At the end of every NAIDOC Week, the National NAIDOC Awards are announced at a ceremony and ball event in the national focus city.
2019
Father, Grandfather, Brother, Actor, Artist, Ceremonial
Lifetime Achievement Award 2019
David Gulpilil Ridjimiraril Dalaithngu, AM
Dean Duncan is a champion of diversity, social justice and
Person of the Year 2019
Dean Duncan
Thelma Weston, a descendant of the Meriam people of the
Female Elder of the Year 2019
Thelma Weston
Highly respected Elder of Noongar Boodjar, Uncle Greg
Male Elder of the Year 2019
Greg Little
“Gungoo (Uncle), can you tell and show us where we belong
Caring for Country 2019
Littlewell Working Group
Mi-kaisha Masella is a proud Darumbal Murri and Tongan
Youth of the Year 2019
Mi-kaisha Masella
Elma Kris is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman who grew
Artist of the Year 2019
Elma Gada Kris
Professor Michael McDaniel is a proud member of the Kalari
Scholar of the Year 2019
Professor Michael McDaniel
Honours student Ganur Maynard has completed multiple
Apprentice of the Year 2019
Ganur Maynard
Shantelle Thompson is known in her community as the ‘
Sportsperson of the Year 2019
Shantelle Thompson
2018
Distinguished Alyawarre woman, Patricia Anderson AO, is
Lifetime Achievement Award 2018
Patricia Anderson AO
June Oscar AO has an impressive history of extraordinary
Person of the Year 2018
June Oscar AO
Aunty Lynette Nixon is a Gunggari woman who has lived all
Female Elder of the Year 2018
Aunty Lynette Nixon
Proud Kamilaroi man, Russell Charles Taylor AM, has been a
Male Elder of the Year 2018
Russell Charles Taylor AM
From cattle farmers to eco-tourism, the Mungalla Aboriginal
Caring for Country 2018
Mungalla Aboriginal Business Corporation
Tamina Pitt, a Wuthathi and Meriam woman, is a self-
Youth of the Year 2018
Tamina Pitt
Proud Yorta Yorta man, Adam Briggs or ‘Briggs’ is a
Artist of the Year 2018
Adam Briggs
Professor Michelle Trudgett, from the Wiradjuri Nation in
Scholar of the Year 2018
Professor Michelle Trudgett
Folau Talbot, from Boggabilla, NSW, is a qualified dental
Apprentice of the Year 2018
Folau Talbot
Jack Peris is a proud descendant of the Iwatja people of
Sportsperson of the Year 2018
Jack Peris
2017
Dianne Ryder is a proud Noongar woman from Western
Lifetime Achievement Award 2017
Dianne Ryder
Patrick Mills is a Muralag man from the Torres Strait,
Person of the Year 2017
Patrick Mills
Faye Carr is a Yuggera Elder from Ipswich in Queensland,
Female Elder of the Year 2017
Faye Carr
Ollie George is a Badimaya Elder from Western Australia who
Male Elder of the Year 2017
Alex ‘Ollie’ George
The Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council Aboriginal
Caring for Country 2017
Minjerribah Moorgumpin Elders-in-Council
Latia Schefe is a young Yuggera woman from Brisbane,
Youth of the Year 2017
Latia Schefe
Elverina Johnson is a highly respected Gurugulu and
Artist of the Year 2017
Elverina Johnson
Dr James Charles is a Kaurna man from Adelaide, South
Scholar of the Year 2017
Dr James Charles
Sharee Yamashita is a young Thanikwithi woman from Thursday
Apprentice of the Year 2017
Sharee Yamashita
Amanda Reid is Gurinagi & Wamba Wamba women from Sydney
Sportsperson of the Year 2017
Amanda Reid
2016
Stephen Page is a descendant of the Nunukul people and the
Lifetime Achievement Award 2016
Stephen Page
Professor Chris Sarra, a Goreng Goreng man from Bundaberg,
Person of the Year 2016
Professor Chris Sarra
Professor MaryAnn Bin-Sallik is a proud Djaru Elder from
Female Elder of the Year 2016
MaryAnn Bin-Sallik
Dr Robert Francis Isaacs is a Billumum Noongar man, a
Male Elder of the Year 2016
Dr Robert Francis Isaacs OAM JP PhD (HON)
The Manymak Energy Efficiency Project was successfully
