Passion for community service

People of Australia Ambassador Deepak Vinayak wins prestigious award

For Deepak Vinayak, a knock on his door at midnight or even at 6am is a familiar occurrence. Deepak is probably the only Justice of the Peace in Victoria who is available 24/7, 12 months in a year. His dedication to community service is renowned, and it was no surprise to anyone but Deepak that he was to be presented the Community Cohesion and Multifaith Award 2013 by Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The award was presented at a ceremony in Tarneit in Victoria, acknowledging Deepak’s untiring work for the community.

“I am honoured by the award, and grateful that my work has been acknowledged,” he says. “Awards such as these encourage me to work even harder for the greater good of the community, something that I have been doing since the past 15 years”. Deepak’s respect for other religions and his strong philosophy of nonviolence, as well as his desire to help change people’s lives for the better, are also reasons for winning the award. He dedicated the award to his “fellow community members, friends and families”.

Deepak was appointed as a People of Australia ambassador in 2012, to champion inclusion and provide input to the Australian Multicultural Council and Federal Government.

Although the appointment was for just a year, it has now been extended, a clear indicator of Deepak’s popularity within the community. His work extends to all facets of community service to everyone, regardless of ethnicity, gender or the complexity of their issues. Put simply, Deepak is a people’s person. “I feel that if people need me, I should help them,” he says. “For me, community service has now become a passion, a vocation. People seem to appreciate the work that I do for them, and that is reward enough,” he adds.

Deepak also candidly mentions that his ceaseless voluntary work has taken its toll on his health and family life, but he is unable to step back. “People come to me because they think I can help them, and I can’t refuse,” he claims. “I work for communal harmony and social inclusion for all, from the grassroots level. If we work for other people it gives us more satisfaction,” he adds. Deepak’s repertoire of responsibility is impressive, considering that besides his regular job, all these other activities are voluntary. He has mobilised community members and resources in his quest for working towards a cohesive society. He continues to create awareness and support systems for newly arrived migrants through a range of multicultural and multi-faith activities. As a leader, he supports youth and trains them for future leadership roles. He has also been working to strengthen Indo-Australia ties at the cultural and social levels.

Deepak is a recipient of the Multicultural Award for Excellence 2010 from the Premier of Victoria, and is a member of the Royal Victorian Association of Honorary Justices. He was nominated for the Australian of the Year award 2012, and for the Pride Of Australia Medal 2010/2011. He is the Founder Patron of the South Asian Community Link Group, Regional Advisory Council Member for VMC and Member of the Hume City Council Craigieburn Festival Committee.

Deepak continues the good work, carrying the mantle of responsibility with pride and dedication. The Indian community wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.