July 10, 2016
Former Cherbourg State School principal and 2004 Queenslander of the Year Chris Sarra has been named “Person Of The Year” at the 2016 NAIDOC Awards held in Darwin on Friday.
The awards recognise the outstanding contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians make to improve the lives of Indigenous people, promote issues in the wider community, or the excellence they have shown in their chosen field.
Prof Sarra founded the Stronger Smarter Institute in 2006 to improve the way Indigenous education is delivered without compromising cultural identity.
He was recently appointed Professor of Education at the University of Canberra.
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NAIDOC Awards Video
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Other 2016 NAIDOC Award winners were:
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Stephen Page, from Bangarra Dance Theatre
- Male Elder Of The Year– Dr Robert Isaacs OAM, the first Aboriginal person elected to local government in Western Australia
- Female Elder Of The Year – Prof Mary Ann Bin Sallik, former nurse who has dedicated her life to education
- Sportsperson of the Year – Olympian, Socceroos captain and Brisbane Roar player Jade North
