Honouring Indigenous academic excellence and community leadership at Western Sydney University’s NAIDOC Gala Dinner

Contributions to Indigenous Excellence Award

Uncle Greg Simms OAM

Uncle Greg was well known as an activist for reconciliation, a traditional woodcarver, a storyteller and an educator of Aboriginal culture. Uncle’s ties to the Aboriginal community of Greater Western Sydney are through his ancestral links to the Gundungurra (waterdragon lizard people) of the Blue Mountains and the Gadigal (whale people) of the Darug Nation.

Uncle Greg grew up in La Perouse and later became a resident of Greater Western Sydney. He was also a member of the Western Sydney University Indigenous Elders Advisory Committee. In 2021 Uncle received an Honorary Fellowship from Western for his service to the community and Country.

Indigenous Person of the Year Award

1. Aunty Fiona Towney
2. Dr Sarah Kennedy

Aunty Fiona Towney is a proud Wiradjuri woman from Central-West New South Wales, Australia. Aunty Fiona is the Director of Indigenous Futures at Western Sydney University. In this role, she enhances the high-level innovative approach of the Division of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership in relation to areas of communication excellence and Indigenous governance. Aunty Fiona also provides exceptional influencing skills in relation to engagement with internal and external stakeholders across multiple projects, including the Indigenous Centre of Excellence. Aunty Fiona holds tertiary qualifications in Human Resource Management and Project Management.

Wiradjuri woman Dr Sarah Kennedy is a qualified teacher and Exercise and Sports Scientist. She holds a PhD in implementation science and her research is focused on the design, delivery, scale-up, and evaluation of school-based physical activity interventions, spanning from primary to senior high school students, with particular interest in youth resistance training and physical activity promotion. More recently, Dr Kennedy's has extended her work to focus on developing muscle-strengthening activity competency in youth in community sport settings – for which she was recently appointed as a Fellow to the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Indigenous Academic Excellence Award

Professor Donna Hartz

Professor Donna Hartz, a dynamic and empowering Kamilaroi descendant, has over 40 years’ experience as a midwife, nurse, educator, manager, scholar, and advocate, dedicated to supporting positive outcomes for women and babes. She has held critical roles, including on the Rodanthe Lipsett Board of Trustees, and supervised three Aboriginal midwifery and nursing students in higher research degrees. She contributes with kindness, skill, and inspirational leadership to CATSINaM, LINMEN, and the Australian College of Midwives. Her current research focuses on caseload midwifery care, Birthing on Country, First Nations breastfeeding education, midwifery education pathways, and smoking cessation in pregnancy.

Indigenous Professional Staff Excellence Award

Gabrielle Talbot-Mundine

Gabrielle Talbot-Mundine is a proud Bundjalung woman who was born, lives, and works on Darug Country. Since starting at Western Sydney University in 2014, she has made a significant impact on Indigenous employment. As Senior Indigenous Employment Coordinator, Gabrielle leads initiatives that create meaningful opportunities and champion pathways for Indigenous peoples. Her dedication to systemic change and community advancement has positioned her as a key advocate within higher education. Gabrielle exemplifies leadership, resilience, and commitment, inspiring current and future generations of Indigenous professionals through her tireless work and unwavering passion for equity and inclusion.

Indigenous Leadership Team Award

Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education

Team consisting of:

1. Josh Mason
2. Aunty Jean South
3. Wayne Clark
4. Luke Warren
5. Adrian Atkins
6. Janyne Chenhall
7. Kristy Bell
8. Victor Simon

The Badanami team are dedicated to empowering Indigenous students at Western Sydney University. Through a range of programs, services, and culturally safe facilities, the Centre fosters engagement, community, and belonging. It provides students with the resources to thrive academically while promoting leadership and success. Badanami is committed to building on students’ strengths, ensuring their success, and creating a supportive environment for the Indigenous student cohort.

Indigenous Trainee of the Year Award

Mitchell Regan

Mitchell is a proud Wiradjuri man who joined the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education at the beginning of 2024 as an Ignite Business Trainee. Starting as a student at Western Sydney University in 2020, he completed a Bachelor of Design Studies before applying as a trainee to develop professionally. In his previous role, Mitchell assisted Badanami with promotional material and administrative tasks, since graduating and securing employment in the School of Business as a Business Administration Assistant.

Outstanding Indigenous Student Award

Arzycki De Vera

Arzycki (Ace) de Vera is a Bachelor of Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine (MD) student studying and living on Dharawal Country. His family comes from Horn Island in the Torres Strait. He is in his final year of his degree and aspires to become a specialist/consultant in general practice or emergency medicine (not surgery) and would love to help in Closing the Gap by improving Indigenous health outcomes.

Indigenous Student Stage One Academic Excellence Award

Breanna Raymond

Breanna, a proud Bundjalung woman, is studying a Bachelor of Education (Primary) with a focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. She is dedicated to helping children thrive in any environment through her future teaching career.

Indigenous Student Stage Two Academic Excellence Award

Damian Rumphorst

Damian is a Wodi Wodi man studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, with a great interest in pain management. He is passionate about empowering people to live pain-free lives and values the power of a yarn. Damian has contributed to Indigenous student panels both within and beyond Western Sydney University.

Indigenous Student Stage Three Academic Excellence Award

Tiana Thompson

Tiana is a Wiradjuri woman studying a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and working as a clinical psychologist. She has represented Western in two Indigenous Nationals teams, participated in the New Colombo Plan trip to Taiwan, and attended the Indigenous Leadership Retreat.

Indigenous Student Stage Four Plus Academic Excellence Award

Emily Hogan

Emily, a Kamilaroi woman, is pursuing a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) with aspirations of becoming a clinical psychologist. Her academic journey reflects a strong commitment to mental health and community wellbeing.

Indigenous Student Postgraduate Course Work Excellence Award

Abbey-Marie Zabielo

Abbey-Marie is a proud Kabi Kabi woman currently studying a Master of Clinical Psychology. She is passionate about using her qualifications to support remote Indigenous communities. Abbey-Marie has represented Western Sydney University in three Indigenous Nationals teams and has actively participated in Indigenous students vs staff sporting matches and Indigenous lectures.

Indigenous Higher Degree Research Award

Mirritya Ebsworth

Mirritya Ebsworth is a proud Paakantyi/Wangkumarra woman undertaking PhD at Western since 2024. She has worked in microbiology, statistics, and education and won the Charles Perkins Memorial Award for Academic Excellence (2022) for work revitalising Paakantyi, her grandmother's language. Her PhD honours her Ancestors through two-way science: linking knowledge of Wangkumarra Elders about minnarityi (Red mulga) and related ecological systems, with Western science to investigate how climatic events (2025 major flood) and human-altered environments (mining, cattle) impact minnarityi on the Cooper Basin. Outcomes will comprise resources to revitalise Wangkumarra language and recommendations for sustainable land management.