Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced the 2023 Queensland Reconciliation Award recipients at a ceremony in Brisbane.
Inspiring initiatives fostering reconciliation by Queensland businesses, community organisations, educational institutions and government entities were celebrated during this year’s National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June).
Among those recognised were initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families, to businesses increasing job opportunities for First Nations people, to programs highlighting First Nations art and storytelling.
Winning initiatives of the 2023 Queensland Reconciliation Awards received a share of $30,000 in prize money.
“Together as Queenslanders we can walk the Path to Treaty, to truth telling and to reconciliation,” the Premier said.
“This year’s award recipients are inspiring initiatives that promote and champion reconciliation in the community, and across the state – congratulations to all winners and finalists for their incredible work.”
Awards Ambassador, former NRL player, Johnathan Thurston said it was inspiring to see the strength of the initiatives being honoured and the pride being experienced from these communities.
“I would like to congratulate and praise these inspirational Queenslanders. I look forward to learning more about the impact these programs will have on their local communities,” he said.
The 2023 Queensland Reconciliation Awards category recipients include:
- Business – AMS Group for A Beacon for Reconciliation
- Community – Garbutt Magpies Sporting and Cultural Association for Mariakarti Nyawa, Kurranyu Nyinama – Look Back If You Want To Go Forward
- Education – St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School for St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School Reconciliation Action Plan
- Health and Wellbeing – Gold Coast Health for Waijungbah Jarjums Service (pictured).
- Partnership – Queensland Theatre and Cairns Indigenous Art Fair for Othello.
- Premier’s Reconciliation Award – Gold Coast Health for Waijungbah Jarjums Service
The Queensland Reconciliation Awards is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts.
The Awards are supported by Bank of Queensland, The University of Queensland, James Cook University, Santos and the Queensland University of Technology.
Read more about the finalists’ stories and successes.
