National NAIDOC Award Winners

Jo-Anne D’Cress - Youth of the Year

Jo-Anne is a very popular member of the West Australian community, making outstanding contributions to help improve and empower Indigenous people, particularly young people, through her active involvement in community services.

She was invited to a private reception with the Western Australian Premier and the Queen in 2000, and during that same year won several awards including West Australian Youth of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, and the West Australian Young Australian of the Year – Community Service Award.

During Jo-Anne’s recent scholarship at the Drug and Alcohol Office in WA, she developed a booklet to support and assist Indigenous people and communities on dealing with alcohol and liquor licensing issues. The booklet is currently being produced by the Drug and Alcohol Office for distribution.

Jo-Anne is a member of the 2005–06 National Indigenous Youth Leadership group. She is one of only 17 Indigenous youth who are consulted directly by the Australian Government about their perspectives on Indigenous issues.