Julie Bishop address to Council 2010
ACFID Awards
At its annual Council, ACFID presents two awards:
ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award
This award is presented to an individual or organisation that has shown an outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in the international development sector.
Past recipients
ACFID Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award
This award, which commenced in 2006, is presented to an individual who has shown an outstanding contribution to the Australian aid and development NGO sector over an extended period of time. The key criterion is whether the whole sector (i.e. more than a single agency) has benefited from his or her contribution.
Past recipients
ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award - 2011
Humanitarian Crisis Hub
This award is in recognition for the unique work the Humanitarian Crisis Hub is undertaking to support individuals and communities in Australia who have been affected by war and conflict and seek lasting peace in their countries of birth. We have been impressed with their work with members of the Tamil, Ogaden, Rohyigha, Afghan, Congolese and other communities. ACFID was involved with the Hub this year, regarding the highly successful work the Hub undertook working with the Sudanese Lost Boys Association in assisting the South Sudanese diaspora community to vote in the referendum in Australia earlier this year.
This award is both acknowledgment of the dedication of the time and energy of its staff, volunteers and Board, but also some recognition of the members of diaspora communities who have worked with the Hub to better raise humanitarian concerns regarding the situation in their home countries.
The Humanitarian Crisis Hub’s Coordinator, Denise Cauchi, received the award on behalf of the Hub.
ACFID Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award - 2011
David Lewis
This award is in recognition for the important advocacy David has done over a decade in increasing the sector's understanding and acceptance of disability-inclusive development as key to our human rights and poverty alleviation work. David, as part of CBM since 1990 and as a sectoral leader, has also contributed a great deal to better standards of development practice. In 1999 David helped to establish Vision 2020 in Australia, and played a key role in establishing the Australian Disability and Development Consortium in 2007. David was central to the sector's advocacy that led to AusAID adopting a world-leading disability strategy. Moreover, David has always been a mentor and a supporter to people entering the sector, especially young people.
Now David is leading cutting-edge global work around disability and climate change, and disability-inclusive emergency response. This award is both acknowledgment of the dedication of the time and energy David has given to the benefit of the sector for many years, but also some recognition of the people living with disabilities that he has stood in solidarity with, in Sierra Leone, Niger, Indigenous Australia and globally.
David's Lewis acceptence speech (pdf)
ACFID Sir Ron Wilson Human Rights Award — past recipients
2010- Alison Tate
Alison dedicated this award to the Burmese labour rights activist Su Su Nwe and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Alison has received this award for her human rights work, especially her support for the struggle for democracy and human rights in Burma, and for her work in promoting workers' rights.
Alison has been active in campaigns for human rights in many countries and has supported community groups in their advocacy in relation to migrant workers, domestic workers, women and struggles for democracy and independence. She has promoted the agenda of corporate accountability and human rights issues directly with business groups and in international forums, and coordinated and led international trade union advocacy on respect for labour rights.
Alison worked for Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA for more than eight years and more recently spent six years as the International Director of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). She currently works for the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
Alison Tate's acceptance speech (delivered by Misha Coleman) (PDF)
2009 — John Ball
John has been committed to development and human rights since the 1970s and been involved with various development organisations and peace and human rights groups and networks. He has had a long involvement with NCCA's Christian World Service (now known as Act for Peace). Since 1998, John has been a key resource person in promoting the sector's work on peace, development and human rights in Sri Lanka.
2008 — Janet Hunt
Janet Hunt has worked tirelessly on many different human rights issues over the years. From the early 1980s, she has been engaged on issues of de-colonisation for the indigenous peoples of the Pacific and developed a strong focus on the rights of Indigenous Australians. Janet worked with the forerunner of ACFID - ACFOA - and was the Executive Director of the International Women’s Development Agency. Currently she is a researcher at the Australian National University where she has paved new ground in examining governance matters in Indigenous communities.
2007 — Phil Glendenning, Director of the Edmund Rice Centre
Mr Glendenning has been a leading advocate in the public debate for refugees from war-torn countries. Through his articles, book and media interviews, he has presented stark evidence of the humanitarian consequences of returning some refugees to strife-torn countries of origin. His work helped to bring pressure to bear for greater transparency about offshore processing of asylum seekers.
2006 — David Bussau AM, Co-founder of the non-profit aid agency Opportunity International
David's acceptance speech (delivered by Barclay O'Brien) (pdf)
2005 — Nalini Kasynathan, Oxfam Australia
Nalini's acceptance speech (pdf)
ACFID Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award — past recipients
2010- Judy Mitchell AM
Judy Mitchell AM has made a significant contribution in the areas of education and overseas aid and development by using her skills in governance, program evaluation and strategic planning in working with a number of not-for-profit organizations in paid and unpaid positions.This has included serving since 2006 on ACFID's Code of Conduct Committee. Judy is currently a co-deputy chairperson of the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee and has worked tirelessly on the recent review of the ACFID Code of Conduct. From 1996 to 2008, Judy was on the Board of Oxfam Australia and was its Chair from 2002 to 2006. As the Acting Director of the International Women's Development Agency, she assisted the Management Committee to complete and implement an organisational review.
2009 — Steve Bradbury
Over the past 25 years Steve Bradbury has demonstrated extraordinary vision and leadership and made a number of very significant contributions to the aid and development sector in Australia and internationally. He has been CEO of TEAR Australia and played a key role in establishing the Micah Network. Steve has served as a member of the ACFID Executive Committee and chaired the ACFID Africa working group.
2008 — Greg Thompson
Greg Thompson became actively involved in the sector in 1977 as the Development Education Officer for the Australian Council Of Churches - World Christian Action. He also had roles in World Vision and was CEO of Anglicord and has had a long association with ACFID (and previously with ACFOA). Since 1995, Greg has contributed substantially to the creation of the Australian branch of Transparency International, and in 2007-08 he co-chaired the National Sorry Day Committee which organised the Inaugural National Sorry Day in 2008.
2007 — Wendy Rose
Wendy Rose was awarded the ACFID Outstanding Contribution to the Sector Award for her exceptional commitment to improving the quality of Australia's overseas aid sector.
2006 — Chris Franks - Chair of the ACFID Code of Conduct Committee
