2023 Reconciliation Award winners announced

Tuesday, 6 June 2023

The inaugural winners of the University of Newcastle’s ‘Reconciliation Awards’ have been crowned, signifying the achievement and glamour of the 2023 Reconciliation Ball.

More than 250 staff, students and community members gathered on Awabakal country to mark the end of National Reconciliation Week, celebrating this year’s theme of ‘Be a Voice for Generations’.

The theme rang true throughout the Great Hall on Callaghan campus, especially for the deserving winners and nominees who have worked tirelessly towards making a real difference in our community.

The awards were created to recognise those efforts and to create cultural safety for staff and students. It aims to platform truth-telling and collaboration, and to build relationships in a positive and meaningful way where the injustices experienced by Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples are actively acknowledged.

Among the many deserving nominees, the awards for four categories came down to the wire –To the point of joint winners being announced for the Community Award.

Pro-Vice Chancellor of Indigenous Strategy and Leadership, Nathan Towney, along with Deputy Head of Wollotuka, Dr Raymond Kelly, had the honour of announcing the University of Newcastle’s very first Reconciliation Award winners.

Quincy Ross receives the Student award for Reconciliation

Quincy Ross accepts the Reconciliation Award for student achievement from Dr Ray Kelly and Mr Nathan Towney. 

Student Category

We are incredibly proud to acknowledge three finalists selected for the student reconciliation award:

  1. Zabowie Mills, School of Psychological Sciences
  2. Quincy Ross, School of Education
  3. Tanika Ridgeway, School of Medicine and Public Health

Winner: Quincy Ross

Quincy is highly committed to reconciliation and demonstrates this on a regular basis. Quincy often volunteers at the Wollotuka Institute and is consistently helping out at community events. Last year Quincy won the 2022 Indigenous Nationals BP scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to the most promising Indigenous student athlete. Quincy is an inspiring young leader, when he completes his Bachelor of Secondary Education, he has hopes to go back to his home community of Dubbo to “inspire young adults to beak the negatives cycles associated with Indigenous people in rural communities through education and sport.

Erin Sutherland accepts via Zoom the reconciliation award for individual staff member.

Erin Sutherland accepts via Zoom the reconciliation award for individual staff member.

Staff category (Individual) 

The individual staff member reconciliation award finalists:

  1. Erin Sutherland, Department of Rural Health
  2. Sara Motta, Newcastle Business School
  3. Zoe Pegler, Thurru Indigenous Health Unit

Winner: Erin Sutherland

Erin Sutherland is the Project Coordinator, First Nations Health at the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. Erin has passionately led a range of initiatives that have considerably improved the way the principles of reconciliation are embedded in the activities, staff, and strategic goals of the University of Newcastle. Erin has done this through co-ordinating cultural engagement activities including face-to-face and On Country activities, facilitating WIL placement at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and supporting students with cultural advice while they are on these placements. Erin has also organised appropriate and enriching engagement between local Aboriginal Elders and health students. Erin is a valuable asset to the University of Newcastle and her community.

School of Law and Justice: Curricular justice project is named the winners of the staff team reconciliation award.

Kevin Sobel-Reid, Sam Woldemarian, Marie Hadley and Amy Maguire accept the reconciliation award for staff team.

Staff category (Team)

This award is to acknowledge a staff team at the University of Newcastle who is putting reconciliation into action. For this award we had four finalists:

  1. The Bachelor of Science Indigenisation of Curriculum Team
  2. Industry Engagement Consultants within the Careers and Employability unit
  3. School of Law and Justice: Curricular Justice Project
  4. Library Indigenous Engagement Team

Winner: School of Law and Justice: Curricular Justice Project

Congratulations to Kevin Sobel-Reid, Amy Maguire, Sam Woldemariam, and Marie Hadley. Their team has made a genuine effort to build Aboriginal cultural knowledge into the Law program. All four staff members engaged in comprehensive consultation with Aboriginal people to ensure that the law school is meeting the Indigenous Graduate Attribute. Their approach to Indigenisation of curriculum is an excellent example for how the university can move towards a culturally responsive environment. This team is asking future lawyers to consider their role in shaping the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, how the law has been used as a tool to oppress, but also how the law can be used for social justice.

Community category 

The final reconciliation award of the evening is to acknowledge the people in the University of Newcastle’s broader community who are doing outstanding work. There are many dedicated and passionate people who are working to promote reconciliation, their work does not go unnoticed.  For this award we would like to acknowledge two finalists;

  1. Aunty Vicki Taylor, Daligur and Scribbly Gum Dalai Preschools (Dunghutti/Kempsey)
  2. Fiona Kelly and team, Menindee Central School (Barkindji)

Winner: As It was impossible to split the incredible work of both finalists, there are joint winners for this award category

Aunty Vicki Taylor

Aunty Vicki Taylor (pictured) was unfortunately unable to be present on the night.

Winner: Aunty Vicki Taylor

Aunty Vicki Taylor is an inspirational Elder of the Dunghutti community in Kempsey. Aunty Vicki's dedication to teaching language and her commitment to fostering unity and equality has impacted the lives of many people. Her influence extends across twelve preschools and local primary schools, her teaching of language and culture is working towards great futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children as they develop a strong identity and sense of belonging.

Aunty Fiona Kelly

Fiona Kelly (pictured left) and team, Menindee Central School were awarded joint winners.

Winner: Fiona Kelly and team, Menindee Central School

In April 2023 the Menindee Central School learning community celebrated the first inaugural Children’s University graduation in community. The University of Newcastle proudly celebrated 21 students graduating in their first year in the program. We would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of Fiona Kelly, Daniel Fusi, and the broader Menindee Central School team for leading Aboriginal Education in their community, the graduation was celebrated with more than 150 local community members attending.

Congratulations again to all our finalists and winners.

The 2023 Reconciliation Ball was a collaboration between the Office of Indigenous Strategy and Leadership, the College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing and the Wollotuka Institute.

Special thanks to all who brought the event to life, including local Aboriginal dance group Winanga-y Dreaming, Artist-in-Residence Wiradjuri/Wongaibon woman and alum Renae Lamb, and the deadly band the Riley Brothers all the way from Dubbo.

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