Zimbabwean-Australian Youth Leader Wins Prestigious Aussie Community Award

Sydney — A young Zimbabwean community leader based in Australia has been recognised for her contribution to youth development, mental health advocacy and multicultural community engagement after winning the 2026 ZEST Award for Outstanding Youth Leader in Sydney.

Tamisha Matara received the accolade at the annual ZEST Awards, which celebrate individuals, community groups and organisations making a positive impact across Greater Western Sydney.

The award recognises Matara's work as a Liverpool Youth Councillor, United Nations Youth Delegate and founder of Evolve by T, an initiative focused on youth empowerment, storytelling and community engagement.

Speaking after receiving the award, Matara said young people were often excluded from meaningful decision-making processes despite being directly affected by many of the issues under discussion.

"The biggest gap is that decision-makers often engage youth in a performative or consultative way rather than a meaningful, ongoing partnership," she said.

She said her experiences growing up as a young African-Australian in Western Sydney had exposed her to challenges affecting culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including issues of belonging, mental health, education and representation.

Matara says those experiences inspired her to become actively involved in community advocacy through organisations such as the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network New South Wales, Liverpool City Council and international youth engagement platforms.

She said participation in those spaces had taught her that leadership was not about waiting for permission but accepting responsibility to represent the concerns and aspirations of young people.

Matara described the award as both humbling and motivating, saying it affirmed the impact of her work in youth advocacy, storytelling and community engagement.

She said she now intends to expand programmes under Evolve by T and develop more youth-led storytelling initiatives aimed at amplifying multicultural voices, particularly among young people in Western Sydney.

"I want to create more structured platforms where young people can not only share their stories but also influence decision-making processes directly," she said.

Matara noted that community was built on belonging, accountability and shared growth, adding that the recognition would provide a stronger platform to elevate the voices of young people and strengthen engagement between communities and institutions.

She also encouraged young people to identify issues affecting their communities and take practical steps to address them.

The ZEST Awards are organised annually by the Western Sydney Community Forum and recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and organisations working to strengthen communities across Greater Western Sydney.

Matara's achievement adds to a growing list of Zimbabweans in the diaspora making notable contributions in leadership, community development and public service across the world.