National NAIDOC Award Winners

Simon Forrest - Scholar of the Year

A teacher from Western Australia is the recipient of the 2005 NAIDOC Scholar of the Year award.

Simon Forrest is a Nyungar-Yamaji man and a committed and dedicated educator who strives to make a difference for Aboriginal people in Western Australia and in particular the Mid-west region.

He has been involved in education in Western Australia and nationally for over 20 years — working in remote Aboriginal schools, urban and country schools throughout the State. He has also taught at Fremantle Prison and lectured at Edith Cowan University where he is now an Associated Professor.

Mr Forrest is currently undertaking his PhD at James Cook University in Queensland. His thesis is: An investigation into the incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge in the Curriculum Framework for WA Schools.

He is the convenor of a small group of educators who are seeking to improve the educational outcomes for Indigenous students and their communities. They are striving to develop a unique concept of community and lifelong learning.

Currently he is employed by the Western Australian Department of Education and Training, as the Manager of Aboriginal Education for the Midwest region.

He lectures part time at Curtin University and is the mentor for the Follow the Dream program run by the Department of Education and Training. The program focuses on supporting students who have the potential to achieve by completing school to Year 12.