The National NAIDOC committee has announced Dr Naomi Mayers OAM as the 2023 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award recipient ahead of the 2023 NAIDOC Awards Ceremony, which will be held next month.
Dr Mayers is a Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman, leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and was an original member of the ground-breaking music group The Sapphires.
She has been a tireless advocate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the nation, working with them to build a healthier future.
One of 28 NAIDOC Week award finalists this year, Dr Mayers has dedicated her career to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and health reform and established the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Services, a model which has since been adopted nationally in Aboriginal Health Services.
The finalists span 10 categories, selected from a pool of almost 200 nominees.
They include renowned educator, artist, and public speaker Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, award winning writer, director and producer Rachel Perkins, and Australian cricketer Ash Gardner.
National NAIDOC Committee co-chair Dr Lynette Riley the finalists all exemplify the spirit of NAIDOC.
"The National NAIDOC Committee is very fortunate to be able to read the stories of so many of our people who are achieving remarkable results and working tirelessly to support their communities," Dr Riley said.
"It is an honour to be entrusted with selecting these incredible finalists".
In addition to the NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award, award categories include the NAIDOC Person Award, Female Elder Award, Male Elder Award, Youth Award, Innovation Award, Education Award, Creative Talent Award, Sportsperson Award and Caring for Country and Culture Award.
National NAIDOC Committee co-chair Steven Satour said recognises Indigenous people who make positive contributions to their community.
"National NAIDOC Week Awards seek to recognise and honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who really understand their community and work to create positive change" Mr Satour said.
"Each year we receive nominations from all over the country, from big cities to small communities, and today we pay tribute to every single one of those people."
The National NAIDOC Week Award winners will be announced at the National NAIDOC Week Award Ceremony on Saturday 1 July 2023 in Meanjin (Brisbane).
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2023 NAIDOC Week award finalists
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM
Person Award Category
Professor Kelvin Kong
Murrawah Johnson
Megan Krakouer
Female Elder Award Category
Dr Aunty Bilawara Lee
Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams
Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM
Male Elder Award Category
Pastor Dennis Phillip Jetta OAM
Tom Slockee
William Tilmouth
Youth Award Category
Brodie Murray
Courtney Burns
Mitchell Harrison-Currie
Innovation Award Category
Dr Rhett Loban
Daniel Motlop
Passing the Message Stick
Education Award Category
Aurora Education Foundation
Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre
Professor Jacinta Elston
Creative Talent Award Category
Aaron Fa'Aoso
Dr Anita Heiss
Rachel Perkins
Sportsperson Award Category
Ash Gardner
Donnell Wallam
Indi Cooper
Caring for Country and Culture Award Category
Lala Gutchen
METRONET Noongar Reference Group
Talei Elu
