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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-07-06 Daily Xml
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Tsoulis, Ms E.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Tourism, Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:07): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: This week, after 25 years in the role Ms Eugenia Tsoulis OAM will step down as the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Migrant Resource Centre. Today, I want to acknowledge the incredible dedication, hard work, advocacy and passion that Eugenia has given over the years to improve the settlement experience of migrants and refugees.

Eugenia believes that multiculturalism embodies human rights, social inclusion, entrepreneurial advancement and that our combined talents, skills and knowledge, whether gained in Australia or overseas, can be utilised to build our economic, civic, social and cultural progress.

Eugenia has over 40 years of volunteer and work experience. Her work is primarily focused on the integration of migrants and refugees into policy and service planning, as well as into direct service delivery. In previous roles within the South Australian education department, and as director of the Migrant Workers Centre, Eugenia furthered migrant youth and women's participation in training and employment and supported industry to manage and promote cultural diversity in the workplace.

Over the past 20 years, Eugenia has expansively developed the AMRC. The AMRC is a leading multicultural service provider that delivers humanitarian and migrant settlement, community engagement and participation services. The AMRC under Eugenia's leadership has provided both volunteering and employment opportunities for many community leaders over the years.

The AMRC has been responsible for the delivery of humanitarian and migrant settlement and community engagement and participation services to over 150,000 migrants since 1979. A founding member of the Settlement Council of Australia and a current board member, Eugenia has contributed to a considerable number of state and commonwealth boards and advisory committees and is currently a member of the South Australian Multicultural Commission. She is a researcher, published academic and author of But I Don't Dream in English: Migrants Access to Community Arts.

Eugenia has been at the forefront of multicultural policy development in education, mental health, the arts and industrial relations. Most recently she has been part of a national leadership team, driving change in the settlement of migrants and refugees, including supporting the empowerment of women and young people while building community capacity to welcome new migrants to Australia and into the local communities where they reside, work and contribute.

Her awards and achievements are far too numerous to cover here. However, they include but are not limited to being awarded:

the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1994 for services to multiculturalism in the arts;

Zonta Woman of the Year in 2007;

the Governor's Multicultural Award for Individual Achiever of the Year in 2012;

Inaugural Harmony Alliance Award for Lifetime Achievement in empowering and supporting refugee women into 2017;

Woman of Distinction in Multicultural Services in 2019 by the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women; and

Pinnacle College Community Achievement Award for exceptional leadership and devoted service in 2021.

Whilst Eugenia will be sorely missed, I have no doubt that under her leadership she has left the AMRC with strong foundations and that it will continue to be a significant contributor to settlement services and to the strengthening of our multicultural and intercultural engagement in South Australia.

Eugenia will continue on after this year as ex-officio member of both the Middle Eastern Communities Council of South Australia and the African Communities Council of South Australia and convener of South Australian Refugee Week, and she will further regional development particularly in Whyalla. Because of her genuine passion and commitment to diversity, I am certain that Eugenia will continue to offer her guidance, support, encouragement and leadership. While I trust retirement will provide some well-earned family and relaxation time, I know that she will be a source of inspiration for the generations to come.

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