- Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier
Arun Thomas from Horsham has been crowned the 2019 Victorian Young Achiever of the Year for his extraordinary leadership in rural and regional health and aged care.
Arun was honoured at the 2019 Seven News Young Achiever Awards gala presentation dinner, presented by Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Danny Pearson.
The Awards recognise and celebrate young people who excel in a range of fields including community service, volunteering, healthcare and education as well as small business, digital innovation, environmental sustainability, arts and fashion.
An experienced registered nurse, Arun provides strategic and clinical leadership as an Associate Nurse Unit Manager at Edenhope District Memorial Hospital and as a board member of Stawell Regional Health.
Arun was awarded a Victorian Celebrating Aged Care Leadership Award in 2018 for his work in palliative care and advance care planning. He was also a finalist for an Excellence in Leadership award as part of the Victorian Healthcare Association Annual Awards.
In 2018 Arun established a scholarship at his alma mater, the University of South Australia, to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who show leadership and social responsibility in academia, work or community.
The Andrews Labor Government supports the Awards by sponsoring the Victorian Government Group Achievement in the Community Award, presented this year to the Entrepreneurs Movement Club.
Established in 2015 by seven South Sudanese Australians in Pakenham, this group of energetic and positive young changemakers has partnered with local youth services to connect over 2,000 South Sudanese young people to community, culture, education and employment.
As noted by Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier Danny Pearson
"I congratulate Arun Thomas for his great achievements in health and aged care - his compassion and dedication are exemplary."
"The Entrepreneurs Movement Club are a credit to their community - they are making a real difference in the lives of young people."
"Our government values all young people for who they are, and for their skills and achievements - as community members, students, workers, entrepreneurs, changemakers and volunteers."
