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1. Carolyn Briggs

   Aunty Carolyn Briggs is a Boonwurrung elder from Victoria who is recognised as a keeper of the history and genealogies of her people.

   She says, “It’s about the strength of families, our heritage and the sense of belonging to place.”

2. Aunty Dulcie Flower AM
   
    

   Aunty Dulcie Flower AM was born in Cairns in 1938. Aunty Dulcie’s mother was of the Meriam People of Torres Strait. Aunty Dulcie has left an indelible mark on Australian history through her unwavering dedication to activism, advocacy, and community development. 

   Aunty Dulcie’s Grandfather was born on Mer (Murray Island) with the family later moving to Erub (Darnley Island). Aunty Dulcie has fond memories of growing up as part of the Torres Strait Community in Cairns and enjoyed the regions multicultural atmosphere. Aunty Dulcie recalls the vibrant pearl and trochus shell industries in Cairns during her youth and how these industries, and those that worked in them, touched the lives of her family. 

   As the oldest in her family, Aunty Dulcie left school early to join the workforce. Whilst employed in her first role at a timber mill, Aunty Dulcie attended night school, eventually moving into office work and later becoming a registered nurse. Aunty Dulcie relocated to Sydney to advance her career by studying midwifery and working for several years as an operating room nurse. 

   During this time, Aunty Dulcie was invited by her Aboriginal colleagues to meet community members, leading her to join the Aborigines Progressive Association, led at the time by the late Elder Bert Groves. This led to the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI), for which Aunty Dulcie served as Conference Delegate and eventually General Secretary. 

   FCAATSI had a broad, progressive focus, campaigning for improved outcomes for First Nations peoples in regard to cultural recognition, industrial equality, health, legal protections, education, housing, clean water, proper waste disposal, and land ownership. FCAATSI fought to end racism and discriminatory legislation, and fought for self-determination. Notably, FCAATSI campaigned for change to the Commonwealth Constitution in 1967, resulting in a successful referendum that recognised First Nations people’s constitutional right to vote and to the provision of Commonwealth Services. This meant that for the first time Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples had the “right to choose”.

   Aunty Dulcie was later invited by members of the Redfern community to participate in the planning of a community medical clinic. In collaboration with her community, South Sydney Community Aid, and doctors from Prince Wales Hospital, Aunty Dulcie helped to establish the Aboriginal Medical Service Co-operative (AMS Redfern), a vital community service. Aunty Dulcie has dedicated many years to AMS Redfern, acting as a foundation member and a volunteer, before eventually being elected Director of the AMS Redfern board, a role she continue to hold today. Aunty Dulcie has represented AMS Redfern on panels discussing health issues at all levels. Aunty Dulcie recognises her work with AMS Redfern has having inspired her later work as a Community Educator and a Health Worker Education Program Co-ordinator.

   Aunty Dulcie has since connected with international organisations like the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations (UN). In attending the WHO’s workshop on Globalisation and Diabetes at Yale University, Aunty Dulcie was able to discuss health issues with a team of researchers from Sub-Saharan Nations, Vietnam, Mexico, USA, and Australia. Aunty Dulcie acted as a delegate for the UN’s End of Decade International Women’s Conference in Kenya.

   Aunty Dulcie has acted in several high profile roles, including her appointment to the Torres Strait Advisory Board of ATSIC, as Regional Councillor of Sydney Regional Council, as a member of the NSW Torres Strait Islander Organisation, and as a member of the inaugural Board of Bangarra.

   Throughout her career Aunty Dulcie has maintained a connection to her roots in health care and has been a member of Carers New South Wales, an honorary Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing and a foundation member of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Nurses and Midwives. Aunty Dulcie is currently involved in a research project on Aboriginal Women Activists in Redfern.

   Aunty Dulcie Flower’s contributions have been recognised on a national scale, culminating in her appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2019 for her significant service to the Indigenous community and her pivotal role in the 1967 Referendum Campaign.

   Amongst her many achievements, Aunty Dulcie recognises the importance of her family. Aunty Dulcie has two children, 5 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren, who she couldn’t be prouder of.  Aunty Dulcie also acknowledges the people who have impacted her throughout her journey, stating:

   “So I have met the most amazing people, mentored by the late, with respect, Faith Bandler, Pastor Doug Nicholls, Joe McGinness, Bert Groves, PeRl Gibbs,  Aunt Geraldine Briggs, Gladys Elphick, Winnie Branson, and with colleagues including Joyce Clague, Evelyn Scott, Bruce MacGuiness, Ken Brindle, Isobel Kent, Sally Goold, Ray Peckham, Naomi Mayers and Sol Bellear.

