Time for the Order of Australia Award to fully reflect multicultural Australia

When I was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for my service to Canberra’s multicultural community, I felt a profound sense of honour—not just for myself, but for the countless migrants who have helped shape this nation.

It was a moment of recognition, not only of my personal contributions but of the broader role multicultural Australians play in building a stronger, more inclusive country.

Australia’s multicultural identity is one of our greatest strengths. Almost half of us are either born overseas or have a parent who was.

Walk through any suburb in Sydney, Melbourne, or even here in Canberra, and you’ll find a tapestry of cultures, languages, and traditions enriching our daily lives in a profound way: socially, economically and innovation. 

From the healthcare professionals who guided us through the COVID-19 crisis to the entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, and artists who drive innovation and creativity, multicultural Australians are at the heart of our national success story.

And yet, when it comes to recognition at the highest levels, the picture tells a different story.

Over the past decade, from 2015 to 2024, the Governor-General’s office received more than 20,500 nominations for the Order of Australia, with nearly 14,500 awards granted.

However, only 524 of those nominations came from multicultural Australians, leading to just 333 awards. This represents a mere 3% of total nominations and only 2% of total awards—a stark underrepresentation given our diverse population.

Even more concerning is the fact that multicultural Australians are largely absent from the higher honours—such as Companion or Officer of the Order of Australia—categories that recognise the most significant contributions to our society.

This isn’t just an oversight; it points to systemic barriers that prevent many deserving individuals from being nominated and celebrated.

One of the biggest challenges is awareness. Many in multicultural communities simply don’t know how the nomination process works or assume such accolades are reserved for others.

The Order of Australia is one of the most prestigious acknowledgments in the country, yet if multicultural Australians aren’t being nominated in proportion to their contributions, we have to ask: are we truly celebrating the full breadth of our national identity?

Gender disparity is another pressing issue. While women across Australia already face challenges in being recognised for their contributions, this gap is even more pronounced within multicultural nominations.

Women are often at the forefront of community service, education, and advocacy, yet their recognition lags behind that of their male counterparts.

This calls for a concerted effort to ensure that outstanding women from diverse backgrounds are not just acknowledged but actively encouraged to step into the spotlight.

So, what can be done?

First, we must demystify the nomination process.

Community organisations, local leaders, and government bodies should work together to educate and support individuals in putting forward worthy nominees.

Second, we need targeted outreach to ensure underrepresented communities are not overlooked.

Third, we must consciously promote gender equity in nominations, ensuring that the contributions of women in multicultural communities are properly recognised.

The Order of Australia is a reflection of our national story. It should represent not just the Australia of the past, but the Australia of today—a nation shaped by the contributions of people from all backgrounds and heritage including our First Nations communities.

It’s time to ensure that when we celebrate excellence, we celebrate all of it.

As someone who has lived, studied, and worked across multiple continents before calling Australia home, I have seen firsthand the richness that diversity brings to a nation.

Now, we must ensure that this richness is properly honored. Let’s commit to nominating, recognising, and celebrating the full spectrum of contributions that make Australia great.

Because an award that truly represents our country should reflect all of those who have helped build it.