The City of Boroondara has recognised rising environmental advocate Erfan Firouzi with a Highly Commended honour in the Environment & Sustainability category at the 2025 Boroondara Youth Awards. The annual awards acknowledge the significant contributions of young people and organisations in strengthening community wellbeing, resilience, and sustainability across the Boroondara region.
The official list of 2025 award winners and finalists is available on the City of Boroondara’s website:
https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/your-council/community-awards-and-ceremonies/boroondara-youth-awards/youth-award-winners-2025
The presentation ceremony was hosted by Evie Flynn, Environment and Sustainability Award winner at the 2023 Boroondara Youth Awards and a member of Boroondara Youth Voice. The event featured guest speakers including Cr Rob Baillieu, Riversdale Ward Councillor, and Zeta Hamilton-Durkin, winner of the 2024 Creative Arts Award. Attendees were also treated to a live musical performance by youth band Dysmetria from Youth Hub Live, underscoring the diversity of young community talent celebrated at the event.
Erfan Firouzi’s recognition in 2025 highlights the breadth and depth of his community-centred environmental work since relocating to Australia. Within just ten months of arrival, Erfan has rapidly become an active voice for sustainability and biodiversity conservation in Boroondara, engaging in grassroots projects, citizen science initiatives, and educational outreach that elevate environmental awareness and community participation.
His efforts have included organising local conservation activities, facilitating community science nights, and partnering with resident groups to spotlight habitat protection and species resilience. Erfan’s approach blends scientific rigour with accessible public engagement — creating opportunities for young people and local residents to participate in meaningful environmental action.
The Highly Commended award recognises not only Erfan’s tangible project outcomes, but also his capacity to inspire and mobilise others around environmental issues. This acknowledgement is particularly noteworthy given the competitive field of nominations, which included leaders across categories such as Leadership (Junior and Senior), Creative Arts, Youth Volunteerism, and Inclusive Youth Programs.
In accepting the recognition, Erfan expressed profound gratitude to the City of Boroondara for the honour, and to the broader community for its support. He emphasised that the recognition reflects collective effort and shared responsibility: every volunteer, participant, and neighbour who has contributed to local conservation work has helped elevate the impact of environmental initiatives in the region.
Erfan also noted that this acknowledgement serves as a reminder that passion and purpose transcend geographical boundaries. His work in Boroondara reinforces the idea that local action contributes to broader environmental resilience — benefiting not only the immediate community, but also contributing to global conversations about climate stewardship and sustainability.
Looking ahead, Erfan remains deeply committed to strengthening environmental awareness and community engagement, with ongoing plans to expand educational programming, support habitat protection efforts, and deepen partnerships with local conservation organisations. His vision — centred on long-term ecological wellbeing and inclusive community participation — continues to shape how sustainability is understood and acted upon in Boroondara.
For the full list of 2025 Youth Award winners and details on the City of Boroondara’s community awards, visit the official announcement:
https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/your-council/community-awards-and-ceremonies/boroondara-youth-awards/youth-award-winners-2025
