Indian Recipients in the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List

Harinder Kaur OAM

**Harinder Kaur has been recognized for her service to the community through social welfare organizations.**

For the past thirty years, Kaur, the founder and CEO of the Harman Foundation, has been a prominent and active member of the Indian diaspora in the state. Since 2013, she has dedicated her life to helping vulnerable community members by providing food hampers to those in need, educating perpetrators of domestic abuse, and conducting seminars to raise awareness about physical and mental health issues.

As an education officer for the state’s Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), Harinder Kaur OAM regularly dealt with issues related to relationships, children’s concerns, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence. The tragic death of her oldest son Harmanpreet Singh in a vehicle accident in 2012 led her to her true spiritual calling: community service.

### For service to the community through social welfare organizations.

#### Community Involvement:
– Founder and CEO, Harman Foundation, since 2013
– Executive Member, Glenwood Community Hub, since 2016
– Executive Member, Inter Faith Women Group, since 2021
– Executive Member, Teeyan Society, current
– Former Executive Member and Treasurer, Outer West Domestic Violence Network (WASH House)

#### Department of Communities and Justice:
– Senior Correctional Education Officer/Education Services Coordinator, since 2005
– Deputy Chair, Executive Women in Communities and Justice Network, since 2015
– Correctional Education Officer, 1993-1995
– Peer Support Officer, since 2016
– Volunteer, Sikh Chaplaincy Services, current

Awards and Recognition:
– Woman of the Year, Blacktown City Council, 2021
– Riverstone Local Woman of the Year, 2019
– Hindu Council of Australia Award, 2019
– Dedication and Extraordinary Work Award, Indian Women Cultural Association of Australia Inc, 2018
– Corporate Excellence Award, Corrective Services NSW, 2009
– Humanity Excellence Award, Corrective Services NSW, 2009

Niharika Hiremath OAM

The advocate mental health advocate from Melbourne has received recognition for her contributions to community health.

As part of this year’s King’s Birthday Honours, mental health and lived experience advocate Niharika Hiremath has been awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her contributions to community health. At 29, she is the youngest recipient of this year’s honours.

Hiremath is the co-founder and managing director of the Australian Institute for Diversity in Mental Health. She also serves as a National Board Youth Advisor and chairs the Multicultural Strategy Advisory Group for headspace, Australia’s leading youth mental health charity. Originally from Karnataka, she was inspired by her grand uncle’s medical practice to pursue a career in helping others.

### Achievements and Roles:

**Headspace:**
– National Youth Advisor Board Member, since 2021
– Coordinator for the Refugee and Migrant Background Young People Project, since 2020
– Coordinator, Alumni Participant, 2020-2021
– Member of the Australian Youth Advocates for Mental Health
– Support Worker for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Youth, 2019-2020
– Member of the Youth National Reference Group, 2017-2019

**Mental Health Support – Other:**
– Mental Health Commissioner, Independent Advisory Board, National Mental Health Commission, 2019-2022
– Co-Chair of Solis Culture and Mental Health, since 2020
– Convenor of the Culture and Mental Health Interactive Toolkit
– Former Member of the Refugee and Migrant Mental Health Partnership, The Social Policy Group
– Former Mentor at Yale University’s Recovery and Community Health’s Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy

**South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network:**
– Project Lead for Service System Design and Reform, since 2023
– Clinician, 2021-2023

Sakshi Thakur OAM

**Founder of ‘Sewing the Seeds’ and Advocate for Women’s Economic Empowerment**

Businesswoman Sakshi Thakur believes that empowering women is essential to ending poverty. Thakur founded “Sewing the Seeds,” a social enterprise based in Pondicherry that teaches women about textiles to overcome social and financial barriers to employment. The enterprise currently employs eight full-time workers and plans to expand to other cities. As the daughter of Sindhi immigrants, Thakur’s journey has taken her through Kuwait, Oman, Sydney, and Melbourne, and she remains deeply committed to honoring the legacy of her female ancestors.

### Ms. Sakshi Sanjaya Thakur, Chadstone VIC 3148
**For service to the community through social welfare organisations.**

#### Social Enterprise:
– Metropolitan Manager, Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC), since 2022
– Founder, Sewing the Seeds (formerly Humanism Global), since 2018
– Lead and Entrepreneur in Residence, Melbourne Chapter, Catalysr, since 2021

#### Multicultural Involvement:
– Board Member, IndianCare, 2021-2023
– Volunteer, Tatkaar Kathak Dance Institute Australia, since 2021
– Volunteer, Prem Sadan Children’s Home, India, 2015

#### Other Roles:
– Founder and CEO, Skip Labs, 2017-2018
– Youth Committee Member, Art of Living Foundation, since 2012

#### City of Monash:
– Member, Gender Equity Advisory Committee, 2016-2018
– Chair, Monash Young Persons Reference Group, 2015-2016; Member, 2012-2016
– Member, Monash Empowering Women Committee, 2014-2015
– Member, Headspace4monash Committee, 2015

Awards and Recognition:
– Sir John Monash Award for Outstanding Excellence, 2018
– Inspirational Women’s Leadership Award, City of Monash, 2018
– Outstanding Leadership Award, City of Monash, 2018
– Young Social Pioneer, Foundation of Young Australians, 2018
– The Bridge Create Change Award, Seven News Young Achiever Awards Semi-Finalist, 2019
– Australian Institute of Company Directors Governance Foundations for NFP Directors Scholarship Recipient, 2023
– Commonwealth Alliance of Young Entrepreneurs Committee, 2023

