Page 2671 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 7 August 2013
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Each of the category winners was also eligible to be the ACT’s Telstra business of the year, and Rudds Consulting were the successful business who won that award for this year.
I would like to pay tribute to Telstra. I think it is a fantastic opportunity and a fantastic method by which Telstra gives back to the community, showcasing some of the great successes and the high achievers that do business in our community and provide employment for many Canberrans.
Canberra Refugee Support
MR COE (Ginninderra) (5.34): I rise today to speak about the work of Canberra Refugee Support. Canberra Refugee Support is a volunteer not-for-profit organisation that provides support to refugees in Canberra. Not only does CRS assist refugees to settle in Canberra through practical support and training, it also provides advocacy and policy advice. The aim of CRS is to help asylum seekers and refugees become as independent as possible as soon as possible. CRS seeks to achieve this by conducting training courses, providing mentoring and practical support to assist with accommodation, access to education and English language training, health care, jobs and networking opportunities. CRS also sponsors the refugee mentoring program at Calvary hospital and provides financial support where it is possible.
On 17 June, World Refugee Day, I was pleased to attend the annual CRS scholarships presentation. The scholarship program is designed to recognise meritorious performance and to encourage and support outstanding refugee students in the pursuit of their personal development goals.
This year the scholarship presentation was MC-ed by Virginia Haussegger. Attendees also heard from Geoff McPherson, the CRS president; Martin Bowles PSM, the Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship; Richard Towle, the UNHCR regional representative for Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific; and Fatemeh Hosseini on behalf of the scholarship winners. CRS scholarships have grown from a one-off presentation about 10 years ago to an annual presentation.
This year CRS was able to raise nearly $20,000 for its scholarships due to the generous support of many donors. I would like to place on the record my congratulations to all the scholarship recipients: Amin Ghanimi, Hamzah Mohammed Ali Abdulaal, Sajjad Ghanimi, Mitra Tajik, Poe Kwar Si, Sedigheh Tajik, Sip Pi True Moo, Chelsea Htoo, Ali Nazari, Aziz Muradi, Eh Ta Mwee, Myo Di Gay, Saeedeh Bahreh, Saw Wah hi, Achuil Bet Malou, Mo Thu, Shaista Haidary, Zaw Win, Fatemeh Hosseini, Paw Moo, Reza Amiri, Seik Htaw Win, Sharmin Sultana, Yesinawork Sisay Sahle, Yuot Malual Deng, Dina Akram Yousif, Faisal Fyas, Brikela Cela and Khosro Mokkhtari.
I would also like to place on the record my appreciation to all the sponsors of this year’s scholarships: ActewAGL, Uniting Church Canberra Central Parish, the national office of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, staff of the ACT regional
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