The finalists were selected by a judging panel of eminent First Nations educationalists: Mx Sharon Davis, Professor Grace Sarra, and Professor Joe Sambono.

The judging panel acknowledged the finalists for their commitments to building strong and respectful relationships with local First Nations Elders and communities, developing a respectful understanding of First Nations’ cultures and histories, and engaging in truth-telling within their educational communities.

Chair of the judging panel and Reconciliation Australia Board Director, Sharon Davis, said education is a powerful tool for building a better society.

‘Narragunnawali gives educators a way in. It supports them to bring First Nations cultures, languages and histories into their classrooms and early learning services with care and respect. When educators approach the work with self-reflection and a willingness to learn, and when relationships with community are at the centre, schools and services start to feel safer and more welcoming for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families,’ said Davis.

‘Each year I judge these awards, I’m heartened by the growing groundswell of schools and early learning services that are walking the talk – not just knowing better but doing better.

‘There is a deep hunger for justice in our communities, and when it comes to education, we cannot carry that work alone. Most educators in Australia are non-Indigenous, and that makes their role in reconciliation essential. Narragunnawali helps educators embed reconciliation into everyday practice, and take up that responsibility with care, commitment and courage,’ they said.

Davis said the Narragunnawali Awards are an important showcase of the schools and early learning services doing the work of reconciliation and the positive outcomes and benefits that accrue to their communities.

About the Narragunnawali Awards

Held every two years since 2017, the Narragunnawali Awards are Australia’s first and only national awards program that recognises and celebrates educational environments implementing outstanding reconciliation initiatives – across the government, Catholic and independent sectors.

Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program provides tools and resources for schools and early learning services to act towards reconciliation between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The judging panel will conduct site visits to all finalists in July and August with the winners announced at the awards presentation night in November.

The winners of each category of the Narragunnawali Awards 2025 will receive $10,000 in prize money to support reconciliation initiatives within the winning school or early learning service community.

Awards supporters

Reconciliation Australia welcomes Telstra and Teachers Health as the sponsors for the Narragunnawali Awards 2025.

Telstra is sponsoring the Early Learning Category and Teachers Health is sponsoring the Schools Category.

Lauren Ganley, Telstra’s Chief First Nations Advocate, said, ‘We’re honoured to sponsor the 2025 Narragunnawali Awards and celebrate the incredible work educators are doing to lead reconciliation in Australia. By supporting the younger generation to be the change we want to see, we’re hoping to shape a future where reconciliation is understood and lived from the very beginning.’

Brad Joyce, CEO and RAP Champion of the Teachers Health Group said, ‘As we continue on our Innovate RAP journey, we understand the importance and value of the Narragunnawali program and we’re proud to sponsor the 2025 Awards, recognising and championing schools that are walking the path of reconciliation with purpose and heart.’

Narragunnawali (pronounced narra-gunna-wally) is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners of the Canberra region.

 Narragunnawali means alive, wellbeing, coming together and peace, and is used with permission of the United Ngunnawal Elders Council.