Zahra Al Hilaly has been named as the 2022 WA Young Person of the Year.
Zahra is an Australian Representative for UN Women, Chair of the Ministerial Youth Advisory Council and was recently named the 2022 Western Australian Young Multicultural Person of the Year.
A seasoned speaker and youth representative, Zahra has addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York and served as a youth delegate for conferences in Italy, China and France.
She is also an accomplished poet and writer, with stories published in SBS Australia, The West Australian and Vogue Australia.
Zahra will receive $10,000 in funding, supported through Lotterywest, to deliver an impact-focused project for young people in Western Australia.
The state’s Youth Minister, Dave Kelly, was on hand to present the award along with other WA 2022 WA Youth Awards at a ceremony at the WA Museum Boola Bardip.
Minister Kelly congratulated all the winners and finalists.
“Zahra is an inspiring young leader whose advocacy for gender equality, migrants and refugees and intersectional representation has made waves across the world,” Mr Kelly said.
“Beyond her impressive resume, Zahra is committed to supporting her peers, uplifting the voices of the voiceless and striving for equality and justice at every turn.
“The WA Youth Awards celebrate the accomplishments of our State’s young people, and the people in the youth sector that supports them.
“The Awards are a platform to elevate the work of young people aged between 12 and 25 in areas as diverse as community leadership, innovation, advocacy and the arts.
“All of tonight’s award winners and finalists are of the highest calibre and have brought their passion, skill, and determination to make positive change in our communities.”
This year’s finalists included young changemakers, musicians, technologists, mental health advocates, disability activists and community leaders.
Also among the finalists were youth workers and youth-focussed community sector initiatives including alternative schooling programs, innovative out-of-home care programs, new approaches to case management and life-changing programs supporting migrant and refugee women.
Finalists came from all over the Perth metropolitan area as well as regional communities including Meekatharra, Albany, Capel, Bunbury, Port Hedland and Marble Bar.
The WA Government’s WA Youth Awards have been running since 1999. The Awards are delivered in partnership with the Youth Affairs Council of WA, the peak body for young people and the youth sector in WA, with support from the Department of Communities and Lotterywest.
Category Awards are also supported by the Aboriginal Health Council of WA, Propel Youth Arts WA, The Y WA, Youth Focus, Youth Futures, Edith Cowan University, the Commissioner for Children and Young People and Mission Australia.
