Here are our deadly NAIDOC Award winners for 2025!

SBS Australia

2 days ago

The NAIDOC Awards are a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander strength, excellence, beauty, intelligence and commitment.
Selected from a pool of almost 200 nominees, candidates are nominated by people who have witnessed first-hand the difference they make in the community, with the winners selected by the NAIDOC committee themselves.
This year's NAIDOC Week theme is 'The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy', a call to celebrate not only the achievements of the past but the bright future ahead, empowered by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of our communities and the legacy of the ancestors.
Here are this year's winners!
Lifetime Achievement Award: Michael Long
Michael Long, a proud Anmatjere and Marranunggu man, football legend, and tireless advocate for truth, justice, and self-determination, has been awarded this year's National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award. This year's National NAIDOC Lifetime Achievement Award goes to Michael Long, a proud Anmatjere and Marranunggu man, football icon, and lifelong advocate for truth, justice, and self-determination. Michael Long's leadership has lit the path for generations. From the AFL field to the front steps of Parliament House, his actions have inspired a nation. In 2004, he undertook 'The Long Walk' – a 650-kilometre journey from Melbourne to Canberra – to demand better outcomes for First Nations peoples. He's never stopped walking since.
"I was actually a bit nervous coming into today, but a good nervous because when you're being acknowledged by mob, I think it's even more special," Long said, after accepting his award.
In 1995, playing AFL for Essendon, Long took a stand against racism when he was vilified during a game against Collingwood. "The racial vilification policy was adopted in '95," he said. "So, coming from humble beginnings, but being lucky and blessed that this game has given me an opportunity and that's why I'm here today to accept this award and I'm very thankful, very humble to receive the lifetime achievement. "To challenge what happened back in '95 was probably one of the hardest times that I felt and you felt a bit alone, but that was the deal.
"This is this will pave the way for other kids coming through football, young men and women."
Person of the Year Award: Dr Daniel Hunt
Dr Daniel Hunt Credit: The University of Melbourne Dr Daniel Hunt, a Jaru and Indjibarndi man, is both a General Practitioner and Dentist. He has extensive experience in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector, having served as dentist, deputy medical director, and acting chief executive.
Dr Hunt is passionate about healthcare and clinical governance. He is the deputy chair of the Blood Borne Viruses and Sexual Transmitted Infection Advisory Committee for Western Australia, stemming from an interest in addressing the Australian syphilis epidemic.
In 2022, he was awarded General Practitioner in Training of the Year for WA and in 2024, Indigenous Doctor of the Year. "It fills me with a great amount of pride," he said. "Sitting amongst a lot of other Aboriginal people and experiencing that Blak excellence is just amazing. "And I just feel proud that I've won this award and the finalists and everyone who won the awards this week tonight were just great calibre and I'm just humbled really and very proud. "I just love medicine and the work in healthcare is fascinating and amazing. "And just the outcomes that we do get, part of the work I've done, we've managed to reduce congenital syphilis in the metropolitan area." Dr Hunt believes improving education of healthcare providers is important. "During the COVID pandemic, Aboriginal people weren't accessing healthcare the way they should because they felt there was areas of racism that were genuine and real," he said. "So the education of the healthcare providers is paramount.
"And also appropriate government investment in the sector."
Female Elder: Aunty Rosalie Kickett
Aunty Rosalie Kickett In the heart of Acacia Prison, an incredible Elder is changing lives. Aunty Rosalie Kickett, a proud Wilman, Beelya, Ballardong, Menang, Bibbulmen Nyoongar Nation Yok, has dedicated her life to empowering Aboriginal people, most recently incarcerated Aboriginal men.
As a Lifeline Australia National First Nations Family and Domestic Violence Subject Matter Expert, she ensures that women in Indigenous communities are safe and supported. For more than 40 years, Aunty Rosalie has been a beacon of hope, fostering resilience and connection among our most vulnerable. "I travel all across Australia, training up frontline workers in the best practice work with First Nations families and their communities," she told NITV. "It's been my drive, and my mum never had that opportunity, and I felt now her legacy lives on through me to pass all my knowledge
"I've trained up all the men in the prison to be mentors, first savers because they are the first respondents when someone's going through a difficulty so that we can prevent more suicides happening in our community and keeping them safe and strong for their families."
Male Elder: Uncle Phillip Hall
Uncle Phillip Hall Credit: NAIDOC Committee Proud Gomeroi and Euahlayi man Harry Phillip Hall was born in a segregated Blacks only labour ward at Walgett District Hospital on 18 December 1946. Phillip was raised on a riverbank with no running water, sewerage, or electricity.
Uncle Phillip is the last remaining survivor from Walgett that assisted the Freedom Ride to overcome racism that existed in the Walgett Aboriginal community. This was a very important event that changed the course of history and gave the homeland of the Gomeroi and Euahlayi peoples an opportunity for them to move on from the burden of racial discrimination.
The same outcome was achieved by the students in other highly populated Aboriginal areas throughout NSW. "What motivated us all was a bloke called Charlie Perkins, when he came to Walgett with the Freedom Riders, we were looking for equal rights and justice for our people," Uncle Phillip said. "In the country areas where we lived, racial discrimination was very bad and the students, they had nothing to lose, they done it all voluntary, they got no money out of it ... they stood for equal rights and they fought for us. "And they just give us the motivation and to take it from there – if they can do it, we can do it.
"So we just stood our ground and fought on."
Sportsperson: Danielle Ponter
