The Victorian Government is calling for nominations for the 2025 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll, which celebrates First Nations people whose leadership and achievements have shaped the state.

Since its establishment in 2011, the Honour Roll has recognised 158 First Nations people for contributions to education, health, justice, sport, the arts and community advocacy.

Nominations can be made posthumously, allowing recognition for those who made a significant impact but never received widespread acknowledgement.

Bev and Letty Nicholls were posthumously inducted this year. Bevan was a Yorta Yorta and Wadi Wadi man, and Letty was a Ngarrdindjeri woman born in Bordertown, SA. For years, they were at the forefront of local initiatives supporting First Peoples. Whilst family came first, their work had a lasting impact on the region's community.

Their daughter, Glenda Nicholls, said it is vital to honour community champions — many of whom worked quietly behind the scenes.

"I think it's important to encourage people in the regions to apply or nominate people from the past," she said.

"Because, there were a lot of people in the regions, like mum and dad, you, [who] sort of did a lot of work behind the scenes."

Aunty Glenda wants more people to know that Aboriginal people who have passed — often trailblazers and leaders in their communities — can be nominated. She notes, "we tend to forget the people that have passed on".

"We're looking at people that are doing things today, and the old people are forgotten," she said.

"The ones who laid the foundation. So, for me, it's important that those old people get recognised somehow."

She recalled her pop, Sir Doug Nicholls, as a magnetic figure whose influence crossed state lines — but said his success was built on the support of others.

"He didn't do it alone," Aunty Glenda said. "He had a lot of people supporting him, so he was more or less used as a spokesperson for our mobs. And I guess that's similar to mum and dad in the country.

"But, there's other people's mums and dads that did other things. They all had gifts in their own area, and they all did a lot... it was a community thing."

The Honour Roll, displayed in the Victorian Parliament, shares the stories of remarkable individuals from all corners of the state — from early champions such as Australia's first Aboriginal international cricket stars to today's leaders walking the path to Truth and Treaty.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins said the Honour Roll "celebrates the remarkable leadership of First Nations people who make our state stronger, fairer and more connected".

"This is a chance to recognise someone whose impact deserves to be recorded and remembered," she said.

"I encourage all Victorians to nominate a First Nations person whose work has made a difference."

Nominations, closing Thursday, 3 October can be made online.