National NAIDOC Award Winners

Rev Sealin Garlett - Charles Perkins Award

Sealin is a Noongar man from the South West of Western Australia.

He was born in the wheat belt town of Bruce Rock 207km to the east of Perth. He was one of nine children.

Sealin at the age of 7 in 1964 was taken from his family and taken to the Methodist Mission at Mogumber with one sister and one brother.

In 1979 he attended a church service and listened to an Aboriginal preacher, called Ronnie Williams. This experience moved Sealin to make a commitment to the church and to his people.

Sealin’s journey of healing was sparked in 1988 while sitting in Theological Hall where he heard a voice say to him he needed to cross the line, the line that held him from healing the pain and emotion of being taken from his family.

He believes it was like part of him did not want to forgive what white people had done to him. But all the emotions at that moment in 1988 came out – allowing him to cross the line!

Sealin is an ordained minister of the Uniting Church in Australia and the National chairperson of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress which is the indigenous arm of the uniting church in Australia.

Sealin’s ministry has been committed to reconciliation. Sealin works tirelessly to promote the journey of healing and the bringing together of cultures.