Latest news with #DrDanielHunt
SBS Australia
07-07-2025
- Health
- SBS Australia
NAIDOC: Celebrating First Nations excellence
Songs sung in Kalaw Kawaw Ya, a language from the western and central Torres Strait Islands, opening this year's National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony. The annual awards honour Indigenous excellence, recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people whose work improves the lives of others in their communities and beyond. Co-Chair of the ceremony, Steven Satour says the 2025 celebration is an especially momentous one, marking five decades since NAIDOC week was established to honour and elevate Indigenous voices, culture, and resilience. "50 years. That's how long this movement has been growing, holding us and reminding this nation who we are tonight, we honor that journey and celebrate the strength, the spirit, and the stories that got us here." The prestigious NAIDOC Person of the Year award this year recognising one Jaru and Indjibarndi man's trailblazing work in Indigenous health- "Ok, this is it. The big one- the 2025 National NAIDOC Person of the Year award goes to Dr Daniel Hunt." Dr Hunt is a General Practitioner and Dentist, and has worked widely in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector. He is the Deputy Chair of the Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infection Advisory Committee for Western Australia, and has made major contributions to managing the Australian Syphilis epidemic. He says this years' NAIDOC week theme- The Next Generation: Strength, vision and legacy- resonates with his own way of thinking about advocacy and how positive change builds over time. "Legacy is the thing that I turn to most because it is what I look at, look back at when I do any of the work I do, or the advocacy that I have for Aboriginal Health because it is those who have come before us, those trailblazers who really have paved the way for how we conduct themselves. One of our elders at the previous organization I worked at, we used to speak about how much work there is to do in Aboriginal healthcare, but we also have to really look at the amazing work that we have done." He says the honour of being awarded NAIDOC Person of the Year is one he shares with all other nominees and recipients. "We have to be absolutely proud of what has been accomplished and what all the amazing people accomplished. I'm incredibly proud, the term Black Excellence can't be expressed enough. When I see what is happening in Australia and in this room and the people who have won the awards this evening, these awards aren't all any individual awards. Hannah and Bianca, these are our awards because this is the work of everyone that has come before us." Among the other nine recipients, AFL legend and influential Indigenous rights advocate Michael Long has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, the Anmatjere and Marranunggu man walked from Melbourne to Canberra to call the government to action on Indigenous issues. His leadership inspired the birth of The Long Walk — a national movement for reconciliation, education, action and unity. Mr Long says his career in AFL has given him the strength and opportunity he's been determined to give back to others. "I just want to say this game has given me so much, but hopefully I've given back and has created an opportunity and pathway for so many of our young men and women. This is an award I'll treasure." Alongside Mr Hunt and Mr Long, Rosalie Kickett has been honoured as Female Elder of the Year. The award recognises Ms Kickett's work in mental health support, suicide prevention and women's safety, as well as her dedication to empowering First Nations incarcerated men. "I'm truly honored and I'm truly humbled, deeply humbled. Honestly, I still am a little shocked. I never expected this. I never walked this path for recognition. I did it for my community here, for my mort ((mob)), my family, and for those who no longer have a voice." It was loss of life in her own community that motivated Ms Kickett to train others in suicide prevention. "After all the loss of suicides in my hometown, I thought I wanted to make a difference. So I went and even though I mental health practitioner, I thought I needed to take this mental health first aid out into the communities." This years' Youth Award has gone to another woman dedicated to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health- Anika Gosling, a young Wadjuk Noongar woman who works as a School Psychologist. 25 year old Danielle Ponter has also been recognised at the ceremony- celebrated for her achievements with the Sportsperson Award. The Marranunggu and Anmatjere woman is a two-time premiership AFLW player, and she says her uncle, co-award winner Michael Long, has been her inspiration. "I'm here tonight with my uncle Michael Long and the rest of my family, and to have someone like that, a part of my family and to not turn out the way that I have, it would be crazy. He's done so much work for our community and I grew up around that. So it's been instilled in me from a young age, and that's why I do the things that I do, and it's why I'm so passionate about giving back to community because it's been around me my whole life." For Natasha Wanganeen, Finalist for the Creative Talent Award, this years NAIDOC theme 'The Next Generation: Strength, vision and legacy', is all about this celebration of cross-generational impact and change. "A lot of trailblazers have made this happen for us over the years, so it is beautiful to see everybody in the next generation come up and just celebrate each other."
ABC News
05-07-2025
- ABC News
Dr Daniel Hunt, Michael Long and Christine Anu celebrated at 50th NAIDOC Week Awards
Blak leadership and strength were celebrated at this year's National NAIDOC Week Awards on Saturday in Noongar Whadjuk Boorloo (Perth), with more than a thousand people from across the country in attendance. It was a tough competition with the judges sifting through 200 applications, with only ten people taking home an award, many from Western Australia. Jaru and Indjibarndi man Dr Daniel Hunt was awarded the coveted NAIDOC Person of the Year award for his extensive work in Aboriginal health. "Legacy is the thing I turn to most … because it is those who have come before us, those trailblazers, who really have paved the way," he said. "We have to be absolutely proud of what has been accomplished … The term Blak excellence can't be expressed enough when I see what is happening in Australia." Anmatjere and Marranunggu man Michael Long OAM received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership to address racism within the AFL and advocate for Indigenous rights. Receiving a standing ovation, Mr Long said it was "an award I will treasure" as he thanked those who stood by his side over the past 35 years, with special mention to his family members in the crowd. Another highlight of the night was Aunty Rosalie Kickett awarded for her work in the mental health and domestic violence sector, which she dedicated to her parents and her late daughter who died from gender-based violence. "I never walked this path for recognition, I did it for my community … for my family, for those that don't have a voice," she said as she held back her tears. "In 2023, I lost my beautiful girl Tiffany to domestic violence, it's what led me to Acacia Prison. Aunty Rosalie also thanked the men in Western Australia's Acacia Prison who nominated her for the award. "When you can't see the light, we'll carry it for you until you can carry the flame yourself. Thank you for walking this journey with me," she said. Narelda Jacobs also paid tribute to Mechelle Turvey, mother of Cassius Turvey, for her long fight for justice while experiencing "unspeakable grief". "Aunty Mechelle, you are a wonderful Australian and treasured Noongar woman," she said. This year marked 50 years since NAIDOC Week began. Over the years, it has evolved from a week of protest to one of celebration, which shines a light on First Nations trailblazers and the life-changing impact they are making in their communities across Australia. Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy reflected on its legacy and said it was a reminder that "our people, our voices, our culture is worth celebrating." "It's a powerful reminder of who we are, where we come from and the strength that keeps us going," she told the crowd. This year's theme "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" paid homage to the tireless work of Indigenous ancestors and the future leaders continuing the work to create change. "We celebrate the strength, spirit and stories that got us here. Our old people knew how important it was to take up space," NAIDOC Committee Co-chair Professor Lynette Riley said. "Fifty years we are still here stronger, louder, united and unapologetically proud." Before the event concluded, the hosts announced that the 2026 NAIDOC Week Awards will be hosted in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) next year. In case you missed it, here is a breakdown of the finalists and winners of this year's NAIDOC Week awards.
