• Thursday, March 28, 2024

Diaspora

Indian-origin Asha Bhat honoured with Western Australia Multicultural Award, inducted into Women’s Hall of Fame

Asha Bhat (Picture: Asha Bhat Twitter account)

By: Shubham Ghosh

Asha Bhat, an Indian-origin woman in Australia, has been honoured with Sir Ronald Wilson Leadership Award under the Western Australia Multicultural Awards 2023. She has also been inducted into the Western Australia Women’s Hall of Fame as a recognition of her contribution to the local community in the field of business, The Australia Today reported.

Bhat, who is from the Indian state of Karnataka and migrated to Australia with her husband and son in 2004 and has been residing in Albany since 2008, told the news outlet that she was “incredibly honoured” to be a recipient of the award.

“It was a real privilege to be standing in the company of some amazing community leaders,” she added.

The Ronald Wilson Award recognises outstanding people from Western Australia who have made a significant and sustained impact on the lives of aboriginals, CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) or other marginalised groups in the province.

The award ceremony was hosted by the office of multicultural interests, department of local government, sport and cultural industries, Western Australia.

Bhat, who is the chief executive officer of Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC), leads the award-winning regional body which works on providing services and programmes to address the needs and aspirations of the Noongar people.

She has been working in indigenous affairs for the last decade and half and across all levels of organisation — from grassroots through to the senior management.

Speaking about her Indian roots, Asha told The Australia Today, “I am proud of my Indian heritage and identity. I feel very proud to be able to set an example for other women migrants like myself who came to Australia with very little and for other disadvantaged groups to show that through hard work and strong commitment, they too can be successful.”

The SAC has won many awards, including the Community Business Award of the Year 2016 and the 2018 Community Services Excellence Award. She has also expanded of SAC’s family violence prevention legal service to the South West, Wheatbelt and Perth regions.

In 2017, Bhat was awarded with the Albany Citizen of the Year Award, in 2020 Women in Business award. Last year, she received the Pro Bono Australia Impact Award.

Also in 2022, Bhat was awarded the Order of Australia Medal last year for her service to WA’s Indigenous community.

Related Stories

Loading