Meet the winners of the 2026 NAIDOC Awards!

The 2026 National NAIDOC Week Awards have recognised Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations making a mark across culture, Country, education, sport, science, leadership and community life.

The awards celebrate achievements that strengthen communities and culture, while highlighting the different ways Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are shaping the future.

This year’s winners include artists, educators, Elders, athletes and young leaders whose work spans from remote communities to the national stage.

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the awards recognise "extraordinary achievements, leadership and contributions" of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This year's winners embody the spirit of NAIDOC," she said.

"They are leaders ... whose work is creating positive change and inspires others.

“As we celebrate 50 Years of Deadly, we also celebrate the generations of First Nations people who have strengthened our communities and helped shape a better future for all Australians."

Lifetime Achievement - Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO

This posthumous award recognises Aunty Rhoda’s immense contribution across culture, theatre, arts, dance, media, journalism and public life in Australia.

It celebrates her remarkable legacy which continues to inspire generations through the stories she championed, the voices she elevated, and the pathways she created for First Nations artists and communities.

NAIDOC Person of the Year Award - Pat Turner AO

Aunty Pat Turner AM, who has Gudanji-Arrernte heritage, has spent more than five decades working to advance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, wellbeing and self-determination. She became the first Aboriginal woman to lead a Commonwealth Government department when she was appointed CEO of ATSIC.

More recently, as Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Turner played a central role in shaping and implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. She has also mentored generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders throughout a career spanning public service, policy, advocacy and community leadership.

Caring for Country and Culture Award - Southern Aboriginal Corporation

The Southern Aboriginal Corporation (SAC) is a Noongar-led organisation serving communities across the Great Southern, South West and Lower Wheat Belt of Western Australia. Its work is based on the principle that caring for Country and caring for people are inseparable.

SAC works with the Walitj Mia Mia and Nowanup cultural property and leadership camps, giving young people opportunities to learn cultural practices, local knowledge and responsibility on Country. Its work also includes environmental rehabilitation, heritage restoration and employment pathways in land management.

Creative Talent Award - Kaylene Whiskey

Aunty Kaylene Whiskey is a Yankunytjatjara artist from Indulkana in the APY Lands of South Australia. Working through Iwantja Arts, she combines Aṉangu cultural stories with popular culture in bold paintings and multidisciplinary works celebrating Aboriginal women, community and life on Country.

Whiskey won the Sir John Sulman Prize in 2018 and the Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award General Painting Award in 2019, and has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in major public collections.

Education Award - The Murri School

The Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School, known as The Murri School, is a community-controlled school in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane, approaching 40 years of educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Its curriculum places culture at the centre of learning, incorporating First Nations knowledge, language and stories from Prep to Year 12.

The school says suspensions and exclusions have fallen by 50 per cent, while 82 per cent of its most recent Year 12 cohort achieved a Queensland Certificate of Education. Students can also access vocational training, school-based traineeships and programs such as Junior Rangers.

Female Elder Award - Mrs Christine Corby

Gamilaraay woman Christine Corby returned to her mother’s Country in Walgett in 1975 and became a major figure in health and community advocacy in north-west NSW. She was the founding CEO of Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, established in a rented shopfront in 1986. Four decades later, the service has grown to 100 staff and delivers about 8,000 health consultations a year.

Corby has also advocated for dental services, safe drinking water and better river management, and helped establish Freedom Ride Memorial Park in Walgett commemorating the 1965 Freedom Ride. Her honours include the Centenary Medal, the NSW Aboriginal Health Hall of Fame and appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia.

Male Elder Award - Dr Stephen Hagan

Kullilli man Dr Stephen Hagan has spent decades campaigning against racism and offensive representations of Aboriginal people. His advocacy has included a 21-year campaign that resulted in Coon Cheese being renamed Cheer Cheese, as well as successful campaigns over racist place names and other offensive terminology.

Hagan is also an author, filmmaker and social justice advocate. He has published seven books, including The N Word: One Man’s Stand and Acacia: 6 Eyes on Yesterday, and continues to work nationally as a mental health and cultural awareness consultant.

Innovation Award - Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy

The Young Indigenous Women’s STEM Academy (YIWSA) was recognised for developing a culturally grounded approach to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The Academy combines STEM education with cultural mentorship, youth-led governance, national networking and leadership development. Its model is designed around the idea that Indigenous identity should be central to achievement rather than something young women have to leave at the door.

The nomination says YIWSA is helping increase Indigenous women's representation in STEM, strengthen leadership pathways and challenge deficit-based approaches to education and employment.

Sportsperson Award - Caitlyn Costello

Caitlyn “Caity” Costello is a Larrakia, Argun and Arabana woman from Darwin who serves in the Royal Australian Air Force as a Leading Aircraftwoman. In 2025 she was selected for the Australian Defence Force Women’s Rugby Union team and appointed co-captain for the International Defence Rugby Competition in England.

The Australian team performed strongly during the tournament, and Costello was named both Australia’s Most Valuable Player and Players’ Player. She is also studying a Bachelor of Business at Griffith University while serving in the RAAF and has participated in the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program.

Youth Award - Tyson Neal Edwards

Tyson Neal Edwards is an Arrernte, Gunditjmara and Waddawurrung young man born in Geelong in 2002. He works in Fire and Land Management with the Victorian Government, helping protect cultural heritage and care for Country connected to his family’s custodial homelands.

Edwards is also involved in football and the Indigenous Marathon Foundation, completing the New York City Marathon and a Living Culture Program. He was named NAIDOC Youth of the Year for Wathaurong in 2025 and has worked fighting bushfires across Victoria.

The awards booklet describes Edwards as a young leader who encourages younger people to stay connected to culture, believe in themselves and pursue positive futures.