In the early 90's, Shane Holst, the founder of Altruism Australia completed his training in psychotherapy, he was blessed to have spent extensive and inspiring time with Dr Patch Adams and Dr M Scott Peck. Drs Patch and Scott enthusiastically supported his passion for encouraging and promoting the brilliance (compassion) and greatness (care) in the human spirit, and the Australian Humanitarian Awards were 'born' in 1998.

There is very little that dignifies us so impressively as unconditional care and compassion for another / others. Shane sees great truth in the words of the US therapist, John Bradshaw, who said,

"Anything less than care is abuse."

Shane Holst:
"I dream of a humanity that holds care and compassion as its fundamental expressions in all private and professional interactions".

Shane considers himself extremely fortunate to have incredibly supportive and compassionate friends who have now joined as part of the new Altruism Australia . This Foundation is re-launching the Australian Humanitarian Awards, soon followed by our new annual awards… The Turtle Awards - 'Acknowledging Leaders Who Stick Their Necks Out For The Common Good'. In setting up 'the Turtles' we wish to acknowledge the inspirational work of the 'Giraffes' in the USA & Dr Colin Riess. They have greatly inspired the creation of the Turtle Awards.

The Turtle Award's recipients will be promoted as beacons to the best attributes of leadership - integrity, vision, compassion, intelligence, courage, spirituality and humanitarianism - which in turn promotes to the community at large, the qualities we all reasonably expect from our leaders. This will help to dismantle beliefs that leadership is about 'the survival of the fittest, the most aggressive, the wealthiest, the most powerful, the most charismatic, the most opportunistic, the loudest, the most cunning' and so on. Those who embrace these characteristics have sadly led some of us to become cynical of leadership. We cannot afford to allow the esteem and value of leadership to be further eroded.