Reconciliation Australia launch the fourth Narragunnawali Awards, recognising outstanding commitment to reconciliation in education, on Monday.
The Awards, held every two years since 2017, are "Australia's first and only national awards to recognise and celebrate schools and early learning services demonstrating dedication and commitment to implementing reconciliation initiatives".
The Narragunnawali Awards 2021 highlighted schools and early learning services around the country recognised for their outstanding reconciliation initiatives.
Reconciliation Australia chief executive Karen Mundine said the Awards are an "uplifting time" for the organisation.
"It's a very special time for Reconciliation Australia when we get to see the best of reconciliation efforts happening in our schools and early learning services," she said.
"The Awards show the tangible ways schools and early learning services are strengthening relationships, building respect, and providing meaningful opportunities in the classroom, around the school or service, and with the community."
The categories are: Schools: including primary, secondary, senior secondary and combined schools within the Government, Independent or Catholic sectors; and Early Learning: including early childhood education and care, preschool, family day care and out of school hours care services.
Prizes of $10,000 as well as media and other engagement and networking opportunities are on offer to the winning school and early learning service judged to display "outstanding commitment to reconciliation".
Awards patron, Narungga man Professor Peter Buckskin, said the importance of reconciliation in education cannot be overestimated.
"Creating the learning environment is necessary for all students to engage with and learn more about Australia's First Peoples, pre and post white settlement," he said.
"There is still a great need for teachers and school leaders to develop their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
"I have been committed to the Reconciliation Australia agenda since its inception and firmly believe we will achieve true reconciliation through the education of future generations."
Nominations and applications for the Narragunnawali Awards 2023 open on Monday, 30 January.
Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education is a program of Reconciliation Australia, which supports schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that actively engage the hearts and minds of future generations to contribute to the reconciliation process.
Narragunnawali is from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners of the land and waterways of the area on which Reconciliation Australia's Canberra office is located.
Reconciliation Australia, in partnership with the BHP Foundation, holds the Narragunnawali Awards to identify, celebrate and promote outstanding commitment to reconciliation in education environments and to share these inspirational stories across the country.