   My Torres Strait family has also mentored me and I am blessed to have the privilege of working with Aboriginal People and also with Torres Strait Islanders to gain justice and equality in this country. An important aspect has been encouraging non-Aboriginal students and professionals to work with our peoples not for them, in the ongoing struggles to achieve equality in access to the necessities of life, cultural acknowledgement and respect, freedom from racism, optimum standards of housing, health, education, clean water supply, and land ownership.”
   

3. Aunty Dulcie Flower AM
   Aunty Dulcie Flower AM was born in Cairns in 1938. Aunty Dulcie’s mother was of the Meriam People of Torres Strait. Aunty Dulcie has left an indelible mark on Australian history through her unwavering dedication to activism, advocacy, and community development.
4. Listen

   Aunty Flo Watson

   National NAIDOC Female Elder Award Category

   

    

   Aunty Flo Watson OAM is an Elder, Traditional Owner and proud descendant of the Ghunghanghi People of Yarrabah, North Queensland. Aunty Flo has a traditional affiliation with both the Kuku-yelangi people of Laura/Maytown, Palmer River area and the Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba people of Magnetic Island and Townsville.

   Aunty Flo grew up in the Yarrabah Aboriginal Community, which was established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protection Act 1897. Aunty Flo, was also part of the Stolen Generation when she was separated from her family and sent to boarding school in Charters Towers under duress. She was then subsequently sent to Brisbane in the early 70’s to attend teacher’s college. She is featured in the Brisbane City Council’s book “Brisbane Blacks” and she is also in many other publications.

   In 1973 Aunty Flo commenced work in the Australian Public Service and worked throughout Australia in several different roles before going out on her own to start her consultancy business. During this time, she became an original and founding member of Reconciliation Qld Inc. was appointed to various Boards, and was active across many community organisations. 

   Aunty Flo is the Chair of the Teralba Park Stolen Generations Support Group Inc, in Brisbane. With this group she works with the Brisbane community in the areas of storytelling at schools, acknowledgement/welcome to Country for many events including reconciliation/NAIDOC events for the Australian Defence Force (Army), hosting and organising refugees from the Romero Centre to be welcomed by Indigenous Elders and community members into the Australian community. Aunty Flo is also an Elder with the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s group.

   Aunty Flo is also the founding member of the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts (ACPA). She is now the Patron of ACPA a position she still currently holds. Students from around Australia attend ACPA to complete studies in music, acting and dancing.

   Aunty Flo has set up Elders groups throughout Qld to be viable businesses in particular the Yarrabah Elders Group Inc. In 2015 Aunty Flo received an OAM- Order of Australia medal, for her service to the Indigenous communities of Queensland. Aunty Flo continues to work hard in the communities across Queensland with many government and non-government organisations helping to bring change and improving the lives of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

   Aunty Flo has been involved in many Reconciliation Action Plans {RAP} nationally. She also developed the Commonwealth Games RAP.

   For Decades Aunty Flo Watson has inspired communities across Queensland and nationally with her story and commitment to sharing her cultural and knowledge with others. Aunty Flo Watson spends a great deal of time daily teaching members of the community about the importance of respect for culture and the importance of walking together in the spirit of reconciliation. She is now in the process of truthtelling sessions around the nation.

5. Listen

   Aunty Glendra Stubbs

   National NAIDOC Female Elder Award Category

   

    

   Aunty Glendra Stubbs OAM is a Wiradjuri Elder from the Mudgee, Dubbo and Narrandera area. 
   Narrandera area. Aunty Glendra has worked tireless for 40 years to provide advice and practical guidance to survivors of trauma. 

   Throughout her life Aunty Glendra has held multiple high-profile roles. Aunty Glendra acted as the CEO of Link-Up NSW for many years and has worked as a First Nations engagement and Elder in Residence for multiple organisations. Aunty Glendra has provide expert cultural witness in important legal cases and has served on several important boards and committees. Aunty Glendra has worked with a number of state and national bodies including as an Aboriginal Engagement Advisor for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the National Stolen Generations Alliance, and Metro Migrant Resource Centre. 

