On Sunday 4 October 2026, Rumaysa Salman was named Young Woman of the Year at the 2026 Multicultural Youth Awards hosted at the MCG in Melbourne, Victoria.
Attended by more than 400 guests, the ceremony celebrated multicultural young people making significant contributions across sport, education, leadership, community service, entrepreneurship and the arts.
With more than 250 nominations received nationally and 13 awards presented, the recognition placed Rumaysa among an inspiring cohort of emerging Australian leaders.For Rumaysa Salman, recognition is not simply a measure of personal achievement; it is an opportunity to create pathways for others. Based in Melbourne, Victoria, Rumaysa is a law and international relations student at Monash University.
She appears to be emerging as a prominent young voice in multicultural advocacy, social justice and youth empowerment. Her commitment to challenging systemic barriers and translating advocacy into meaningful policy reform has earned her the Young Woman of the Year Award.
The award recognises young women who demonstrate leadership, resilience and a commitment to improving their communities through advocacy or innovation. Rumaysa was recognised for her work of advancing multicultural and youth representation.
As a second-year Monash University student, Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar and aspiring diplomat and human rights lawyer, Rumaysa has built an impressive portfolio spanning law, journalism, public speaking and community leadership. She also contributes as a journalist to PIVOT, a newsletter run by the Monash International Affairs Society (MIAS) while volunteering with organisations including the Centre for Multicultural Youth as well.
Her advocacy extends beyond Australia. From 2–5 May 2025, Rumaysa represented the State of Palestine at the 17th Asia Youth International Model United Nations (AYIMUN) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Competing in the United Nations General Assembly, she received the Best Delegate award for her position paper and speeches addressing racial discrimination among young people. Her proposals included youth-focused United Nations mechanisms and stronger legal obligations for member states to combat racial bias.
Just days later, she returned to Australia as a finalist in the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards, reflecting a remarkable period of recognition across international diplomacy and national community leadership.
Reflecting on receiving the Young Woman of the Year honour, Rumaysa described the experience as an “out of body experience”, particularly being recognised alongside women making a profound impact across the nation. Yet, she was quick to redirect the recognition towards those who made her journey possible.
“This award is not a recognition of my efforts. It is the fruit of my family’s labour who enabled me to access this success and lead the community with a brighter vision,” she reflected.
For Rumaysa, the significance of the award lies not in the accolade itself, but in the opportunities it may create for the next generation. Her message is particularly pointed: “What we are not changing in society, we are choosing: a luxury we cannot afford.”
She remains determined to challenge systems that prioritise symbolic representation over meaningful reform, arguing that young people must have the power to shape the policies and institutions that govern their lives.
Ultimately, Rumaysa’s work reflects a broader vision of leadership: one rooted in community, strengthened by education and measured by the opportunities it creates for others.
What award did Rumaysa Salman receive at the 2026 Multicultural Youth Awards, and where was the ceremony held? seb