Addressing isolation, Durga started his own not-for-profit helping others 'shine'

Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai and his family migrated to Australia as refugees 11 years ago. Now, he has been recognised as Victoria's Young Australian of the Year 2024 for his work bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.

Mr Bhattarai has been involved in the field of nursing for around a decade. Credit: Supplied/Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

Key Points

• Registered nurse and social worker Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai has won the 2024 Victoria Young Australian of the Year award.
• From life in a refugee camp in Nepal to moving to multicultural Australia, Mr Bhattarai says his challenges inspired him to give back to the community.
• He says a welcoming environment must be created for the younger generation to follow their passion.

Mr Bhattarai - popularly known as Durga - was born in a refugee camp in the eastern district of Jhapa in Nepal.

His family had migrated to Nepal as refugees from Bhutan in 1992, a time of sociopolitical upheaval.

After spending his first 17 years living in and out of seven different refugee camps, Mr Bhattarai and his family arrived in Australia through third-country settlement facilitated by the United Nations' International Organisation for Migration.

Now 28, Mr Bhattarai said his late teenage years in the regional Victorian city of Wodonga were all about gaining an education and attempting to fit into a new society.

2024 Victoria Young Australian of the Year, Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai. Credit: NADC/Salty Dingo

“The main challenges after coming to Australia were the culture shock and language barrier,” he told SBS Nepali.

After completing Year 12, he was struck by feelings of loneliness and isolation while pursuing his higher studies.

In 2014, he founded Albury Wodonga Multicultural Community Events Inc (AWMCE), a not-for-profit organisation working towards bringing people from diverse backgrounds together.

He said his organisation aims to foster social cohesion and support CALD communities through multicultural and sporting events, awareness campaigns on topics like mental health and visas, and fundraising drives.

My parents were not literate, and as the eldest son among four siblings, I had many responsibilities on my shoulders. As immigrants, there were times we were bullied too, for example, for the way we dressed.

Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

'Take my voice to the next level'

Mr Bhattarai, who is a registered nurse by profession, was recently awarded as the 2024 Victoria Young Australian of the Year at a ceremony held at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.

According to the awards’ website, his “selfless actions are a constant source of care and connection among Wodonga’s multicultural community”.

He said winning this award means a lot to him: “It was quite surprising for me, it was unexpected, and I got quite emotional.”

“This award has helped me to take my voice to the next level, that is how I can put it.”

Parents of Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai. Credit: Supplied/Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

Serving the community

Mr Bhattarai said his many challenges growing up led him to feel strongly about uniting multicultural and immigrant communities.

Formally registered in 2017, his youth-led initiative has so far been involved in organising community events, social work and providing a platform for cultural expression to people from Nepali as well as from non-Nepali speaking backgrounds.

A mutlicultural event organised by Albury Wodonga Multicultural Community Events Inc. Credit: Supplied/Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

“The main motive of this organisation is to build a bond between the local Australian and diverse communities, such as our Nepali-Bhutani, Indian and African communities, to name just some,” he said.

In addition to providing emergency relief packages during the COVID-19 pandemic, the AWMCE organised a five-week multicultural wellbeing project which included biking, boxing and yoga sessions for all age groups and genders.

A youth showcase in 2019 brought together more than 500 people from various CALD communities to express their culture and talent.

Mr Bhattarai said, over time, such events have become a platform for individuals to share their personal stories with one another.

This has also helped individuals affected by mental health issues and past traumas, especially senior citizens, as they got a social platform to spark conversations, share their experiences, and feel a sense of belonging.

Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

In 2022, they liaised with a social organisation in Nepal to create awareness and provide training on menstrual hygiene for blind and visually impaired women, as well as distribute sanitary pads.

This year, they raised around $20,000 to assist young people to complete their medical treatments amid cost-of-living pressures.

Food relief packages distributed by Albury Wodonga Multicultural Community Events Inc during the COVID-19 pandemic. Credit: Supplied/Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

Future plans

Mr Bhattarai will be going to Canberra in January 2024, along with fellow winners from all states and territories in Australia, where the Australian of the Year recipient will be announced.

Previously, he was awarded the Meritorious Service Award from the Victorian government in 2019.

In 2019, Mr Bhattarai was awarded the Meritorious Service Award from the Victorian government. Credit: Supplied/Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai

His message to the next generation and the wider community is to share their ideas to create a better place for everyone.

“Let’s create a supportive environment for the younger generation. Now it is the time for them to shine,” he said.

If you have a passion and a dream, don’t keep it buried. Even if it is difficult, start out by helping out a family or a friend. You will feel proud of yourself for how much you can achieve.

Bhakta Bahadur Bhattarai