“Success should never be concealed in the shadows of modesty, but rather celebrated with resounding applause and genuine pride. By celebrating success, we not only honour those who have persevered, but we inspire others to reach for greatness, to believe in their own potential, and to embrace the possibilities that lie before them.”
With these words, Professor Talal Yassine, MD of Crescent Wealth, opened the 2023 Crescent Awards ceremony on Saturday 19th August, welcoming honoured guests, dignitaries and some of Australia’s most influential teachers and accomplished students.
Now in its second year, the Crescent Awards serves as a national platform to acknowledge, showcase and celebrate the inspired achievements and contributions made by educators, leaders, educational teams and Muslim learners across sites of education in Australia.
This year’s gala event was held in the Marquee Ballroom at Alencia in Dandenong South and was hosted by Iman Balla. It was attended by students, educators and school representatives from around the country, as well as their supporters and special guests.
The awards encompassed three categories: secondary school Muslim learners, individual educators, and educator team praxis awards.
Educator Individual Awards:
Educator Team Praxis Awards:
The evening also included the presentation of the Crescent Lifetime Achievement Award, which is given in recognition of a lifetime of distinguished service to Islamic schooling and education in Australia.
This year it was posthumously awarded to Sheik Fehmi Naji El-Imam — former Grand Mufti of Australia, co-founder of Preston Mosque and the Australian Federation of Islamic Societies, mentor, teacher, husband, father and grandfather. It was given in recognition of Sheikh Fehmi’s leadership, dedication and progress towards creating social harmony in Australia and was accepted by members of his family.
The event was made possible by the support and assistance of our event partners, Crescent Wealth and the Centre for Islamic Thought and Education at the University of South Australia, as well as our generous supporters, TLC, Islamic Relief and Binah.
The Hon. Professor Bob Carr, Crescent Foundation Chair, reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting the Muslim community and opening doors for all Australians, "Through the Crescent Awards we aim to recognise individuals and institutions that enrich our young community within the educational sector. We remain dedicated to empowering more Muslims to ascend to senior executive ranks and other high-profile roles across all sectors, thereby enabling them to make a significant contribution to the fabric of Australian society."