Ms Nalika Priyadharshi Padmasena

**For service to the multicultural community of New South Wales.**

### Sri Lanka Association of New South Wales
– President, 2019-2021
– Vice-President, 2019
– President, Sri Lanka Association Women’s Network, since 2021
– Language Teacher, North Parramatta Sinhala School, 2006-2020

### Community Involvement
– Director, Positive Vibes Foundation, 2018-2022
– Member, Sydney West Regional Advisory Council, Multicultural NSW, since 2016
– Member, Multicultural Communities Consultation Council, Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW, 2014-2019
– Chairperson, Auburn Community Development Network, 2015-2016
– Chairperson, Boronia Multicultural Services Inc, Toongabbie, 2014-2016
– Management Committee Member, Immigrant Women’s Speak-out Association of NSW, 2003-2007
– Committee Member, Save a Dream Project, current
– Member, South West Sydney Elder Abuse Collaborative, current
– Board Member, North West Community Services, Riverstone, current
– Member, Blacktown Community Leaders Forum, current

### India Club Inc
– Member, since 2010
– Past Member and Advisor, Next Step Team

### Blacktown City Council
– Member, Blacktown Elder Abuse Prevention Collaborative, current
– Member, Multicultural Advisory Committee, since c2017
– Member, Senior Citizens’ Advisory Committee, since c2017
– Member, Sister Cities Committee, since 2020

### Toongabbie Legal Centre
– Management Committee Member, since 2005
– Treasurer, nine years
– Volunteer Coordinator, 2007-2012

### NSW Chapter, Community Legal Centres Association of Australia
– Co-Convenor, Community Legal Education Workers (CLEW) Network, since 2013
– Current Convenor, Continuing Legal Education Workers Network

### Legal Work and Advocacy
– Anti-Violence Project Officer, Cumberland Women’s Health Centre, c1999-2008
– Acting Court Support Coordinator, The Macquarie Legal Centre, 2006
– Parramatta Court Support Worker, 1997-2006
– Editor, Retirement Villages Chapter, NSW Solicitors Manual
– Author, Retirement Villages Chapter, LexisNexis Legal Resource
– Mentor, Law Society of NSW, since 2013, and Member, since 2008

### Seniors Rights Service Inc
– Acting Principal Solicitor, 2016-2017
– Solicitor, since 2008
– Steering Committee Member, 5th National Elder Abuse Conference, 2018

### Awards and Recognition:
– Salvation Army Social Advocacy Award (Highly Commended), 2022
– Star Award, India Club Inc, 2016
– ZEST Award, Exceptional Regional Partnership Project, Seniors Rights Service, 2016
– Stepan Kerkyasharian AO Harmony Award, NSW Premier’s Multicultural Award, 2015
– Premier’s Violence Against

Associate Professor Sabaratnam Prathapan

**For service to tertiary education and the community.**

### Charles Darwin University (formerly Northern Territory University)
– Associate Professor of Engineering, since 2005
– Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Vocational Education and Training), Northern Territory University, 1995-1996

### Darwin Institute of Technology
– Head of Division, Construction, 1986-1989
– Head, Department of Civil Engineering/Surveying, 1980-1984, 1985-1986

### Institute of TAFE
– Deputy Director, 1989-1994
– Chair, Professional Experience Program Committee, 1989
– Chair, Promotions Committee, 1989
– Former Chair, Board of Studies
– Former Deputy Chair and Member, Executive Committee
– Former Member, Staff Development Committee
– Former Member, Courses Committee

### Darwin Community College
– Lecturer in Civil Engineering, 1978-1980
– Council Member, 1982

### Other Education Roles
– Former Vice-President, Union of Australian College Academics
– Lecturer, Singapore Polytechnic, 1975-1978

### Professional Roles
– Senior Project Officer, Office of Multicultural Affairs Northern Territory, 2004-2005
– Chief Executive Officer, Northern Territory Employment and Training Authority, 1996-1999
– Manager, Construction Industry Policy, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, Darwin NT, 1999-2004
– Judge, Engineering Excellence National Award – Sir William Hudson Award, 1990
– Engineer, Bridge Section, Kent County Council, UK, 1974-1975
– Former Committee Member, NT CPA
– Former Board Member, NT Power and Water Authority

### Northern Territory Division, Institution of Engineers
– Chair, 1989-1990
– Former Committee Member
– Former Chair, Education Committee

### Hindu Society of Northern Territory
– President, 25 years
– Vice-President, current
– Foundation Secretary, since 1987

### Community Involvement
– Community Member, NT Judicial Commission, since 2021
– President/Treasurer/Committee Member, Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory, six years
– Former President, Sri Lanka Australia Friendship Association

### Rotary International
– Member, Rotary Club of Darwin, current
– Rotary District Governor 9560, Northern Australia and Timor Leste, 2023-2024
– Paul Harris Fellow

### Fellowships
– Engineers Australia
– Certified Practicing Accountants

### Awards and Recognition:
– Alumnus Award for Community Service, Charles Darwin University, 2021
– Honorary Doctor of Letters, Charles Darwin University
– Multicultural Award for Individual Excellence, 2019
– Maruthi Award, Sydney Branch, Kamban Kazhagam Australia, 2019
– Northern Territory Professional Engineer of the Year, 1996
– AUSTAFE Award for Leadership in Engineering