Danielle Ponter Source: AAP / Matt Turner/AAPImage Marranunggu and Anmatjere woman Danielle Ponter was born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory. Coming from the well-known Long-Rioli footballing family, she began playing for St Mary's Football Club at age 11 in the NTFL's under-15 girls' division.
Danielle was drafted by the Adelaide Football Club in 2018 and made her Australian Football League Women's (AFLW) debut in 2019. She has since become a two-time premiership player and earned All-Australian honours, continuing to grow as a key part of the team.
"I've been a part of some great things but it's hard to speak about the individual accolades, it always has been," she said. "But if I was to rank, this would be pretty, pretty close to the premierships that I've won, if not even higher.
"I'm just grateful, whatever comes my way."
Youth: Anika Gosling
Anika Gosling Credit: NAIDOC Committee Anika Gosling is a proud Wadjuk Noongar woman from Perth. She holds a Bachelor's degree, Honours, and a Master's in Psychology, and currently works as a school psychologist. In this role, she supports Aboriginal youth, focusing on enhancing their social and emotional wellbeing.
Anika is deeply passionate about youth mental health, believing it lays the foundation for strong, resilient futures. Outside of work, Anika competes in discus and enjoys staying active. Her long-term goal is to establish her own business dedicated to empowering and supporting Aboriginal youth in their life journeys.
Anika's sister Georgia Rose accepted the award on her behalf. "I am so proud and privileged, very honoured to be accepting this for her," she said. "I know my sister wishes that she could be here tonight, although she's competing internationally, which I think in itself is a testament to her dedication and her deserving of this award.
"I'm very, very proud of her."
Creative Talent Award: Christine Anu
Christine Anu Source: NITV / NITV
Christine Anu, a proud Torres Strait Islander, is one of Australia's most celebrated performers. A multi-ARIA and Deadly Award winner, she's best known for her iconic rendition of 'My Island Home,' which became a cultural anthem and was featured at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Christine began her career at NAISDA, later performing with Bangarra and starring in major musicals and films like Moulin Rouge! and The Matrix Reloaded. In 2024, she released Waku – Minaral A Minalay, her first original album in 20 years. In 2025, she stars as Hermes in the Australian premiere of Hadestown.
Zipporah Corser-Anu accepted the award on behalf of her mother, Christine. "She cried when I just called her," Zipporah said. "She's always, always, first and foremost put her Saibai heritage at the front of everything that she does. "She was the first to do a lot of things and I think people forget about that. "She incorporated language and culture into the mainstream. "Women and any Torres Strait Islanders wouldn't have the opportunities that they have today unless she had been in those uncomfortable rooms and conversations and been stared down by whitefellas.
"She had to do all that and I'm just so glad that she's finally being recognised."
Caring for Country and Culture Award: Wadjemup Project Steering Group The Wadjemup Project Steering Group is an advisory committee for Stage Two of the Wadjemup Project. Members include Farley Garlett, Neville Collard, Herbert Bropho, Glenys Yarran, Sandra Harben and Karen Jacobs.
The Wadjemup Project is an historic project to reconcile the history of Aboriginal people's imprisonment on Wadjemup between 1838 and 1931. The Project is one of the first large-scale and genuine acts of recognition of the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal people.
Education Award: Professor Eddie Cubillo
Professor Eddie Cubillo has won the 2025 NAIDOC education award. Professor Eddie Cubillo is a Larrakia, Wadjigan, and Central Arrernte man from the Northern Territory and a leading advocate for Indigenous justice.
He has served in key roles including Anti-Discrimination Commissioner of the NT, Executive Officer of NATSILS, and Director of Community Engagement for the NT Royal Commission.
A PhD holder, he was Associate Dean (Indigenous Programs) at Melbourne Law School and Director of its Indigenous Law and Justice Hub. Now Director of the Mabo Centre, he continues to champion legal reform and self-determination. Eddie is also a proud father and grandfather, grounded in community and culture. "I've been a lawyer and I've been anti-discrimination commissioner, but you just sit there and you do it for your people, right?" an emotional Prof Cubillo told NITV. "And that's how tough it is ... you just walk along on that journey.
"And then when you get to awards like this, it means so much."
Innovation Award: Blak Brews Blak Brews is a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned Australian tea and coffee company founded by husband-and-wife duo Troy and Cerisa Benjamin. Based in Geelong, they are flipping the script on what tea can be, sourcing the highest quality organic native ingredients to craft blends that are vibrant, wild, medicinal, and seriously good for you.
Since winning Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars, Blak Brews has exploded into the spotlight globally, while receiving the mentorship of celebrity British chef Gordon Ramsay himself. They're fast becoming one of the most sought-after tea brands in the food and beverage space, proudly breaking old stereotypes and sparking a movement.
"We're only a few years into business and we've had a really strong start, probably something that a lot of businesses would love to have," Troy said. "And we've just had some great success early and it's given us so much encouragement. "But just to be recognised by your peers and your friends and, and your mob and your community, then to be doing it in front of a public setting like tonight and be able to share it is just incredible." Cerisa said the business started during COVID, when she was researching essential oils, then the couple were intrigued by the tea world. "I found out that there's amazing properties with native ingredients," she said.
"And it just kind of spiralled into a tea and coffee business."
Troy said their motivation is about capturing the connection that all of Australia has with the humble cup of tea. "Our ancient people, we weren't brewing tea as such, we were boiling the plants for medicinal reasons," he said. "Everyone's got the kettle on their bench in the 80s and 90s and, and coming over for a cup of tea.
"So to be able to use those two really historically rich pathways that a lot of people are familiar with and to combine them into this product is, I think, something really powerful."