National Acheivement Award Nov 2024 - Government House

Luka Willems has had a stella 2024. He will be receiving a New Zealand Down Syndrome Associatioan (NZDSA), 2024 National Achievement Award at Government House in Wellington this Nov 14th. The award will be presented by the Rt Hon.Dame Cindy Kiro and Dr Richard Davies at a special High Tea. 

What an honour. Let’s take a look at why?

Luka has been a forerunner as a NZ para swimmer and has inspired others to strive and succeed in the high-performance sporting arena. He has overcome many barriers to become a NZ representative swimmer who competes both nationally and internationally with considerable success including 3 top 10 world rankings. He has helped pave a new pathway for others with DS where participation is based on excellence. He is the first person in NZ with DS to be part of a NZ para team and the first to have podium success as a NZ S18 swimmer at a Virtus Competition. This is equivalent to the Olympics and Paralympics but for those with an Intellectual impairment.  

Secondly Luka uses his YouTube channel to share his story. His social media helps change and improve attitudes towards people with Down Syndrome and inspires and encourages others with DS to strive. Luka’s posts are shared nationally and internationally and outline his life and experiences. He has a significant following and a high profile. He is becoming an influencer which creates a positive picture of having DS. Some of his posts have been utilised by CDSA, NZDSA, Down Syndrome International, SwimmingNZ and Swimming Canterbury West Coast, to share with others. He recently presented at the World Down Syndrome Congress in Brisbane - ‘YouTube my Voice’. 

Luka has been seen as a ‘game-changer’ in many areas and has received many awards (both disability and mainstream), which recognise his abilities and his wish to inform and improve opportunities for others with a disability. This has led to significant media coverage from newspaper to TV.

Most importantly Luka’s ‘can do attitude’ and positive stories have massively helped change perspectives. 

Luka is studying Level 3 Hospitality and Barista full time at Ara this year. It is both challenging and exciting. He is working toward a bright future. He wishes to thank his fellow learners at Ara for their inclusive support and friendship. He hopes that he inspires others with Down Syndrome to follow in his footsteps and try mainstream study too. 

From Luka – Be the Change you wish to see in the World. 

Some of my other awards and achievements 

2024 

. Dec - gained Level 3 Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (Barista and Restaurant Service) 

·      March – 11th World Down Syndrome Swim Champs, Antalya, Türkiye 

·      I broke into the top 10 world rankings with an 8th and 2x 10th placings (T21 Senior Mens). Total of 8 top 20 world rankings and 1 Oceania record.

·      Produced my first podcast at PlainsFM – ‘Life with Luka’. Aires every second Monday.

2023

·      Dec – gained Level 2 hospitality qualification at Ara with NCEA credits

·      Nov – recipient of an Inspire Foundation Grant to compete at the World DS Swimming Champs in Antalya, Türkiye

·      Sept – Swimming Canterbury West Coast (SCWC) – Male para swimmer of the year

·      August – Hawkes Bay NZ SC Swim Nationals, 8 gold + 1 silver medal S18 category. 9 heats, 9 finals, 16 PB’s + 2 exhibition para relays. 

·      First person in NZ to receive a medal as an S18 swimmer. Holder of multiple NZ swim records

·      June – 3 top 20 world rankings at the Virtus Global Games, Vichy France. Part of the NZ para swimming delegation.

·      Recipient of the Cyril Smith Trust Foundation Fund

2022

·      November – Virtus Oceania/Asia Games, Brisbane. First NZ’er with DS to be part of an International NZ para team. 1st person to medal for NZ with bronze 100m Free.

·      October – First NZ'er at World DS Champs, Portugal. 8 PB’s and 8 Oceania records

Other achievements

·      Zonta Award for Canterbury Secondary Schools: top para sportsperson of the year.

·      Youth Voice Canterbury – Winner Waitaha Canterbury Youth Award for being an advocate for inclusion and diversity. Also runner-up for the Game-changer Youth award.

·      Attitude Awards – nominee for the Attitude Youth Award for inspiring others. 

Presenter at the World Down Syndrome on-line congress in Dubai. Topic: My YouTube, My Voice.

·      Outward Bound, Marlborough – 7-day confidence course 

·      Down for Love actor – Netflix Series 1 (episode 4 and 5)

·      My YouTube channel has 2500+ subscribers and I’m passionate about sharing all the things I do. I’ve even had 90,000 views on some of my diving clips. I’m becoming famous and am becoming an influencer. 

·      Presentation at the WDSC in Brisbane called ‘YouTube My Voice – when words fail me, YouTube is my voice. I hope it helps and inspires others.