Caring for Country 2016
Manymak Energy Efficiency Project
Elijah Douglas is a Ganggalidda, Garrwa, Waanyi and Gudanji
Youth of the Year 2016
Elijah Douglas
Award accepted by Jasmine Yunupingu on behalf of Artist of
Artist of the Year 2016
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu
Layneisha Sgro is a proud Nyiyaparli, Bardi and Jabbir
Scholar of the Year 2016
Layneisha Sgro
Montana Ah-Won is an 18 year old Miriwoong Gajeroong woman
Apprentice of the Year 2016
Montana Ah-Won
Jade North of the Biripi Mob from New South Wales is a two-
Sportsperson of the Year 2016
Jade North
2015
Tauto Sansbury is a Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula
Lifetime Achievement Award 2015
Tauto Sansbury
Rosalie Kunoth Monks is an Arrernte Anmatjere woman from
Person of the Year 2015
Rosalie Kunoth Monks
Veronica Perrule Dobson is an Eastern Arrernte Elder, often
Female Elder of the Year 2015
Veronica Perrule Dobson
Graham Taylor is a respected Amangu Yamaji Elder from
Male Elder of the Year 2015
Graham Taylor
The Warddeken Caring for Country Project uses the best of
Caring for Country 2015
Warddeken Caring for Country Project
Chris Tamwoy has ties to Badu, Boigu and Darnley Islands in
Youth of the Year 2015
Chris Tamwoy
Daren Dunn is a Gamilaroi man from New South Wales and
Artist of the Year 2015
Daren Dunn
Michelle Deshong is a proud Kuka Yulanji woman from
Scholar of the Year 2015
Michelle Deshong
Ashley Farrall is a 22 year old Arrernte Man from Alice
Apprentice of the Year 2015
Ashley Farrall
Ryan Morich is a Noongar man from Western Australian,
Sportsperson of the Year 2015
Ryan Morich
2014
A member of the Wiradjuri Nation, Linda Burney is a natural
Lifetime Achievement Award 2014
Linda Burney
Gracelyn Smallwood grew up in Townsville in Queensland
Person of the Year 2014
Gracelyn Smallwood
Patricia O’Connor is the inspirational woman behind the
Female Elder of the Year 2014
Patricia O'Connor
Richard Archibald is a Gumbaynggirr man born in 1947
Male Elder of the Year 2014
Richard Archibald
the Wunambal Gaambera people are ensuring are ensuring a
Caring for Country 2014
The Uunguu Healthy Country Project
Chern’ee Sutton has accomplished more than people many
Youth of the Year 2014
Chern'ee Sutton
Amelia Telford is a Bundjalung woman originating from
Youth of the Year 2014
Amelia Telford
Shellie Morris is a strong contributor to the music
Artist of the Year 2014
Shellie Morris
her family descend from the Moa and Badu Islands, and the
Scholar of the Year 2014
Donisha Duff
This experience and the opportunity for employment has
Apprentice of the Year 2014
Patricia Doolan
Born on Thursday Island and raised in Brisbane, Jesse
Sportsperson of the Year 2014
Jesse Williams
2013
Born at Melville Bay near Yirrkala in East Arnhem Land,
Lifetime Achievement Award 2013
Galarrwuy Yunupingu
Darryl is a Noongar man from the Narrogin area of Western
Person of the Year 2013
Darryl Kickett
Rose Richards is a proud Yalangi and Tagalaga Elder from
Female Elder of the Year 2013
Rose Richards
John Hayden is a respected Noongar elder from Brookton in
Male Elder of the Year 2013
John Hayden
Jimmy Edgar is a Yawuru and Karajarri man from Western
Caring for Country 2013
Jimmy Edgar
Kate Malpass, a Noongar girl from Perth, has been defying
Youth of the Year 2013
Kate Malpass
Starting his career as an actor on Neighbours in the 1980’s
Artist of the Year 2013
Tony Briggs
Dr Mark McMillan is a Wiradjuri man from Trangie in central
Scholar of the Year 2013
Dr Mark McMillan
Danny Bromot is a proud Yolngu man from Nhulunbuy in North
Apprentice of the Year 2013
Danny Bromot
Jonathan Thurston is a rugby league superstar and is a
Sportsperson of the Year 2013
Jonathan Thurston