This Award is provided by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, The Honourable Blair Boyer MP, through the Multicultural Education and Languages Committee (MELC) and administered by the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
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Do you know an inspiring young leader passionate about languages and cultures and who advocates for a multilingual and culturally diverse Australia?
The Award for Leadership in Languages and Cultures recognises outstanding young people who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to advocacy for a multilingual and culturally diverse Australia.
This Award is provided by the Minister for Education, Training and Skills, The Honourable Blair Boyer MP, through the Multicultural Education and Languages Committee (MELC) and administered by the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
The Multicultural Education and Languages Committee (MELC)
MELC is a ministerial advisory committee that works collaboratively with the three schooling sectors and community organisations in South Australia in the interrelated areas of languages education, multicultural education and the internationalisation of education. MELC works towards ensuring that education for all students is enriched by the value of engagement with linguistic and cultural diversity and that young people learn to operate with sophistication and ease with diverse people.
More information on MELC can be found here.
Award Categories
Category 1 – A high school student
This award is designed to promote the study of languages and the development of intercultural capabilities. It is awarded to a high school student who has shown outstanding commitment to their study of languages and cultures at school, and who seeks to advocate for a multilingual and culturally diverse Australia by fostering engagement in linguistic and cultural diversity.
Category 2: A young person 24 years of age or under (who is no longer at school)
Awarded to a young person who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to advocacy for a multilingual and culturally diverse Australia and strong community leadership.
Selection Criteria
Category 1 – A high school student
- Sound capability in more than one language
- Outstanding commitment to the study of languages and cultures
- Effective intercultural capabilities
- Fosters engagement in linguistic and cultural diversity within the school and/or the broader community.
- A student who is undertaking their studies in South Australia
Category 2: A young person 24 years of age or under (who is no longer at school)
- Sound capability in more than one language
- Ability to operate successfully in linguistic and culturally diverse environments
- Commitment to advocacy for a multilingual and culturally diverse Australia
- Outstanding community leadership
Nominations open on 1st August 2024!
** Nominations close on Friday, 1st November 2024.
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Process of Nomination
Individuals, schools or organisations may submit nominations.
The nominating person or organisation should complete the online nomination form addressing ALL of the selection criteria for the relevant award category and can provide relevant background information and supporting materials.
Nominations must provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of three referees who are familiar with the achievements of the nominee.
If you need assistance with your nomination, please contact Suzanne Malbut, Awards and Alumni Coordinator at the Australia Day Council of South Australia office: suzanne.malbut@adcsa.com.au or (08) 8212 3999.
Process of Selection
- The Selection Panel will consist of representatives from the Multicultural Education and Languages Committee and the Australia Day Council of South Australia.
- The panel will use the listed criteria to shortlist finalists for each of the categories.
- Finalists may be contacted for an interview to assist the panel in selecting the Award recipients.
- The Award will be announced and presented at an Awards Ceremony held at Government House in 2025.
- Only Award recipients will be contacted. Receipt of all nominations will be acknowledged formally after the Award Ceremony.
The Awards for Leadership in Languages and Cultures celebrate individual achievements and the collective endeavour towards building a more inclusive and culturally rich society. These awards recognise the commitment to fostering linguistic and cultural diversity, aligning with the Multicultural Education and Languages Committee’s (MELC) mission to advance multiculturalism and language learning in the education system. Award categories include Category 1 for high school students promoting language study and intercultural understanding and Category 2 for individuals under 24, no longer in school, advocating for a diverse Australia and community leadership.
In this spirit of recognition, the Multicultural Education and Languages Committee (MELC) under the Minister for Education, together with the Australia Day Council of South Australia, proudly present the recipients of the Award for Leadership in Languages and Cultures.
2025 Recipients and commendations
Ms Marzila Osmani - Recipient Cat. 1
In 2023 Marzila joined the New Arrivals Program at Thebarton Senior College. Marzila can read write and speak in Dari, Farsi, Turkish and English. She has roles in the Afghan Culture Association alongside her volunteer services work at Adult Multicultural Education Services. Marzila has the ability to combine academic excellence, leadership, and community service, all while overcoming the challenges of her physical disability and being a refugee in a new country. Marzila has taken on leadership roles in organising celebrations like Refugee week, Harmony Day and the International Day of Peace. These activities reflect her deep understanding of the importance of cultural exchange and her dedication to promoting inclusivity. Her ability to navigate and connect with people from diverse cultural backgrounds is one of her greatest strengths.Marzila has an ongoing commitment to Thebarton Senior College through her involvement in the Rotaract Club as well as the Volunteering and Leadership Club, helping lead activities designed to build social wellbeing and community cohesion. Marzila is happy to share her own experiences as a refugee and uses her language skills to build connections and has become a bridge between different cultural groups. This helps to break down barriers and foster mutual respect in both her school and the community.
