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Human Rights Awards Winners and Finalists

Two older adults in formal attire stand side by side, each holding a glass award. They both wear blue ribbons with medallions around their necks, and they are posing and smiling in front of a dark curtain backdrop.
Human rights medal Winner

The Hon Peter McClellan AM QC and Chrissie Foster

Justice McClellan led the five-year Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It was unprecedented in Australian history in terms of length, size or complexity and led to the Prime Minister’s National Apology to Victims and Survivors in October 2018. Justice McClellan demonstrated remarkable compassion and leadership in the conduct of these hearings. Chrissie Foster has long campaigned for justice for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. Two of Mrs Foster’s daughters were sexually abused by a Catholic priest - one has since passed away. With dignity, grace and strength, Mrs Foster and her family have publicly held institutions to account in the hope that history will not repeat itself.

Human rights medal Finalist

Dr Barri Phatarfod

Dr Phatarfod founded Doctors 4 Refugees five years ago, with the goal of helping asylum seekers and refugees access quality medical care, both on and offshore. Currently the membership is over 700 with more than 100 of these doctors including specialists actively reviewing the medical records and management of over 400 asylum seekers and refugees. Dr Phatarfod and her group challenged the Australian Border Force Act and its contentious Secrecy provisions, which were eventually removed. Dr Phatarfod was last year recognised by Amnesty as one of Australia’s top human rights defenders.
Three women stand together onstage in front of blue curtains. The woman in the center, wearing a floral dress and a medal, holds a small award. The women on either side of her smile and wear business attire.
Young People's Award Winner

Saxon Mullins

Following a five-year criminal legal process consisting of two trials and two appeals with no final resolution, Saxon exhibited immense bravery in publicly sharing her story of sexual assault in order to promote debate around the need for legal reforms. Her advocacy triggered a review into NSW sexual assault laws to better protect victims and survivors of sexual assault and violence.
Tony Fitzgerald memorial community individual award Winner

Catia Malaquias

Outside of her day-job as a lawyer, and as a parent of a child with disability, Catia is a committed advocate for people with disability and has an impressive record in promoting their human rights in Australia and internationally. In 2016 she co-founded All Means All - The Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education (AMA), developing strategies to help people with disability access education.
Community Award Winner

Australian Marriage Equality

Australian Marriage Equality has been championing the rights of LGBTI+ Australians since its genesis in 2004. More recently, AME was successful in building a movement that saw support for reform grow, empowered everyday Australian’s to engage in parliamentary processes, mobilised people all across the country to vote Yes and brought diverse organisations together to shape an Australia that is a fairer place for everyone.
Government award Winner

Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation

The Commonwealth Games Corporation introduced a human rights policy for the Games held on the Gold Coast this year. The 2018 Games were the first major sporting event in Australia to include a Reconciliation Action Plan. Also making history this year, the Games were the largest integrated para-athlete program in the history of the Commonwealth Games.
Law award Winner

Professor Andrew Byrnes

Professor Andrew Byrnes is one of Australia’s leading human rights legal academics, and is currently Professor of Human Rights Law at UNSW. Andrew has had a distinguished career dedicated to advancing human rights in Australia and internationally, including campaigning for the abolition of the death penalty, as well as upholding the rights of older persons, people with disability and gender equality.
Racism. it stops with me (RISWM) Winner

Nyadol Nyuon

Nyadol Nyuon is a strong and effective advocate on behalf of the African-Australian community.  Nyadol has been prominent in media debates around race and on a range of human rights issues.  Most recently this has included responding to a wave of negative stereotyping and mis-representation of Melbourne’s South Sudanese community.
Media award Winner

NITV - Guilty of being stolen

This NITV investigation revealed that many children taken into state care — including Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their families — acquired a criminal record as a result. These ‘offences’ could count against them later in life, with potentially serious consequences. Following the investigation, the Victorian Government announced that it would seek to expunge these supposed ‘offences’.
Business award Winner

Konica Minolta Australia

Konica Minolta is recognised for its leadership on the issue of modern slavery. Through its Ethical Sourcing Roadmap and extensive advocacy and engagement, Konica Minolta prioritises contracts with ethical suppliers. The company has also implemented a domestic and family violence leave policy, a commitment to gender and diversity equality and continues to engage Indigenous suppliers.