A tireless volunteer who serves dinners to newly arrived refugees, a local optometrist who cares for the disadvantaged and a young person who co-developed a melanoma screening prototype are among recipients of Canterbury-Bankstown’s Australia Day Awards.
The Canterbury-Bankstown’s Australia Day Award are to honour and recognise selfless locals who go above and beyond and make a real difference in the community.
Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said: “They are local heroes who don’t seek recognition or fame. They dedicate their time to better the lives of others and between them have racked up hundreds of years of service.”
“I’ll be accused of being biased, but I know we have some of the best people in our City!”
Family, friends and supporters joined Mayor Bilal El-Hayek and Australia Day Ambassadors Renuka Fernando and Ben Stammer at the Bryan Brown Theatre to congratulate the award recipients.
Also receiving honours were a public health writer who advocates for diverse communities, a group focussed on safeguarding native vegetation and a community centre dedicated to fostering inclusion.
The ceremony was part of Council’s Australia Day celebrations, in which 25 new citizens were sworn in.
“What better way to kick off our Australia Day celebrations than by recognising those who make our City a better place,” Mayor El-Hayek said.
The 2025 Canterbury-Bankstown Australia Day Award recipients are:
- Citizen of the Year – Sheila Ngoc Pham
A public health researcher and writer, Sheila's work spans health initiatives at Westmead Hospital, advocacy for diverse communities, and local volunteer efforts. Sheila’s dedication includes mentoring young writers, volunteering for Vietnamese language programs, supporting local arts and advocating for climate action. - Young Citizen of the Year – Michaela Loukas
At just 16-years-old, Michaela has demonstrated exceptional achievements in STEM, co-developing a robotic melanoma screening prototype aimed at improving early detection in rural areas. Michaela is also a passionate advocate for mental health and community welfare, volunteering with and serving as a GoodSAM first responder to provide life-saving CPR in her local area. - Volunteer of the Year – Dina Kheir
Dina is a successful florist and a respected advocate and role model, particularly to Muslim women. Through her active involvement in Sydney Community Connect (SCC), she has participated in key initiatives such as the "Honorary Dinner Event" for newly arrived Palestinians, the "Let's Talk Addiction" program, and the "Ramadan Alkhier" daily food distribution. - Community Organisation of the Year – Riverwood Community Centre
Riverwood Community Centre (RCC) has fostered community well-being and inclusion through its support services over the past 50 years. Catering to 26,000 individuals annually, RCC provides vital programs in aged care, emergency relief, youth engagement, and children’s services. - Jack Mundey Environment and Heritage Award – Bankstown Bushland Society
The Bankstown Bushland Society has advocated for the preservation of bushland since 1988, focusing on safeguarding native vegetation in the Canterbury-Bankstown area and the Georges River catchment. Through study walks, site inspections, and volunteer bush regeneration, the Society has contributed significantly by identifying rare and threatened plant species and providing an independent voice on environmental issues. - Community Women of the Year – Linda Nguyen
Linda is dedicated to delivering accessible and compassionate optometry services, particularly for people with disabilities, mobility challenges, and complex medical issues. Founded during COVID-19, her practice focuses on patients often overlooked by larger providers, including children, the elderly, and individuals from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
Sheila Pham said it was a great honour to be nominated Citizen of the Year.
“I grew up here and I feel a great responsibility to contribute to the community because I care about its future,” Ms Pham said.
“During the COVID, I wrote a piece about the impact of the pandemic in South West Sydney – I felt as a writer I had to say something.
“We all have a role to play and it’s important to think about what you can do to make our community a better place. Personally, I would love to create more writing opportunities for young people and others in our area.”
For 16-year-old Michaela Loukas, being named Young Citizen of the Year is a testament to her hard work since moving to Australia in 2012.
“When I first arrived here from Greece, I only knew some English. The community really embraced my family and I want to give back,” Ms Loukas said.
“I’m passionate about getting more women involved in STEM and supporting children with mental health. It’s my way of expressing gratitude.”
To learn more about CBCity’s Australia Day Awards, visit cb.city/AusDayAwards