Every day, extraordinary Australians around the country are choosing welcome, volunteering their time, skills and resources to help refugee newcomers feel safe, connected and supported as they build their lives in Australia. Through acts of kindness and connection, communities are strengthened and lives are changed.
The 2026 Community Sponsorship Awards celebrate the people and groups who have made an outstanding contribution through the Community Refugee Integration & Settlement Pilot (CRISP), the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway (RSSP), and Work + Welcome (Skilled Refugee Labour Agreement Pilot).
While community sponsorship is always a collective effort, we are proud to recognise individuals whose dedication, leadership and care have made a particularly meaningful difference—nominated by the communities they are part of.
2026 Community Sponsorship Award Winners
- Outstanding Team Spirit Award: Linda Munro, Ballina Refugee Resettlement and Welcome Network (NSW)
- Above & Beyond Award: Jan Bradnam, River Heads Resettlement Group (QLD)
- Tough Under Pressure Award: Lisa Natoli, Inner Northies (VIC)
- Quiet Achiever Award: Marilyn Smith, Refugee Organisation of Milton – ROOM (NSW)
- Creative Problem Solver Award: Sherrie Robless, Sydney Refugee Welcome Group (NSW)
- CRISP Newcomer Leadership Award: Abolfazl Bakhtiari (NSW), Feisal & Naima Ali Farah (VIC)
Special Mentions
We also recognise the following individuals for their outstanding contributions and commitment:
- Susan Milne — Northern Rivers Work + Welcome
- Jane Kennedy & Isini Puhula Gamayalage — Deakin University Student Welcome Group
- Marnie Lassen — Kangaroo Paws
- Nicole Schlesinger — Hope for Eden
- Helen Sheppard — Moreton Bay Friends of Refugees
- Sylvia Davey — Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group
Acknowledging Our Nominees
Thank you to all those who were nominated, and to the community members who took the time to recognise their efforts by sharing their stories. Each nomination reflects the care, perseverance and collaboration that makes community sponsorship possible.
- Danielle Arcaro — Melbourne Youth Ride Refugee Sponsor Group
- Ko Ko Aung — University of Sydney Student Welcome Group
- Abolfazl Bakhtiari — Marrickville Refugee Welcome Group
- Kate Baxter — Hearts and Hands Group 3
- Jan Bradnam — River Heads Resettlement Group
- Frances Coffey — Melbourne Youth Ride Refugee Sponsor Group
- Shona and Grant Crosthwaite — Moreton Bay Friends of Refugees
- Sylvia Davey — Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group
- Naima Ali Farah and Feisal Abdi Sugal — Hope for Eden
- Sheila Gooding — St Vincent’s Ashfield Social Justice Group
- Ritta Hakkoum — The Hills Refugee Welcome Group
- Maddy Harford — Bass Coast Refugee Sponsorship Group
- Julie Hungerford — Parishes United with Refugees
- Marisa Iuculano — Sydney Refugee Welcome Group
- Jane Kennedy & Isini Puhula Gamayalage — Deakin University Student Welcome Group
- Marnie Lassen — Kangaroo Paws
- Zoe Little — Sydney Refugee Welcome Group
- Susan Milne — Northern Rivers Work + Welcome
- Linda Munro — Ballina Refugee Resettlement and Welcome Network
- Lisa Natoli — Inner Northies
- Anne Nesbitt — Marrickville Refugee Welcome Group
- John Nicholson — Sydney Refugee Welcome Group
- Sherrie Robless — Sydney Refugee Welcome Group
- Nicole Schlesinger — Hope for Eden
- Helen Sheppard — Moreton Bay Friends of Refugees
- Marilyn Smith OAM — Refugee Organisation of Milton (ROOM)
- Adrian Walker — Parishes United with Refugees
- Bethany Wilkes — Amigos for Settlement
- David Williams — Wominjeka Group
Each of these individuals represents something bigger than themselves—a network of people choosing to act with compassion, to build connection across cultures, and to make space for new beginnings.
A huge congratulations to all of our award winners, and an equally heartfelt thank you to those who took the time to nominate them. Every nomination reflected a spirit of generosity and kindness that deserves to be celebrated.