Nominations for the Ricci Marks Awards have opened, which celebrates inspiring young First Nations leaders in Victoria.

Members of the public are encouraged to nominate young leaders in their communities, with the award recognising the outstanding achievements of First Nations youth in a variety of areas, including training, education, arts, sports, culture, and community leadership.

The Ricci Marks Award recognises future leaders who will play a vital role in their communities as the state moves to increasingly enact self-determination.

Each year, two young Victorians each receive a $5,000 bursary, and one young person is also awarded a $1,500 Rising Star Award.

Formerly named the Aboriginal Young Achievers Award, the name was changed in 2004 to honour Wotjobaluk man and previous award recipient Ricci Marks.

Mr Marks made incredible and outstanding contributions to his community during his lifetime in the field of sport.

Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Natalie Hutchins, said she was proud to support the award, and to "celebrate the significant achievements and aspirations of young First Nations people across Victoria".

"The Ricci Marks Awards highlight the inspiring work First Nations youth do for their communities and the leadership they provide now and, in the future, building stronger, empowered First Nations communities," Minister Hutchins said.

Last year saw Yemurraki Egan and Jayde Couzens each receive the Ricci Marks Award, recognising their hard work in inspiring young people to progress their education and achieve their goals.

Mr Egan, a Yorta Yorta, Wemba Wemba and Gunditjmara man, has been dedicated to increasing opportunities for First Nations people to enter the building industry, whilst Gunditjmara–Noongar woman, Ms Couzens has been pursuing her dream to be a nurse and is using her cultural knowledge and a background in storytelling to help connect create a culturally safe place for patients.

Along with Mr Egan and Ms Couzens, three other young Victorians received the Rising Star award in 2023, recognising the incredible talent and skill on offer amongst the First Nations community across the state.

Isaac Muller, Cobain Tipiloura and Elijah Aaron Brown all received $1,500 grants in recognition of their contributions in the areas of media and storytelling, sports, and education.

Nominations for this year's awards close on 21 October.

The Ricci Marks award is available to First Nations people, who:

- are aged between 16-25 on 1 January 2024

- have lived in Victoria since 1 January 2023

- are not a current First Peoples - State Relations employee

- are not a current elected official at any level of government.

Nominations are currently being accepted via the First Peoples - State Relations website.