LOCAL young achievers are being recognised for their work in women's health, promoting diversity, cultural education and performing arts.
Three Redlands residents and one local business are finalists in the Young Achiever Awards for 2019.
The awards recognise the achievements of Queenslanders who are younger than 29 years old.
The finalists will be presented and winners announced at an Awards Gala Presentation Dinner to be held at Royal on the Park Brisbane on Friday, May 3.
Each category winner will receive a trophy and $2,000 from Auswide Bank.
One of the eight category winners will be chosen as the 2019 Queensland Young Achiever of the Year and will receive an additional $2,000 from Auswide Bank and an overall state trophy.
A People's Choice award will be given to the finalist with the most votes on the Seven News Young Achiever Awards Queensland Facebook page.
Jessica Taylor
Jessica Taylor is passionate about improving women’s health.
The president of Endometriosis Association Queensland, Ms Taylor is a finalist in the LGIAsuper Community Volunteer Award.
During her time leading QENDO, a not-for-profit organisation that provides education and support to women affected by endometriosis, Ms Taylor has worked to renew and rebrand the association to connect with a younger generation.
"(Endometriosis) is just as common as asthma and diabetes, yet when you mention (it) no one really knows what you’re talking about," she said.
"It is a crippling, chronic condition and forces its sufferers to endure regular long-lasting pain throughout their entire lives.
It is essential that we educate the community and women and girls around their menstrual health.
"We know through education, early detection and good management, quality of life can be greatly improved."
Ms Taylor has grown QENDO's team of volunteers from three to 59, secured sustainable income and launched an online store.
In 2019 she will deliver a schools pilot program to help young girls.
Madina Mohmood
2019 Redlands Young Citizen of the Year Madina Mohmood, 22, is a finalist in the Soroptimist International Women Empowering Others award.
The Redland Bay resident works to promote cultural diversity and empower young women.
Ms Mohmood helped to establish the Afghan Student Association and the Muslimah Student Society at the University of Queensland.
She is the current Youth Representative of the Queensland Afghan Community Association and has been responsible for creating a youth team and organising a multicultural festival for Nowruz (Persian New Year) supported by the Queensland Government.
In 2014, Ms Mohmood was chosen to travel to Rwanda, the 40 Hour Famine focus country of the year as the World Vision Queensland Youth Ambassador.
She then spent the year speaking to high school students across the state about her experience.
She currently holds state leadership position as part of the Queensland Vision Generation, World Vision's youth moment.
In 2017, she was chosen as university delegate to visit New York for the National Model United Nations.
Mikayla Adams-Houston
Dunwich resident Mikayla Adams-Houston is a finalist in the Kennelly Constructions Aboriginal Achievement Award for her work educating people about her culture.
Mikayla, 17, is a Noonuccal woman of the Quandamooka people from North Stradbroke Island and is involved in cultural education through performing and visual arts.
Mikayla will also travel to Canberra in mid-March for the National Schools Constitutional Convention to contribute to discussion around Australia's systems of government.
She said her goal was to increase representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a parliamentary level.
She was also a 2018 Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Foundation Young Indigenous Leader award-winner.
Rockit Productions
Cleveland-based theatre production company Rockit Productions is a finalist in the Awards Australia Small Business Achiever Award.
Based in Cleveland, Rockit Productions was created by Shaun Kohlman, George Canham and Danielle Walsh in 2011 and offers musical theatre training for children from prep to year 12 and beyond.
They have produced over 30 musicals, cabarets and concerts, putting on at least seven shows per year.
In 2018, they were included in the list of 100 Faces of Small Business in Queensland.
Rockit also won the cultural award at the 2019 Redlands Coast Australia Day Awards.