   Today, Aunty Glendra continues to support survivors of Trauma through her organisation Knowmore, which provides cultural and legal support to survivors of child sexual abuse and the Stolen Generation. Knowmore also helps Stolen Generations survivors, including with applications under the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme.

   Throughout her life and her illustrious career, Aunty Glendra Stubbs has had a profound impact on her community, and the First Nations community at large. Aunty Glendra remains an important figure in her community and an invaluable asset to the survivors of trauma that she has dedicated her life to helping.

   Some of the things that make Auntie really happy being the elder at Uts supporting students with cultural support and practical support Tranby College board membership and longtime supporter of the yellow Mundi strong women’s and community project ID know yourself supporting our young ones in the out-of-home Care system should be the best they possibly can ACRC support for local community and as required.

6. Aunty Lyn Riley shares her thoughts on the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Theme

   Aunty (Dr) Lynette Riley is Acting Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee.

7. Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams

   Aunty Dr Matilda House-Williams is a proud Ngambri (Kamberri) Wallabalooa (Ngunnawal) and Wiradyuri Elder. She is, and always was, a powerhouse for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocacy.

8. Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM

   Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM, is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman, born in 1941 on Erambie Mission, just outside of Cowra in country New South Wales. Aunty Dr Naomi has dedicated her life to the advancement of Indigenous health and is a leader in Aboriginal affairs.

9. Listen

   Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM

   National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award Category

   

   Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM, is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman, born in 1941 on Erambie Mission, just outside of Cowra in country New South Wales. Aunty Dr Naomi has dedicated her life to the advancement of Indigenous health and is a leader in Aboriginal affairs.

   Aunty Dr Naomi has developed and led some of the most enduring and fundamentally profound reforms in Aboriginal and Torres Strait health, both in terms of community-controlled services and the broader Australian health system.

   At the age of 18, Aunty Naomi began her work in health as a nurse, working at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, the Home Hill Hospital in Queensland and St Andrews Hospital in East Melbourne. She was also a board member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

   In addition to her contributions to healthcare and education, Aunty Dr Naomi was also a founding member of The Sapphires, the ground-breaking all-Aboriginal music group from country Victoria that gained international recognition for their soulful harmonies and powerful performances. The group performed defiantly at a time when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and issues were both ignored or not spoken about.

   Aunty Dr Naomi was one of the founders and a pioneering force in establishing the Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern (AMS) in 1971. The AMS Redfern was the first Aboriginal medical service and has since become a service model for community controlled health services that underpins the principles of self-determination. The service provides culturally appropriate healthcare to Indigenous people and has been instrumental in improving health outcomes for Aboriginal communities throughout Australia.

   Aunty Dr Naomi dedicated 45 years to the Redfern AMS and service to the community. She started out as an Administrator, and in 2012 went on to become the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) before her retirement in 2017. Throughout her career at the AMS, Aunty Dr Naomi guided the transformation of the AMS from a small shop-front into a national network of services.

   Aunty Dr Naomi has been one of the principal figures behind a number of Redfern's community development projects, including those which established the Murawina pre-school program in 1973 and the Aboriginal Housing Company in 1976.

   Aunty Dr Naomi is a founding member of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW, the National Aboriginal and Islander Health Organisation (NAIHO) (now the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation), was founding president of the Federation for Aboriginal Women and a member of the first ATSIC Regional Council for Metropolitan Sydney.

   As an authority on Aboriginal health issues, she proved an influential witness during the inquiries of the 1977 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal Health.  In 1981 she was appointed as a consultant by the Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists.

   In 1984, Aunty Dr Naomi was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in recognition of her services to the community.

   As Chair of the National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party in 1988-9, Aunty Dr Naomi worked with state and community representatives to develop the National Aboriginal Health Strategy. Under her leadership, that pivotal report introduced innovative Aboriginal health sector reforms that continue to shape the nature, range and delivery of health services to this day.

   In 2017, Aunty Naomi was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) from the University of Sydney for her work delivering and transforming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care. At this time, Aunty Dr Naomi already held a doctorate in Aboriginal Affairs from Tranby Aboriginal College in Sydney.

   Aunty Dr Naomi has dedicated her life to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advancement, health, education and policy. She has guided, advocated, argued for and supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the nation to build a healthier future.

   It is our privilege to honour Aunty Dr Naomi with the 2023 National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award for her outstanding services and contributions to our peoples.

10. Aunty (Prof) Lynette Riley

    Aunty (Prof) Lynette Riley is Co-Chair of the National NAIDOC Committee.