Giovanna Cardamone OAM

Giovanna Cardamone OAM says her life-long dedication to social welfare, advocacy and the Italian-Australian community is inspired by first-generation Italians like her parents. 

Ms Cardamone is chief executive of the Italian Social Welfare Organisation of Wollongong. She was previously a member for the Committee for Italians Abroad, the National Italian-Australian Women’s Association and the Italian Ministerial Consultative Committee.  

For her work, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the Italian community of the Illawarra region.  

“I am motivated by my deep love for the first-generation Italian immigrants, and also the respect I have for the sacrifices they made,” Ms Cardamone says.  

“It’s also a show of respect for the sacrifices which my parents made. Without those sacrifices, and those of first-generation Italians, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. 

“What I do is in recognition of that sacrifice.”  

Ms Cardamone says the recognition she received is also for those she works for.  

“When I told our clients about the award, I just said to them, ‘this award is not just for me, but it’s also recognising your contributions to this country too’,” she says.  

“Moving forward ... I’ll continue to do what I’ve always done, and that is to advocate for the needs of the Italian community, and also the multicultural community. 

“I’ll continue to promote the values and principles of our multicultural nation.” 

Ms Cardamone is no stranger to awards, having received the Wollongong Woman of the Year award in 2015, the Italian-Australian Woman of the Year award in 2010, and a Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2009.  

However, she emphasises that recognition of this kind for members of multicultural communities is of the utmost importance.  

“I would strongly encourage others to nominate ... we have so many communities that do not have any winners of these awards, and it’s very important that the diversity in our country is recognised,” she says.  

“Inclusion is important, and this is a way of recognising that as well.”