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Winners and Finalists
See below for this year’s winners and finalists by category.
Each year we receive outstanding nominations for the Human Rights Medals and award categories. Nominees may have made a contribution within their communities or through the practice of law, through writing books about human rights issues or through their work in the media.
Please be aware that this website may contain the names or images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may now be deceased.
Awards Categories
Human Rights Medal
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. The medal has a rich history of prestigious winners.
Winner - Ron Merkel QC
For 40 years, Ron Merkel has devoted himself to access to justice for people who are marginalised and disadvantaged, having a long and outstanding commitment to the promotion and advancement of human rights as a legal practitioner.
He is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading public and administrative law practitioners, specialising in the areas of human rights, civil liberties, the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, migration law,equal opportunity and anti-discrimination law. read more
Young People's Human Rights Medal
The Young People's Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who is, on the 6 June 2011, under the age of 25 years and who has made an outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in Australia.
Winner - Tshibanda Gracia Ngoy
Tshibanda Gracia Ngoy is a 19 year old Congolese-born Australian who arrived under the Humanitarian Visas Program in July 2005.
Gracia strives to better the lives of people around her and, in particular, youth from refugee backgrounds. She is a caseworker for refugee families, a radio co-host, a tutor for international students, a youth motivational speaker, and a member of the Illawarra Regional Advisory Council (IRAC), NSW Multicultural Youth Network (MYN), the Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families (SCARF). She is also a Co-Administrative Director for the Uganda-based Voice of Hope International Ministries, advocating for those who have been silenced by poverty and injustice. read more
Print and Online Media Award
Awarded for work published in Australian magazines, metropolitan or regional newspapers and websites between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Winner - Adele Horin, Fairfax Newspapers 'The sad truth behind closed doors'
Adele Horin researched and produced a series of articles which brought to light human rights violations of people with a disability living in licensed boarding houses in NSW.
Horin uncovered abuse and neglect in boarding houses and her efforts, along with those of disability advocacy groups, contributed to the public release of a NSW Ombudsman's special report on boarding houses in August this year. read more
Law Award
Awarded to an individual or an organisation with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in Australia through the practice of law.
Winner - Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre, Allens Arthur Robinson, Debbie Mortimer SC and Richard Niall SC
This legal team has acted pro bono in two landmark High Court cases which have upheld human rights and the rule of law.
Individually, each member of the team has also advised and acted pro bono in a significant number of other cases to promote and protect human rights. read more
Television Award
Awarded for a TV drama, news or current affairs program or documentary, broadcast in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Winner - Skype Scandal
Matt Moran and Hugh Riminton, Ten Network
In March 2011, an 18 year old female Air Force cadet had sex with a fellow cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA).
A few days later, she learnt it had been broadcast live via Skype to other cadets. read more
Community Individual Award – Tony Fitzgerald Memorial Award
Awarded to an individual with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community on a not-for-profit basis.
Winner - The late Lola Jane Edwards
Lola Edwards was born in 1946 in the northern NSW town of Tingha - a proud member of the Anaiwan and Gamilaroi Aboriginal Nations. She passed away on the 1st August this year.
At the age of four, Lola and her siblings were taken from their family, extended family, community and country Lola was sent to the Cootamundra Aboriginal Girls Training Home in southern New South Wales. read more
Radio Award
Awarded for a news or current affairs program or documentary of no more than one hour duration (either one program, a series or a compilation of highlights), broadcast in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Winner - Stefan Armbruster Malu Sara Tragedy, SBS Radio
Stefan Armbruster was the first to report on the continuing injustice befalling the families of victims of the Malu Sara tragedy.
By developing close contact with the families and victims of this tragedy, Armbruster was able to give voice to their immense distress and frustration with the legal system which continues to haunt them many years after the immigration patrol boat sank in the Torres Strait on 15 October 2005. read more
Business Award
Awarded to a business with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community.
A business is a profit-seeking enterprise (a person, partnership, or corporation) engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service. For the purposes of the Human Rights Awards, businesses in the legal profession should nominate for the Law Award, not the Business Award.
Winner - The Captioning Studio
The Captioning Studio brings together technology and a passion for inclusion of people with hearing loss.
The business provides daily television captioning which gives viewers with a hearing loss full access to television programs, and also captions and subtitled DVDs and videos. The Captioning Studio also provides theatrical captioning in venues across Australia. read more
Literature (non-fiction) Award
Awarded for a non-fiction work (including social history, social commentary, biography or documentary) published in Australia between 5 October 2010 and 9 September 2011.
The nominated entry must expose, investigate or propel thought and action on a contemporary and compelling human rights issue in Australia.
Winner - Half a Citizen: Life on welfare in Australia
Half a Citizen draws on in-depth interviews with 150 welfare recipients to reveal people struggling to get by on a low income, the anxieties of balancing paid work with income support, and how unstable housing makes it difficult to get ahead.
By investigating the lives beyond statistics, Half a Citizen also explodes powerful myths and assumptions on which welfare policy is based.
read more
Community Organisation Award
Awarded to a non-government or community-based organisation with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community.
A community organisation is a self-funded not-for-profit organisation that operates within a single local community or as a subset of a wider group of not-for-profit organisations.
Winner - Swags for Homeless
Swags for Homeless was founded by Tony Clark when he questioned why homeless people sleeping on the street are not given suitable outdoor bedding when turned away from shelters.
Swags for Homeless partners with over 100 charities across Australia to distribute 'Backpack Beds' directly to homeless people in need. read more