Ms Seerat Bughio - Commendation Cat. 1
Seerat started her language journey learning Italian at Trinity Gardens Primary School followed by excelling in Japanese at Modbury South Primary. Seerat is fluent in English, Sindhi, and Urdu, and actively engages with the Australian, Pakistani, and Sindi communities in South Australia. Seerat is now learning Sindi through community classes and actively mentors younger students from all backgrounds. Sereet is a role model for her peers and her pursuit of Arabic and Japanese further exemplifies her respect for other cultures. Additionally, her efforts to learn basic Spanish phrases to communicate with a classmate and self-study Korean for personal interest in Korean media highlight her open-mindedness and genuine curiosity toward other cultures. Seerat is currently studying Arabic at Pinnacle College, where she achieved a perfect score in her first semester, further demonstrating her dedication to mastering new languages and connecting with diverse cultures. Seerat’s exceptional speaking and interaction skills earned her the 2021 Youth Excellence Award from Sindhi Sangat South Australia. Her leadership and public speaking abilities fosters inclusivity and encourages young people to embrace linguistic diversity, making a lasting impact on her peers and community members.
Ms Anja Tassios - Commendation Cat. 1
At just 16 years of age Anja speaks and studies four languages which reflects her deep passion for intercultural understanding and her genuine interest in making connections with people from all backgrounds. Speaking both Greek and French from a young age, Anja has also learnt to speak Spanish and is studying Arabic. As Arabic was not available, Anja began teaching herself with the support of Renmark High School and was able to complete this as an integrated learning subject. Anja has participated in the Australian Computational and Linguistics Olympiad since Year 8, in which she has analysed over 20 other world languages. Anja proactively engages with exchange students who attend Renmark High School and actively listens to their experiences and perspectives. Anja shows a deep understanding of the different cultural backgrounds they come from and appreciates how their views may differ from her own. Anja is empathetic and willing to learn from others and helps create an inclusive environment. Anja has also worked with language teachers of junior classes, supporting students to enable them to actively engage in their language learning. Anja has role-modelled multilingualism at Renmark High School as something that is just ‘the norm’. She demonstrates at all times the benefits of knowing other languages and understanding cultural differences.
Ms Sophia Zavlagkas - Recipient Cat. 2
Sophia moved from Greece to South Australia in 2019 and didn’t know English very well. She has since become a vibrant advocate for cultural preservation and multiculturalism. She has worked in Greek-inspired design and on platforms such as radio and social media, she influences others to embrace their heritage and engage with diverse cultures. Her mission is to make her culture current, so she speaks out about less glamorous parts of the past such as racism and sexism within the Greek community. Sophia spent a year speaking on Greek radio about political topics and being a journalist in 2020-21. Since 2022, Sophia has been working in her own business called Mati Designs (Mati meaning ‘eye’ in Greek). In 2024, Sophia was one of the first members to join the Neolea group of the Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia which targets 16 – 25 year olds to provide a platform for Greek Australians to cook, attend art classes and to learn about Greek traditions. Sophia also actively participates in the Odyssey festival and has recently released a social media series called ‘Back to Greece with Sophia’. Sophia’s social media platform has created a safe place for open discussions around culture.
Ms Leah Kovacic - Commendation Cat. 2
Leah grew up in a monolingual household in rural South Australia, yet she has cultivated a deep appreciation for languages and cultural diversity. Before becoming a teacher, Leah worked as Head of Customer Complaints and Shift Supervisor at her local McDonald’s. This gave Leah the chance to work with a multicultural team of people, many of whom were from non-English speaking backgrounds. Leah took the initiative to learn key phrases to communicate in Hindi so that she had the ability to interact with her colleagues in their first language. This effort improved relationships and showed Leah's commitment to fostering inclusivity.Leah's journey to teaching began in 2005 when she began studying Spanish at primary school and continued her studies through high school until transferring to a school which did not offer the language. In 2018, Leah began studying teaching at Flinders University and completed her studies in 2021. Now at just 24 years old, Leah is completing her third year of teaching Spanish and English in a high school with a significant population of students who speak English as an additional language or dialect (EALD). Among Leah’s many leadership qualities, is her ability to communicate effectively with all individuals, including those from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This strength is grounded in her deep empathy and genuine desire to understand others, even if their beliefs or experiences differ from her own.
