Melbourne, Australia – 16 August 2026: The Australia India Multicultural Awards (AIMA) 2026 brought together hundreds of members of Melbourne’s multicultural community on Sunday, celebrating 40 individuals and organisations whose contributions are making a meaningful difference to Australian society.

Held at the Church of Scientology in Ascot Vale, the event brought together award recipients, nominees, community leaders, entrepreneurs, artists, filmmakers, educators, volunteers, performers, multicultural organisations, media representatives, sponsors, partners, families and supporters.

At the centre of the awards were 40 stories spanning community service, volunteering, arts and culture, music, film and creative industries, education, entrepreneurship, technology, leadership, media, professional achievement and multicultural engagement.

AIMA said the awards were designed around a different approach to community recognition, placing merit, contribution and community impact ahead of money, connections or group affiliation.

Award recipients were not required to pay nomination, entry or award acceptance fees. Performers, judges and volunteers were also not required to purchase tickets to participate. Guest tickets were kept at a modest level with food included, while the event was delivered with a limited number of sponsors and without relying on government grants.

AIMA Founder and CEO Prabhakar Agraja said the organisation’s “No Groupism” philosophy was about focusing on what individuals had actually contributed rather than which community group they belonged to or whom they knew.

One notable aspect of this year’s awards was the emphasis on people recognising others. Community members nominated colleagues, volunteers, artists, educators, entrepreneurs, professionals and organisations whose work they believed deserved greater visibility.

AIMA also highlighted nominations in which men supported women for recognition, alongside women recognising the achievements and leadership of other women.

The 2026 awards followed approximately six weeks of planning and relied heavily on volunteers, community participation and digital coordination. Within around 28 days, approximately 350 people joined the AIMA WhatsApp community, connecting professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, volunteers and community leaders.

For AIMA, the initiative demonstrated that technology and direct community engagement can help create a more accessible model of recognition while challenging established approaches to multicultural community participation.