Community Leader of the Year

Published on 06 April 2022

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Elder Community Leader of the Year

Find out about the winners in this category of the Darebin Community Awards.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Elder Community Leader of the Year: Rosa Vasseghi

Rosa became a refugee after she was imprisoned and tortured for following her Bahai faith in her hometown of Mashhad, Iran before being exiled in India.

Unable to return home, Rosa applied for refugee status, arriving three years later in Melbourne alone, without any English, and with a suitcase of trauma.

With her ongoing commitment to her faith, and resilient determination Rosa found friends and impressively completed a ‘Bachelor of International Community Development’.

Rosa has worked as a Community Guide, has written and published books, and in 2014 established ‘Ava’ the Iranian Women’s Choir.

Welcoming asylum seekers and refugees, Ava provided opportunities for empowerment, hope, connection, skill development and confidence building. The group gained funding and evolved further, expanding their repertoire to tapestry workshops and opening membership to all women experiencing social isolation, allowing for cross-cultural support and connection.

Today, 10 tapestry groups across Melbourne with 125 women from diverse backgrounds are working together creatively, with a focus on skill acquisition, knowledge of rights, awareness around matters of family violence and gambling and linkage to support services.

Special Commendation awarded to Martin Nguyen

The Committee again made the decision to award a present a special commendation in the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Elder Community Leader of the Year Special Commendation awarded to Martin Nguyen

Martin is a valued participant in Darebin’s Decibels Youth Music programs, always demonstrating care, enthusiasm and a positive mindset that flows on to other participants. He includes others in conversation and encourages them to participate whilst being mindful of the difficulty some participants have in sharing work and collaborating.

Martin always takes time to share his knowledge and encourage others. Martin volunteers weekly at Holy Name Church with a community group Vietnamese Eucharistic Youth Movement. He arranges community events and fundraising activities to benefit his community and for other causes such as bushfire appeal.

Martin has successfully raised funds to take his youth group on an interstate trip to Perth and has also started a youth choir. Martin is a caring and responsible young adult who dedicates a lot of his personal time to the needs of others. He is an exceptional role model and a valued member of the Decibels community. An emerging Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Elder Community Leader and worthy of a special commendation.

Find out more about the Darebin Community Awards, including the winners, how the awards work, what the different categories are and how to nominate.