Indigenous crisis support line co-designer Marjorie Anderson has been named 2025 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year.
Less than three years after launching, 13 YARN has received close to 70,000 calls delivering an ear to listen when Indigenous people are at their most vulnerable.
Ms Anderson was honoured at Thursday's NSW Women of the Year awards ceremony in Sydney ahead of International Women's Day on Saturday March 8.
"I feel humbled, because there were some magnificent women in that finalist group," she told National Indigenous Times at the ceremony.
Ms Anderson commenced employment at Lifeline in 2021, tasked with establishing a dedicated service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
She said community needs, voices and consultation were a crucial part of its development if it was going to be effective.
"I came back and I designed the line, and went back to mob and said 'Did I read you right? Did I hear you right?'" Ms Anderson said.
"We made a couple of little changes, and we put it in place.
"That's the key….is that it's been designed by mob for mob. It wasn't me saying I'm going to deliver this for you because I know best.
"It's the mob who know best."
Finalists for the award included language, education and cultural cohesion-dedicated Walgett community Elder Aunty Fay Green, tech-innovator working to close the digital gap Lisa Sarago, western Sydney Aboriginal Health Service Burbaga Burawa founder Robyn Taylor and Aunty Rhonda Towney.
Nearing 80, Aunty Rhonda has dedicated the last decade to providing communities from all across the state much-needed resources.
This includes hampers to communities doing it tough and recovering from natural disaster.
She said her recognition as a finalist was itself recognition of people in the bush.
"I cover 31 communities from Broken Hill to Walgett to Bourke," from grassroots funding, Aunty Rhonda told National Indigenous Times.
"I can't take a break…I'm open 24/7.
"I need milk and I need water out there" she told Government, Aunty Rhonda said..."that's what it is - helping people."
NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris, said the Indigenous women nominated across multiple categories don't do it for the awards.
"Their work comes from their heart," Minister Harris said.
"So the work these women do makes a real difference, particularly when it comes to closing the gap….it's really important, and it provides a really good role model for young Aboriginal women to look up to and hopefully aspire to."
Dharug woman Karen Iles is a solicitor, advocate for victim/survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence.
She founded Violet Co Legal and Consulting in 2019, who have dedicated their work to supporting women, gender diverse and Indigenous people.
Ms Iles was named a finalist for Premier's NSW Woman of Excellence Award.
Humbles, she said, "it's just such an amazing piece of recognition for the issues of sexual assault, violence against women and missing and murdered First Nations women and children".
"Totally inspiring, a really exciting group of women to be part of and in the same room with," Ms Iles added of the awards.
Last year Ms Iles submitted to the Missing and murdered First Nations women and children Senate Inquiry.
Gamilaraay woman Kelly Lamb was a finalist for NSW Community Hero.
"This is one of those moments that remind you of important the work that I do, and lead with the team in Port Macquarie," Ms Lamb said.
Ms Lamb is chief executive of Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services on the state's mid-north coast.
"The passion and commitment that (the team) take to their work every day, this represents them. The recognition also, gives a voice to the women and children who are experiencing domestic and family violence," she told National Indigenous Times.
Work like Liberty is particularly crucial in regional and more remote areas, Ms Lamb added.
"We know that perpetrators will go to these locations to build their control around women and the children. Isolation is a form of coercive control," she said.
"And so when we don't have services reaching into those areas it actually compounds the issues and whole communities are impacted, as they are across the state, but more so in these regional, remote communities."
On Thursday, Dr Vinessa Pirotta received the Woman of Excellence award for her work in conservation.
Sandy Rogers' work improving the lives of children with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families was acknowledged with the Community Hero Award, pro-bono legal advice leader Kirsty Evans was named Regional Woman of the Year, and domestic violence advocate and obstetrics and gynaecology registrar Dr Jessica Luyue Teoh was named Young Woman of the Year.
2025 received the most nominations of any year to date.
For Ms Anderson, her work isn't over.
"We'd rather people ring when they're first anxious, rather than waiting till they're in crisis," she said of 13 YARN.
"It can be anything from I've had a fight with my best friend at school to absolute, imminent (suicidal) crisis, and anything in between. Whatever's a crisis to you, is a crisis for us."
Her wholly Indigenous team, equipped with cultural training, are among the best in the job they do, she believes.
"If you're feeling no good ring 13 YARN and somebody will be there to help you."
13 YARN - 13 92 76
