An advocate preserving her Aboriginal culture, a 19-year old entrepreneur, and an internationally trained ballerina are among the winners of the 2024 Fairfield City Mayor’s Youth Achievement Awards.
Held by Fairfield City Council, the awards recognise young individuals and groups who have excelled in the sports, arts, business, humanitarian, and community activism arenas.
Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone said it was exciting to hear how the City’s young people were inspiring community pride, and strengthening community life in Fairfield City.
“It brings us great pleasure each year to recognise local young people making a difference through their demonstration of leadership, passion, commitment and enthusiasm,” Mayor Carbone said.
“By volunteering and leading significant projects in our community, young people are not only making a positive contribution, they are building essential skills and attributes for life.
“Our young people are tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. It’s important we shine the light on their achievements to encourage them and show them that we are behind them.”
The winners for each award category are as follows:
First Nations Youth Award – Jelissiya Sullivan
Jelissiya demonstrates strong leadership qualities and pride for her First Nations roots through her involvement in several community groups. She uses every opportunity in the classroom to promote understanding and celebration of her culture. She is proud of her heritage which is evident in her interactions with staff and students in class and within the wider school context.
Sports Impact Award – Arianni Chacana-Rios
Arianni demonstrates leadership, commitment, and positive life values through her participation in elite level gymnastics and in supporting younger students in her school learning the sport. She’s an excellent role model for her peers and a thoroughly deserving recipient of this award.
Leadership Award – Narmin Sheeto
Narmin has been balancing full-time studies in medical science with working more than 40 hours per week as a manager at McDonald’s to support her family of 7 people. Through sharing her experiences journeying to Australia from Iraq via Jordan, she inspires other young people in her community. Outside of her work and studies, she is a prolific volunteer in her community.
New Beginnings Award – Anosha Jahed
Anosha arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2022 and has shown a great deal of promise in the short time she has been here. She is deeply involved in community initiatives in her school, including fundraisers, assemblies and events like International Women’s Day. She is a proactive member of various Fairfield High School committees, working hard to improve the school for everyone.
Creative Arts Award – Annabel Hom
Annabel began her artistic journey in Cambodian Classical Ballet at 10 years old. Her practice has taken her international having professionally trained in Cambodia and performed at Womadelaide Festival in 2024. She also is an instructor in cultural education for Cambodian-Australian young people, helping the Khmer diaspora preserve their connection with culture.
Outstanding Youth Group – Cambodian Living Arts and Culture Youth Dance Troupe
This troupe uses traditional Cambodian dance to share the Khmer culture at events and festivals in the local community and throughout Sydney. They are preservers of this dance art form and role models for the Khmer youth.
Phoenix Award – Fatih Cetinay
Fatih is an inspiring young person who has shown great determination and achieved amazing goals. From a young age he dedicated his life towards a career in professional rugby league, however this journey was cut short due to multiple ruptured ligaments. At 19 years old, he is now the proud owner of Acai House in Greenway Plaza, and he continues to use this, along with other life experiences, to be a positive role model for those around him.
