2023 Queensland Reconciliation Award Winners announced

• 2023 Queensland Reconciliation Award winners announced during National Reconciliation Week
• Six inspiring initiatives and programs have been recognised for their dedication to reconciliation
• Now in its 21st year, the Awards have recognised more than 100 initiatives and partnerships, fostering a fairer, more inclusive Queensland.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the 2023 Queensland Reconciliation Award recipients at a ceremony in Brisbane tonight.

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.

Quotes attributable to the Premier:

“Tonight we celebrate those who are committed to telling First Nations stories and encourage all Queenslanders to ‘be the voice for generations’.  

“Together as Queenslanders we can walk the Path to Treaty, to truth telling and to reconciliation. 

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Minister Leeanne Enoch:

“These six inspiring initiatives and programs strengthen partnerships between First Nations peoples and non-Indigenous Queenslanders through meaningful community and educational programs and initiatives that continue to make a significant impact across the state.

“This year, Queensland made great steps on our journey of reconciliation with the passage of the historic Path to Treaty Act 2023 – a pledge for First Nations peoples and non-indigenous Queenslanders to move together on a journey of truth-telling, healing and reconciliation.

“I encourage all Queenslanders to be a voice for reconciliation in their everyday lives, so we join together in celebrating the thousands of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, cultures, stories and custodianship.

“I applaud all of the award recipients for their passion and dedication in actively demonstrating reconciliation across Queensland.”

Quotes attributable to Awards Ambassador Johnathan Thurston:

“As Awards Ambassador, it is so rewarding to see the strength of these initiatives 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.”

Award recipients

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
• Partnership – Queensland Theatre and Cairns Indigenous Art Fair for Othello.
• Premier’s Reconciliation Award – Gold Coast Health for Waijungbah Jarjums Service

Further information:

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 proudly 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.

Visit qld.gov.au/reconciliation for more information.

Media contact:

Lane Calcutt (Premier's Office) - 0411 535 191

Pema Bastin (Minister Enoch's Office) - 0422 655 582