The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) is proud to announce the 2024 ACFID Awards winners, which celebrate exceptional contributions in the fields of media and advocacy. 

2024 Media Award Winner: Finding Yusuf 

This year, the ACFID Media Award goes to the team behind Finding Yusuf, an investigative documentary that raises urgent questions about justice, Australia’s human rights obligations, and the right to a fair trial. Over 18 months, SBS reporter Colin Cosier, along with producers Agnes Teek, Georgina Davies, and film crew Simon Phegan, and Louis Dai, meticulously followed the story of missing Australian Yusuf Zahab. 

SBS became the first media organisation to report that Yusuf had been found alive, providing hope to a family that feared they had lost him forever. This investigation has sparked critical conversations about the Australian government’s inaction regarding the repatriation of women and children from conflict zones, portraying the humanity of those affected and prompting advocacy for answers from MPs and NGOs. 

2024 Sir Ronald Wilson Award: Ken Davis and Dr. Ali Reza Yunespour 

The Sir Ronald Wilson Award is presented to two outstanding individuals: 

Ken Davis 

Ken Davis, an esteemed Elder of the LGBTQI+ community in Australia, was instrumental in implementing HIV programs across Cambodia, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, managing Australian aid initiatives throughout the 1990s. Ken helped establish community health networks in Australia and abroad during the 1980s and early 1990s, a time when most NGOs were not actively supporting HIV and AIDS campaigns. His work included education and awareness, as well as training healthcare workers in countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe. 

This crucial work led to the resourcing of occupational health and safety campaigns and local health facilities, saving countless lives, both for local workers and those on assignment as migrant workers. 

Dr. Ali Reza Yunespour 

Dr. Ali Reza Yunespour, who arrived in Australia as a refugee in 2005, has made a profound impact through his education initiatives in Afghanistan. Since 2008, Ali has volunteered with the Indigo Foundation, coordinating education projects that have benefited around 5,000 students in Ghazni Province. His efforts have not only provided vital educational opportunities but also empowered communities facing significant challenges. 

For more information about the ACFID Awards and the winners please contact [email protected] or call 0401721064.