Published Tuesday, 03 June, 2025 at 02:59 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Premier and Minister for Veterans
The Honourable David Crisafulli

Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism
The Honourable Fiona Simpson

JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Cultural champions receive Queensland Reconciliation Awards 

Cultural champions receive Queensland Reconciliation Awards 

  • Far North Queensland's Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation takes out top honours at the 2025 Queensland Reconciliation Awards. 
  • Awards for organisations from Far North Queensland to the South East.  
  • Ceremony held during National Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June).  

The Far North Queensland-based community organisation Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation has taken out two top honours at the prestigious 2025 Queensland Reconciliation Awards in Brisbane. 

Pormpur Paanthu took out the Premier’s Reconciliation Award and the Community Award for organising the Pormpuraaw Youth Summit, which is an annual event designed to strengthen cultural identity, leadership skills, and reconciliation among First Nations and non-Indigenous youth in Far North Queensland.  

The four other recipients of 2025 Queensland Reconciliation Awards were: 

  • Business Award – Deadly Coders, a charity dedicated to increasing Indigenous representation in technology and digital industries.  

  • Education Award – State Library of Queensland for its major exhibition for 2025, The unbroken spirit of the Kalkadoons, which emphasises the enduring power of culture to heal the land and its people. 

  • Health and Wellbeing Award – The Indigenous Marathon Foundation Limited, for its work improving equity, access, and First Nations health and wellbeing outcomes in Queensland. 

  • Partnership Award – Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, South West Indigenous Corporation, and QBuild – Department of Housing and Public Works, for the St George Harmony Centre on the Balonne River which helps First Nations art, language, and culture to flourish.  

Awards recipients, other than Queensland Government departments, receive a share of $30,000 in prize money.   

The Queensland Reconciliation Awards were supported by four ambassadors - Johnathan Thurston AM, Ally Anderson, Jimi Bani and Chern’ee Sutton.  

Premier David Crisafulli said there was a strong range of initiatives in the 2025 Queensland Reconciliation Awards.  

“With nearly 50 nominations, these awards are about recognising those who are creating real change in their communities right across Queensland,” Premier Crisafulli said.  

“I want to congratulate Pormpur Paanthu for the important work they are doing to help strengthen cultural identity for youths in Far North Queensland.” 

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Fiona Simpson said the Queensland Reconciliation Awards emphasised the importance of working in partnership with local and grassroots organisations. 

“Congratulations to all nominees and award winners – not only does your work help to strengthen reconciliation, but it also provides practical initiatives to help shift the dial in Closing the Gap progress," Minister Simpson said. 

“As Reconciliation Week draws to a close today by recognising the tireless efforts of Eddie Mabo, the nominees and award-winners are the next generation of trailblazers creating real change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.” 

Johnathan Thurston AM said all organisations nominated deserved recognition. 

“I would like to thank everyone who has helped to foster reconciliation across Queensland and for their hard work and commitment to helping to unify the State.” 

Ally Anderson said she was proud to support the Awards. 

“I am honoured to be an ambassador for this program because it is helping to drive change and improve lives for Queenslanders.” 

Jimi Bani said it was gratifying to see partnerships working to make a difference.  

“The importance of cross-cultural awareness and respect cannot be overstated, and the Awards program shows what can be achieved when we all work together.” 

Chern’ee Sutton said being part of the Queensland Reconciliation Awards initiative had been a rewarding experience.  

“I have been inspired by what I have seen and look forward to seeing the results of the initiatives which are driving change and supporting reconciliation in Queensland.”         

The Queensland Reconciliation Awards is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Department of Women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Multiculturalism. 

The Awards are proudly supported by Bank of Queensland, The University of Queensland, James Cook University, Santos, QUT, and ABC Radio Brisbane. 

 

ENDS 

MEDIA CONTACT: Toby Crockford, 0421 638 396