Nominations are now open for the 27th Ricci Marks Awards, celebrating the outstanding achievements of young First Nations people living in Victoria.
Open now until October 28, the awards celebrate the achievements of First Nations people aged 16 to 25 across areas such as training, education, arts, sports, culture, and community leadership.
There are two categories available: the Ricci Marks Award, recognising the significant achievements and aspirations of young First Nations people living in Victoria, as well as the Ricci Marks Rising Star Award, recognising young First Nations people demonstrating significant promise and potential in Victoria.
Formerly known as the Aboriginal Young Achievers Awards, the program was renamed in 2004 after proud Wotjobaluk man, the late Ricci Marks, a Young Achievers Award-winner who made an outstanding contribution to his community during his lifetime.
Today, the Ricci Marks Awards shine a spotlight on the next generation of leaders, with the public encouraged to nominate outstanding young First Nations people in their communities.
The awards include a $5,000 bursary for the Ricci Marks recipient and $1,500 for the Rising Star, encouraging recipients to pursue their aspirations and supporting their professional development.
Isaac Muller, proud Wiradjuri and Palawa man and the 2023 recipient of the Rising Star Award, spoke to the National Indigenous Times on the significance of the Awards.
"It was quite special to get that recognition," Mr Muller said.
"It definitely helped bring me a lot of confidence, and also towards my work with other Aboriginal young mob. It made me feel like the work I was doing was on the right track and that it was valid," he continued.
"Just being really involved and seeing the impact this has on the community and the connections I have - I felt like it stood for everything I believe in. And then, there's Ricci Marks himself. The story behind it is so powerful. I've dealt with sorry business a lot, so to be connected to something that honours such an amazing person's legacy really means something."
Mr Muller was recognised for his passion for storytelling and community impact, particularly in empowering youth through his work. Currently working as an ABC social media, digital news, digital and video, radio producer, and livestream engineer, Mr Muller also delivers storytelling workshops across Victoria through the ABC's Youth Takeover program.
He believes that the recognition of young First Nations achievers, like himself, acts as vital encouragement for young mob.
"'It is just pretty amazing to see Aboriginal mob pulling their passions through what they mentioned and getting the recognition, because it helps with confidence, and it helps with just the building blocks of what makes mob successful. I think without awards recognising people's work…it's just harder to see the parts that people want to follow," he said.
This belief also stems from his own family, who were previously involved with the program. His sister Elise won the Rising Star Award in 2016, and his sister Marayne was a nominee for the 2018 Ricci Marks Award. It was this familial tie that first introduced him to the Awards.
"I remember being a young kid, and they won the Ricci Marks… I saw a lot of mob, a lot of familiar faces at the events, and I just remember it being a really positive experience."
For this year's aspiring nominees, Mr Muller is firm in his advice.
"Go for it! I think Black fellas should always put their hand up whenever they can. I think we need to have more voices heard in different areas," he said.
"When I was a young fella and my sisters got the award - I saw them getting it, and it made me feel connected. It made me want to strive to achieve the same things they were achieving and whatnot," he said.
"So when more and more do that, the younger fellas are gonna fight harder to have their place, have their own work, and make an impact on the community, which I think is what we need."
Nominations for the 27th Ricci Marks Awards are now open. More information is available online.
