Yawuru Elder and respected Indigenous leader Dr Patrick Dodson has been awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Notre Dame Australia.
The honour recognises Dodson's decades of work advocating for Aboriginal people and his contribution to reconciliation, justice, education and public life.
Fittingly, the honorary doctorate was presented on Yawuru Country during Notre Dame's graduation ceremony at its Rubibi / Broome campus, in WA's Kimberley region.
Mr Dodson was born in Broome and has spent more than five decades involved in the political, cultural and social life of the Kimberley and Australia more broadly.
Often described as the Father of Australian Reconciliation, he has held a number of significant positions during his career.
Mr Dodson served as a Commissioner of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and was the founding Chair of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.
He was also co-chair of the expert panel on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
From 2016 until 2024, Dodson represented Western Australia in the Australian Senate, where his work included advocating for justice reform, equality and efforts to reduce the incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
He also served as Special Envoy for Reconciliation.
Mr Dodson has maintained a long association with Notre Dame and has taught students at the university's Broome campus over many years.
His teaching has included the course Spirituality and the Challenges of Reconciliation, where he shared his knowledge and experience in areas including Indigenous law, politics, spirituality and community leadership.
Notre Dame said Mr Dodson continued returning to Broome to work with students while serving in the Senate and remains involved with the university as a guest lecturer and mentor.
Accepting the honorary doctorate, Mr Dodson said receiving the recognition on his Country made the occasion particularly significant.
"I express my appreciation to you all for bestowing upon me this Honorary Doctor of Letters," he said.
"The fact that this is happening upon Yawuru Country and in my hometown of Broome indicates the University's commitment to providing tertiary level education opportunities in a remote region."
Mr Dodson said he hoped the honour would encourage young people from regional communities to consider the opportunities education could provide.
"I hope this honorary doctorate recognition will encourage the youth from the regions to see education as different from schooling and a wonderful pathway to many encounters that can enrich their lives."
He also encouraged graduating students to continue learning beyond their university studies.
"What you do going forward in life will have a great impact not only on yourself but other people," he said.
"There are lessons you've learned that have added to your already existing information and knowledge.
"But to allow your learning to keep going after these important achievements, the intellect has enormous capacity for information and learning, so use it."
Notre Dame said the honorary doctorate also recognised Mr Dodson's contribution to generations of its students and his role in strengthening the university's commitment to reconciliation and engagement with Aboriginal communities across the Kimberley.
