Is there any reward for goodness except goodness?” (Qur’an 55:60) 

Qur’an 55:60

From the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to the modern era, Muslims have always left their mark on society. In all fields, the achievements brought about by the kindness and dedication of our Ummah to the ethos of Islam have changed the world for the better. And it’s this commitment to the deen and granting brighter futures that drive Islamic Relief Australia to do what we do.

Our life-changing work wouldn’t be possible without the support and generosity of people like you. That’s why Islamic Relief Australia is proud to support and endorse the Crescent Awards and its celebration of the incredible members of our Ummah today.

Why Islamic Relief is Supporting the Crescent Awards

Administered by Crescent Foundation, the Crescent Awards are a series of awards that showcase and celebrate the inspired contributions and efforts of educators, educational teams, educational leaders and administrators, and Muslim learners across sites of education in Australia.

Specifically, for educators and leaders, the Crescent Awards spotlight their outstanding contributions to the lives of Muslim children and young people in Australia. The Awards encourage all educators from across Australia, working in sectors such as early childhood, primary and secondary schools, tertiary education, care services, and Islamic institutions, to be nominated. Similarly, for Muslim learners across diverse educational settings in Australia, the Crescent Awards also acknowledge, showcase, and celebrate their contributions and efforts and also wish for them to be nominated. 

As one of the sponsors for the Crescent Awards, we at Islamic Relief Australia are honoured to be a part of such an incredible initiative that celebrates the achievements of these outstanding members of our Muslim communities across Australia. As an organisation dedicated to providing opportunities for sustainable development and changing lives for the better, it is our duty to not only uplift the members in our community who have gone above and beyond to reflect this mission, but also give back to the people who make our work possible.

What Makes the Crescent Awards So Important?

With how much education changes the world, it is important for Islamic Relief to be a part of celebrating the educators and learners in our community. 

The aim of the Crescent Awards is to acknowledge the efforts of members within our community who open up opportunities to everyone, no matter race or background. So it is through these awards that we recognise remarkable Muslim educators, learners and schools who are paving the way for a brighter future for Australia’s Muslim community and Australia at large.

Through uplifting and commemorating these exemplar educators, leaders and learners and hearing their stories, we are also reminded of a particular hadith and tradition from our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It was narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “those who do not thank people, do not thank God” (Ahmad, Tirmidhi).

As such, to give a voice to these stories and shine a spotlight on the extraordinary service and contribution of these remarkable individuals within our communities is a duty on us as Muslims. And it is our duty as Islamic Relief to support initiatives such as Crescent Awards, which resonates with our aim to see a future where innovation and excellence in education are continued and commemorated.

How Do the Crescent Awards Work?

Within the Crescent Awards, there are four categories where individuals (or groups) can be nominated.   

The Learner Awards recognise Australian Muslim learners from all fields who have gone above and beyond in demonstrating outstanding achievement, performance, contribution, service or effort that has assisted their personal growth and the growth of others. Within the Learner Awards, there are two sub-categories – Primary School and High School – with seven (7) finalists for each. This includes the Sporting Achievement Award, which celebrates both male and female learners in their fields of sporting endeavour. 

The Educator Awards showcase and celebrate the outstanding contributions of educators serving within one or many of the variety of educational settings and learning environments across Australia. This reward recognises the educators and supporters who have gone above and beyond as teachers, Islamically and in education, by being both an inspiration to the students they teach and the communities they support.  

The Educator Team Praxis Awards recognise inspiring teams who have demonstrated significant dedication, commitment and achievement within an Islamic educational setting. These are the teams who meaningfully advance an Islamic vision for education through being proactive and providing innovative ideas which have a positive impact on the holistic development of Muslim learners.

The School Awards showcase and celebrate outstanding contributions of Islamic schools and educational settings in Australia. This reward recognises inspiring Islamic schools and Islamic educational settings, meaningfully enacting a distinct vision for education, with a positive impact on the holistic development of Muslim learners.

In ensuring the incredible achievements of the outstanding students, educators and schools of our community no longer remain overlooked, Islamic Relief wholeheartedly endorses the Crescent Awards and wishes the best of luck to all participants and nominees. 

To learn more about the event and how to get involved, visit the Crescent Awards page, and support our vision to realise and continue celebrating our most essential mentors and dedicated learners of our Australian Muslim community.