A doctor dedicated to mental health, a tireless environmental volunteer, an outstanding community organisation, an inspirational youth advocate, and a passionate cultural champion are the recipients of the City of Canterbury Bankstown’s 2023 Australia Day Awards.

They were recognised in a special ceremony at the Bryan Brown Theatre on the eve of Australia Day.

Canterbury-Bankstown’s Australia Day Ambassador Mr Graham Ross AM VMM was also on hand to congratulate the award recipients and to welcome 22 new Australian citizens.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Khal Asfour congratulated those who received the awards and nominees and commended their dedication to ensuring Canterbury-Bankstown is a great place to live.

“We received so many outstanding nominations and it certainly wasn’t easy to narrow the winners down to just five,” Mayor Asfour said.

“People from all walks of life who do what they do out of a commitment to the community and love for others.

“I’ll be accused of being biased, but I know we have some of the best people in our City!”

The recipients of the 2023 Canterbury-Bankstown Australia Day Awards are:

• Organisation of the Year - Creating Links (NSW) Ltd is a multicultural community service provider which delivers disability, foster care and child and family services to the Canterbury-Bankstown community. It has supported thousands of children, young people, carers and people with disability to live meaningful lives.
• Volunteer of the Year - Dr Yaser Mohammad is dedicated to providing the community with information about mental health. He has organised R U OK? Day seminars and co-ordinated a theatre project aimed at overcoming mental health associated stigma in the Arabic community.
• Jack Mundey Environmental and Heritage Award - Mr Ranjith Evas is an outstanding and tireless volunteer for the Mudcrabs and an executive member for the Cooks River Valley Association. He has removed mountains of rubbish from the banks of the cooks river, and co-ordinated other volunteers and communication for the environmental groups.
• Young Citizen of the Year - Ms Khadijah Habbouche is actively involved in developing social awareness and action amongst young people. She is an active member of various youth advisory committees including the Canterbury-Bankstown Youth Crew and the Muslim Women Australia Youth Advisory Committee.
• Citizen of the Year - Ms Poompavai Arasu volunteers her time for various organisations and community events. She has organised community Diwali celebrations, distributed food to COVID-19 patients and works with local school children to stay in touch with their culture and family members abroad.