The Awards, held every two years since 2017, are Australia’s first and only national awards to recognise and celebrate schools and early learning services demonstrating dedication and commitment to implementing reconciliation initiatives. 

The Narragunnawali Awards 2021 highlighted schools and early learning services from all around the country recognised and celebrated for their outstanding reconciliation initiatives. 

Reconciliation Australia CEO, Karen Mundine said the Awards, are an uplifting time for the organisation.  

“It’s a very special time for Reconciliation Australia when we get to see the best of reconciliation efforts happening in our schools and early learning services.  

“The Awards show the tangible ways schools and early learning services are strengthening relationships, building respect, and providing meaningful opportunities in the classroom, around the school or service, and with the community.” 

The two Awards categories are:  

Schools: including primary, secondary, senior secondary and combined schools within the Government, Independent or Catholic sectors.  

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

Cash prizes of $10,000 as well as media and special engagement and networking opportunities are on offer to the winning school and early learning service judged to display outstanding commitment to reconciliation.   

One of Australia’s leading educationalists and Awards patron, Narungga man, Professor Peter Buckskin said the importance of reconciliation in education cannot be overestimated.  

“Creating the learning environment is necessary for all students to engage with and learn more about Australia’s First Peoples, pre and post white settlement,” said Professor Buckskin.  

“There is still a great need for teachers and school leaders to develop their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. 

“I have been committed to the Reconciliation Australia agenda since its inception and firmly believe we will achieve true reconciliation through the education of future generations,” he said. 

Nominations and applications for The Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education Awards 2023 are now open.  

About Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education 

Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education is a program of Reconciliation Australia, which supports schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that actively engage the hearts and minds of future generations to contribute to the reconciliation process.  

Narragunnawali (pronounced narra-gunna-wally) is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways of the area on which Reconciliation Australia’s Canberra office is located. 

About the Narragunnawali Awards 

Reconciliation Australia, in partnership with the BHP Foundation, holds the Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education Awards every two years to identify, celebrate and promote outstanding commitment to reconciliation in education environments and to share these inspirational stories across the country.