EAST KIMBERLEY ABORIGINAL AWARDS | 2023

The East Kimberley Aboriginal Achievement Awards is an bi-annual ceremony that recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of Indigenous people in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia. The awards aim to acknowledge the contributions made by Aboriginal individuals and communities in various fields, including arts and culture, education, health, and business, among others.

NOMINATION INFORMATION FOR THE 2023 AWARDS

Please ensure all nominations are received by 5pm Monday 12 June 2023

2023 ABORIGINAL AWARDS CATEGORIES

ABORIGINAL YOUNG ACHIEVER – the key to our future

• Aboriginal Junior Person of the Year

ABORIGINAL ELDER OF THE YEAR

• Aboriginal Elder of the year

OUTSTANDING ABORIGINAL ACHIEVERS – the people who build communities

• Outstanding Aboriginal Individual Contribution to Family / Community Life
• Outstanding Aboriginal Individual Cultural Achievement

EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING & BUSINESS – a working future

• Outstanding Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal Individual Contribution to Aboriginal Education
• Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Employment & Training (Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal Individual / Organisation)
• Aboriginal Employee of the Year
• Aboriginal Organisation of the Year Not for Profit
• Aboriginal Business of the Year – For Profit

POSITIVE MODELS – leading change

• Social Program of the Year Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal – Innovation through Funding
• Non – Aboriginal Person of the Year (contributing to Indigenous affairs)
• Non – Aboriginal Organisation of the Year (contributing to Indigenous affairs)
• Aboriginal Person of the Year

2023 AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Aboriginal Junior Person of the Year

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated leadership and is a positive role model to others. This person is active within the community on all levels – family, community service and development, heritage and culture and personal goal achievement. Engagement with the wider community has been achieved through leadership in committees, peer assistance, sporting activities and volunteer work, professional and personal development. This award is open to nominees up to 17 years of age.

Aboriginal Elder of the year

This award recognises an Elder, either male or female, who is inspirational to others as a ‘life-time’ role model. This person is a leader and active member of the community across many levels – family, community service and development, heritage and culture and personal goal achievement.

Outstanding Aboriginal Individual Contribution to Family / Community Life

This award recognises an individual care-giver or a volunteer whose positive efforts have benefited extended family and/or other individuals or organisations in the community. It acknowledges individuals who consistently put the well-being of others before themselves and provide support and encouragement to promote positive family/community life. This award is open to nominees aged 18 years and over.

Outstanding Aboriginal Individual Cultural Achievement

This award acknowledges an individual’s cultural leadership including language, music, dance, land, art and heritage. To be eligible for this category, the East Kimberley must be the nominee’s principle place of residence. This award is open to nominees aged 18 years and over.

Outstanding Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal Individual Contribution to Aboriginal Education

Students, teachers, education support professionals or individuals are encouraged to nominate an outstanding person who has made a significant contribution to the education of Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley. The winner may be a teacher, an Aboriginal Education Officer (AIEO), a mentor, or a person in any other education-focused role whose enthusiasm and commitment has had a positive impact on improving educational opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Outstanding Contribution to Aboriginal Employment & Training (Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal Individual/Organisation)

This award recognises the important role of service organisations that work together to deliver innovative and effective skills development and/or employment support for Aboriginal employees and their employers. This award is focused on organisations bringing new ideas, improved opportunities and real results for Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley.

Aboriginal Employee of the Year

Employers are encouraged to nominate an outstanding employee or colleague who has made a significant contribution to their organisations success. The winner will be an employee or colleague who has excelled in all areas, who is dynamic, customer focused, enthusiastic and committed.

Aboriginal Organisation of the Year – Not for Profit

This award recognises the good governance and leadership of an Aboriginal organisation in the East Kimberley that continuously facilitates and/or delivers the right services to the right people at the right time.

Aboriginal Business of the Year – For Profit

This award recognises the hard work by individuals who are operating a for profit business in the East Kimberley and have been trading continuously for more than 12 months.

Social Program of the Year Aboriginal / Non – Aboriginal – Innovation through Funding

This award is an opportunity to recognise a social program and the programs funding body for their shared innovative thinking and actions in having a lasting and positive impact on Aboriginal people and their community in the East Kimberley

Non – Aboriginal Person of the Year (contributing to Indigenous affair)

This award recognises an individual with strong leadership ability who is an inspirational role model to others. This person improves the quality of life and opportunities for Aboriginal people in the region, enriches cultural diversity, reunites family and community and goes above and beyond to support and engage across all levels of the community – family, community service and development, heritage and culture and personal goal achievement. This award is open to nominees aged 18 years and over.

Non – Aboriginal Organisation of the Year (contributing to Indigenous affair)

This award recognises an organisation who has made a significant contribution to Aboriginal affairs by supporting equality and assisting to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people in the East Kimberley

Aboriginal Person of the Year

This award recognises an individual, either male or female, who is inspirational to others as a ‘life-time’ role model. This person is a leader and active member of the community across many levels – family, community service and development, heritage and culture and personal goal achievement.

TROPHIES & CERTIFICATES

Trophies in the form of unique hand-painted plates produced by artists from Wuggubun Community will be presented to all the winning nominees on the night. No two plates are the same and all are creatively painted with images of flora and fauna typical of the East Kimberley region.

Certificates of recognition will be provided to all nominees, although this will not be a part of the formal proceedings at the awards presentation evening.

AWARDS PRESENTATION NIGHT

EAST KIMBERLEY ABORIGINAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2023
Date: TBC
Venue: Kununurra Picture Gardens
Catering: Canapés & dinner inclusive; *Drinks available for purchase at Bar – Cash / Eftpos
Entertainment: Talented local performers
Tickets: Limited tickets available – Price to be announced soon