2022 Awards

The independent Indigenous Governance Awards Judging Panel announced 3 winners for each category, and 2 highly commended organisations in Category 1.

Watch the videos to learn more about each of the finalists’ stories.

Category 1

Winner

Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council Human Research Ethics Committee (AH&MRC HREC), Sydney NSW

AH&MRC HREC was established in 1996 to ensure that research conducted with and about Aboriginal people in NSW is conducted both ethically and culturally. AH&MRC HREC stood out to the judges because of their long and committed history in a space that is often overlooked.

Justice, self-determination and truth-telling in research and ethics is crucial to rectifying the historical devastation caused by this industry, and they commended the AH&MRC for all of their good work in bringing others along.

Highly commended

Strengthening of the Koling wada-ngal Committee to Support Community in the West, Wyndham Vic

Koling wada-ngal (Walking together) Committee engages in an equal partnership with the Wyndham Aboriginal community and key stakeholders to work towards providing a culturally safe Aboriginal Community Centre.

The judges saw that the commitment and resolve shown by the Koling wada-ngal committee members has directly resulted in the Aboriginal community of Western Melbourne having a safe place to nurture and pass on culture for generations to come.

South Australian West Coast ACCHO Network (SAWCAN)

The SAWCAN network consists of five Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services who provide culturally appropriate, comprehensive primary health care services to approximately 5,000 Aboriginal people.

SAWCAN demonstrated to the judges a combined strength to overcome challenges and issues in providing quality primary health care to their communities.

Category 2

Winner

Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council, Brewarrina NSW

In pursuit of social justice, the Brewarrina Local Aboriginal Land Council aims to support the local Aboriginal community through strong governance and economic consolidation. Brewarrina seeks the right to a distinct status and culture, the right to self-determination, and the right to land.

Out of adversity and challenges, Brewarrina showed the judges that they have successfully built an organisation that is valued and respected in their community. By focusing on land rights and their history, they have helped to create a sense of pride, ownership and identity for their Country.

Finalists

Mudjar Aboriginal Corporation (MAC), Esperance WA

MAC demonstrated to the judges how it is involving its whole community in cultural and environmental education and preservation, creating beautiful spaces for people to come together.

Naru Goori Groms, Coffs Harbour NSW

Naru Goori Groms encourages and empowers the younger generation to give surfing a go in a culturally safe environment.

Naru Goori Groms took the judges on a journey of how they have helped over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people make healthy choices through their culturally safe and fun surf program, while also advocating for suicide awareness.

Category 3

Winner

Wungening Aboriginal Corporation (Wungening), Perth WA

Wungening is a progressive Aboriginal community-controlled organisation based in Perth, with 10 locations and over 200 staff to further its vision of a healthy, safe, strong First Nations community. Wungening stood out to the judges because of their distinctive and evident compassion, empathy and care for their clients.

Working with vulnerable and stigmatised groups, Wungening consistently demonstrated their deep respect for their community.

Their work is wide spread. However, they have fostered close-knit relationships and invested in partnerships with other Aboriginal organisations.

Finalists

Arnhem, Northern and Kimberley Artists (ANKA) Aboriginal Corporation, Northern Australia

ANKA Aboriginal Corporation is the peak support and advocacy body for Aboriginal artists and Aboriginal-owned community Art Centres across over one million square kilometres of country in remote northern Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

ANKA Aboriginal Corporation showed the judges how they used influence and networks to bolster governance, helping to keep Aboriginal art and copyright under community control.

Robe River Kuruma Aboriginal Corporation (RRKAC), Karratha WA

RRKAC is the registered native title body corporate for Robe River Kuruma (RRK) native title determined areas. They were unfortunately forced to withdraw before the judging process – but we still want to honour them for their strength in Indigenous governance and the good work they are doing.