Monday, 22 March 2010
A final year medical student has won the Young People's Human Rights Medal.
Vinay Menon's national award was in recognition of his voluntary advocacy work with refugees, Indigenous communities and children living with a disability.
The annual medal was presented to Vinay in December last year by Human Rights Commission President Cathy Branson QC.
"The judges were particularly impressed with Vinay's passionate human rights advocacy, evident since the age of 15, and the recognition of his commitment reflected in his appointment as National Youth representative of the Australian Red Cross," she said.
A co-founder of the World Aware program, working to help people from refugee backgrounds, Vinay's address to the Human Rights Awards audience was about Aboriginal disadvantage in Australia.
"On one hand, you always feel uncomfortable accepting an award like this. It's never an individual effort and I am lucky to have worked with an awesome team at the Red Cross," he said. "On the other hand, it's good to be able to raise these issues at this level," he said.
Vinay said his volunteer work gave him hope for the young people of the world.
He is planning to work in primary care and community medicine when he graduates - where he can "make a difference".
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