Communities Tasmania) at the award announcement ceremony. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

The Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Intersex Award is given to a person or organisation that has undertaken activities to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights with a focus on promoting LGBTI cultural awareness in Tasmania. The award is sponsored by Rainbow Communities Tasmania.

Robin Hood AM Sport Award: no winner

High Commendation: Netball Tasmania For the organisation’s evolving work in developing programs and activities to promote inclusion, address unconscious bias and remove physical barriers to participation and, in particular, its work with communities that have difficulty accessing sport and recreation activities.

Photo: Casey Batchelor (left) and Shane Fish (right) accept the citation from Kate Kent, Director of Communities, Sport and Recreation Tasmania (centre) at Parliament House. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

The Sport Award is named in recognition of Robin Hood’s lifetime of service to his community through developing the sporting sector in Tasmania until his death in 2012. Robin held 35 positions in school sport and a total of 33 community administrative positions in six sports – Australian Rules football, athletics, bowls, softball, tennis and hockey. Robin was the initiator of the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame and during his lifetime received 22 awards for his service to the Tasmanian community, including eight Life Memberships. In 1994 Robin became a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the sport of athletics. Robin was a community creator, developer and nurturer. He provided opportunities for countless Tasmanians to participate in sport and embodied the principles of fairness and respect for others.

The award is presented to a sporting organisation based in Tasmania that has acted to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. The award is sponsored by Communities, Sport and Recreation, Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Lucy Henry Mental Health Award: Browns SUPA IGA For providing a safe and understanding workplace that actively supports staff to recognise the importance of and maintain good mental health and, in particular, for promoting a workplace culture that is accepting, respectful and responsive to people’s changing needs.

Photo: Connie Digolis (right) from Mental Health Council of Tasmania presents the citation to Browns SUPA IGA Manager, Amy Reiner (left), at the announcement of the Award winners. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

This award is presented to an individual or organisation that has undertaken activities to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights with a focus on mental health in Tasmania. The award is named in memory of Lucy Henry who died in October 2013. Lucy was an outstanding mental health rights advocate and all who knew her will remember her courage, strength and generosity. The award is sponsored by the Mental Health Council of Tasmania.

Youth Award: Kobe Bennett For the contribution he is making to the rights of children to be safe and to thrive, and for sharing his experiences of the impact of family violence in a very personal way that paves the way for other children in our community to be heard and respected.

Photo: Kobe receives his award from the Governor. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

High Commendation: Keren Scotney

For sharing her knowledge and personal experience to promote community understanding of human rights issues at work, through her sporting activities, in her volunteer and mentoring role within the Aboriginal community and her practical support for homeless young people.

Photo: Karen receives her citation from Carolyn Bennett (Newport, Wildman & Associates) at the Parliament House ceremony. Photo credit: Pen Tayler

Presented to a young person living in Tasmania who has taken action to ensure the promotion, protection and fulfilment of human rights. The award is sponsored by Newport, Wildman & Associates.