National NAIDOC Award Winners

Joleen Ryan - Youth of the Year

Joleen Ryan is a 22 year old Aboriginal woman from Newcombe in Victoria. A published author and fourth year Arts student at Deakin University.

Ms Ryan already has an impressive string of achievements to her name. In April this year she was honoured by the Victorian Government, receiving its Koori Young Achiever Award – the Ricci Marks Award. The award recognises the contribution and achievements made by Victorian Indigenous people aged between 15 and 25.

Based in Geelong, Ms Ryan is the first Aboriginal person to be elected President of the Deakin University Student Association.

In 1993 she co-wrote a book titled Urgent which focuses on Indigenous health issues – and received the Youth Health Award from the Australian Medical Association in 2004.

She was a member of the first National Indigenous Leadership Group from 2001 – 2002 and was the youth representative on the Victorian Indigenous Family Violence Taskforce from 2001 – 2003.

Ms Ryan is undergoing a cadetship with the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) while she is completing her studies.

When she isn’t studying or working, Ms Ryan is involved in a wide range of community activities, making a difference to her community. She is actively involved in mentoring young Indigenous students, encouraging them to continue their education so that they can have positive futures. Ms Ryan is an outstanding positive role model to Indigenous young people.