Today, communities across Australia are invited to honour the life of one of the nation's greatest Aboriginal leaders, not only by remembering her achievements, but by continuing the work she began.

Lowitja O'Donoghue Day, established by the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation and Lowitja Institute, celebrates the birthday of Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG and the extraordinary legacy she leaves behind. It is a day grounded in reflection, action and hope, recognising a woman whose leadership reshaped the future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and challenged Australia to become a fairer nation.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Lowitja's legacy cannot be measured by awards, titles or national recognition alone. It lives in every young person who believes they belong in leadership, every Aboriginal voice welcomed into decision-making, and every opportunity created because she refused to accept the status quo.

She walked into rooms where Aboriginal people had rarely been invited, carried the hopes of her people onto national stages and did so without ever losing sight of who she was or where she came from. Her leadership was never about individual success. It was about creating space so others could follow.

Head of the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation, Deb Edwards, said that commitment to people was what defined Dr O'Donoghue throughout her life.

"Connection and collaboration were always very important to Lowitja," Ms Edwards said.

"By recognising this date annually, we can honour her contributions as a trailblazing Aboriginal leader who led with courage and determination for our people. We hope that each year, people will be inspired by her legacy and commit to carrying it forward collaboratively."

That vision sits at the heart of this year's theme, One Act of Courage.

Rather than asking Australians to make grand gestures, the campaign reminds us that meaningful change often begins with a single decision. It might be creating opportunities for an emerging Aboriginal leader, learning the history of the Country you live on, speaking up when something is wrong or choosing collaboration over division. Each action, no matter how small, has the power to ripple outward.

For Ms Edwards, courage is something every person is capable of.

She believes taking one step that creates positive change is how lasting impact begins, encouraging people not to underestimate their own ability to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

That belief reflects the way Dr O'Donoghue lived her life. She understood that change required more than passion. It required integrity, resilience and the confidence to take your place at the table, even when you were the only Aboriginal person in the room.

Those qualities remain just as important for the next generation of First Nations leaders.

According to Ms Edwards, Dr O'Donoghue's strength of character and unwavering integrity were the foundations of her leadership. She never lost sight of who she was and believed those same values would keep future leaders grounded as they stepped into positions of influence.

This year has already seen Dr O'Donoghue's contribution recognised through two landmark national tributes.

In June, a bronze sculpture created by renowned South Australian artist Robert Hannaford AM was unveiled in Tarntanya Wama on Kaurna Country. Weeks later, the Australian Electoral Commission announced the federal electorate of Grey would be renamed O'Donoghue, permanently recognising the region where she was born, raised, worked and lived for more than four decades.

While those honours acknowledge an extraordinary life, they also ensure future generations will continue asking who Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue was and why her story matters.

As Ms Edwards reflects, Lowitja achieved many firsts because she was prepared to put herself forward. She understood that if Aboriginal voices were to be heard, they first had to be present. The statue and renamed electorate stand not only as recognition of her achievements, but as enduring reminders of the leadership that changed a nation and continues to inspire those who follow.

Looking beyond today, the Foundation is focused on ensuring Dr O'Donoghue's legacy remains active, not historical.

Its flagship nursing scholarship program is supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across the country, helping grow a future health workforce that delivers culturally informed care. At the same time, the Foundation has an ambitious vision to take Dr O'Donoghue's story into classrooms, recognising that many young Australians still do not know who she was or understand the profound influence she had on this country.

That aspiration reflects Dr O'Donoghue's own belief that leadership is not something to be preserved in history books. It is something to be nurtured, shared and passed from one generation to the next.

Today is not simply about celebrating one remarkable Aboriginal woman. It is about recognising the responsibility that comes with the legacy she entrusted to all of us.

Because the greatest tribute to Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue will never be found in statues, electorates or commemorative days.

It will be found in the courage of those who choose to keep walking the path she cleared before them.