The significant contributions of nine First Nations leaders have been recognised through the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll.

The induction ceremony for the nine honourees was held at Melbourne's Arts Centre, where Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins joined community members to celebrate their accomplishments.

This year's inductees include cultural educators, a broadcaster, health advocate, community workers, a sports coach, and reconciliation leaders: Uncle Ricky Graham Baldwin, Aunty Lou Baulch, Aunty Iris Bysouth, Uncle Shane Charles, Uncle Dennis Fisher, Aunty Faye Lynam (posthumous), Bevan and Letty Nicholls (posthumous), and Uncle Harry Stewart.

Gunai Kurnai man, Uncle Ricky Baldwin was among those honoured. He said the recognition was deeply meaningful.

"It's a huge, huge honour to be recognised with all the Elders who have already been inducted," Uncle Ricky told National Indigenous Times.

"My entire family on my mum's - Mary Helen Darby Baldwin side - everyone of them were stolen at birth, so they never had the opportunity for a normal life.

"The last 14 months I have lost my mum and two aunties – they all had their lives stolen from them."

He is proud to be inducted alongside Elders he had grown up with and now works alongside in cultural education workshops.

"Having grown up with many Elders who are already inducted in Victorian Honour Roll – Uncle Reg and Walda Blow (Dandenong Aboriginal Co-Op) – it's something very special to me," he said.

"Now I work with many of them with Cultural Education workshops such as Aunty Zeta Thomson, Aunty Eva-Jo Edwards."

Since its establishment in 2011, the Honour Roll has acknowledged 158 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for their work in areas including justice, education, sport, arts, military service, and community leadership.

He highlighted the Koorie Academy's impact, which supports young people in sport across Victoria.

"The impact Koorie Academy is having across Victoria at the grassroots level is very rewarding work," he said.

"Giving the young mob opportunities in sport, being inclusive for all to come learn basketball and culture.

"One young athlete we just sponsored just won a gold medal in basketball for the Australian Pearls in basketball overseas in Astana, Kazakhstan."

He dedicated the honour to his mother.

"This is in honour of my mum, Mary Helen Darby Baldwin. She had her life stolen at birth. Now at peace in Dreamtime."