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Awards 2025

The Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education Awards are the only national awards program that recognises and celebrates Australian schools and early learning services that are implementing outstanding reconciliation initiatives.

Finalists are acknowledged for strengthening relationships, building respect, and providing meaningful opportunities in the classroom, around the school or service, and with the community.

The awards have been held every two years since 2017 and there are two categories:

Schools: incorporating primary, secondary, senior secondary and combined schools within the government, independent or catholic sectors.

Early Learning: incorporating early childhood education and care, preschool, family day care and out of school hours care services.
 

Interested in applying or nominating a school or early learning service that you think should be recognised for implementing outstanding reconciliation initiatives?

You can nominate any school or early learning service that you want for the awards but, to apply, your school/early learning service must meet the awards eligibility criteria. 

Read through the Narragunnawali Awards 2025 info kit to learn more about the nomination, application and awards process.

DOWNLOAD 2025 INFO KIT Nominate Now Apply Now

Narragunnawali Awards 2023 Finalists and Winners

For more information about Narragunnawali Awards winners and finalists, view the films and links below. 

2023 Early Learning Finalists

Winner

Stirling District Kindergarten, Kaurna Country (SA)

2023 Schools Finalists

Winner

Winterfold Primary School, Noongar Country (WA)

Past Finalists

Early Learning Category

Schools Category

Patrons

Professor Peter Buckskin

Patron

Professor Peter Buckskin is a Narungga man from the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. For over 40 years Professor Buckskin’s passion has been the pursuit of educational excellence for Aboriginal peoples. Professor Buckskin is Co-Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation, Chair of the SA Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Council and a member of the Lowitja Institute Board of Directors. Professor Buckskin has held positions as Co-Chair of Reconciliation South Australia and Dean of Aboriginal Engagement and Strategic Projects at the University of South Australia. Professor Buckskin has worked as a school teacher, a Ministerial Adviser, Superintendent of Schools and as a senior executive at both State and Federal levels. He was appointed a member of the Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group in 2019 and Co-Chair of the Local & Regional Co-design Group in 2020. Professor Buckskin is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and was awarded the 2020 NAIDOC South Australia Lifetime Achievement Award. Professor Buckskin was a judge on the 2017, 2019 and 2021 Narragunnawali Awards and took on the role of Patron in 2023.

Aunty Geraldine Atkinson

Patron

Geraldine Atkinson is a proud Bangerang/Wiradjuri woman and held the position of Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria until July 2023. She was elected to the Assembly in November 2019 as a candidate from the Northeast Region. For over 40 years, Geraldine has been instrumental in driving government and policy reform in Aboriginal education. From starting in the field as an Aboriginal teacher’s aide in 1976, Geraldine moved forward to become the President of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc. (VAEAI), a role she has held since 1999. In that role she represents the organization on Koorie education matters across all education sectors: early childhood, school education, and post compulsory education and training. Geraldine has recently been appointed as Co-Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Council (NATSIEC). Geraldine obtained a Bachelor of Education from Deakin University in 2013 and went on to obtain her Master of Education in 2019. In early 2020, her leadership in Aboriginal education was further recognized with the awarding of a Deakin University Honorary Doctorate Award. Beyond the field of education, Geraldine has been a strong voice in areas such as justice, reconciliation and family violence. Aunty Geraldine was a judge for the 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 Narragunnawali Awards and became a patron in 2025.

Judges

Mx Sharon Davis

Chair

Sharon Davis (pronouns they/them) is from both Bardi and Kija Peoples of the Kimberley. Sharon is the the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) and was previously the Director of Education at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. They have a deep professional and personal commitment to social justice, equity, inclusion, and respect for all. Sharon holds a Bachelor in Education (K-7) specialising in Aboriginal education, graduating with a number of honours, including the Vice Chancellor’s Medal for the University of Notre Dame’s School of Education. In addition, Sharon graduated from the University of Oxford with a Master of Science in Applied Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition. Sharon believes that enhancing educational experience for Aboriginal students, families and communities’ benefits all.

Professor Joe Sambono

Judge

Joe Sambono is a proud Jingili man with Aboriginal family connections throughout NT, QLD, and WA. He is a curriculum specialist with extensive experience in the embedding of Australian First Nations histories and cultures in the primary, secondary, senior secondary and tertiary education sectors. Leveraging off his lifelong passion and experience with wildlife and conservation Joe enrolled in a BSc (Zoology) at James Cook University and spent his early career working as a zoologist. After receiving a BEd from the University of Queensland, Joe was able to merge his biology interests and cultural background with a new career in education. Joe started his education career 18 years ago as a senior secondary science teacher and was immediately involved in supporting his region with various cross-cultural education initiatives. Joe’s multi-faceted skill set, and experiences grounded in his First Nations Australian identity, science and education careers and lived experiences as a First Australian student continues to fuel his desire to work in the complex space of First Nations education. Joe is currently the Program Lead for Embedding Indigenous Australian Perspectives with the Queensland University of Technology.

Professor Grace Sarra

Judge

Professor Grace Sarra is an academic researcher in the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education, and Social Justice. She is of Aboriginal heritage from the Birrigubba nation and Torres Strait Islander heritage from Mauar, Stephen, and Murray Islands. With over 30 years of experience in teaching and leadership roles across schools and universities, she has made significant contributions to the field of education. Professor Sarra has extensive experience working in schools in Indigenous and low socioeconomic communities. She focuses on improving educational outcomes through school change and leadership. Her research spans Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, early childhood, inclusive education, Indigenous young people, and incarcerated youth in detention centres. Her research integrates Indigenous knowledges and frameworks alongside theoretical perspectives to challenge prevailing assumptions and stereotypes that contribute to the lack of success experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in schools and juvenile detention centres. Professor Sarra is currently a Chief Investigator (CI) in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child and a CI in an ARC Indigenous Discovery grant 'Co-designing Indigenous education policy in Queensland'.

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