Leadership and excellence celebrated at inaugural NAIDOC Awards

Colleagues from the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership, with Professor Michelle Trudgett and Professor Susan Page

Western Sydney University is proud to announce the winners of the inaugural NAIDOC Awards 2024, celebrating the outstanding contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within the University community.

The NAIDOC Awards, established to recognise excellence, were celebrated across several distinguished categories highlighting remarkable achievements in leadership, impact, research, and academia.

The winners were unveiled at a special gala dinner hosted by the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Leadership, on Friday, 12 July.

Professor Michelle Trudgett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Indigenous Leadership, warmly congratulated the exceptional nominees and winners.

“Western Sydney University is proud to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are contributing so much to our community through excellence in leadership, impact, research, and academia,” said Professor Trudgett.

In attendance of the gala was Chancellor, Professor Jennifer Westacott AO, who also offered her congratulations.

“The NAIDOC Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions of Indigenous staff and students to the University and to acknowledge the next generation of Indigenous leaders,” said Professor Westacott.

2024 Indigenous Student Stage One Academic Excellence Award
Tjanara Ridgeway
2024 Indigenous Student Stage Two Academic Excellence Award
Gemma-Rose O’Brien
2024 Indigenous Student Stage Three Academic Excellence Award
Mia Bates
2024 Indigenous Student Stage Four Academic Excellence Award
Lillian Newton
2024 Indigenous Student Post Graduate Course Work Excellence Award
Aimee Woods
2024 Indigenous Higher Degree Research Award

Doctor Paul Saunders

Matilda Harry

2024 Outstanding Indigenous Student Award

Jess Oehm

Audree Campbell

2024 Indigenous Trainee of the Year
Jordan Janson
2024 Indigenous Professional Staff Excellence Award
Amelia Corr
2024 Indigenous Academic Excellence Award
Ali Gebhardt
2024 Indigenous Leadership Team Award

School of Social Science

Team consisting of:

Prof. Corrinne Sullivan

Ellen Karimanovic

Dr. Georgia Durmush

Kaiya Aboagye

Lindsay McCabe

Karen Fernando

2024 Contributions of Indigenous Excellence to Western Sydney University
Daniele Hromek
2024 Indigenous Person of the Year Award
Professor Corrinne Sullivan

Western Sydney University is deeply committed to building the next generation of Indigenous leaders, including through the 2020-2025 Indigenous Strategy (opens in a new window)and the 2023-2032 Indigenous Futures Decadal Strategy (opens in a new window). The Indigenous Centre of Excellence (opens in a new window), which is due to open in 2026, is a testament of the University’s commitment and investment to this space.

The awards are part of Western Sydney University’s celebrations for national NAIDOC Week, 7-14 July. This year’s theme, ‘Blak, Loud and Proud’, celebrates the unyielding spirit of Indigenous communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.

ENDS

13 July 2024

Ali Sardyga, Senior Media Officer

Photo credit: Sally Tsoutas

Recipients of the 2024 Indigenous Leadership Team Award with Professor Susan Page

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