NAIDOC Week 2023 awards celebrating Australia's First Nations people

Newcastle's Professor Kelvin Kong was named 2023 National NAIDOC Person of the Year at a July 1 awards ceremony in Brisbane.

The otolaryngology, head and neck surgeon is the first identified Indigenous Fellow at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee.

Diamonds' shooter Donnell Wallam took out the 2023 National NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year for her rise to the peak of her sport and advocacy efforts for her community.

In late 2022 the netballer sought an exemption from wearing the national uniform featuring the sponsor logo of Hancock Prospecting, due to comments made by the late company founder towards Aboriginal people in the 1980s.

Days after the company withdrew its $15 million sponsorship - which was later taken up by the Victorian Government - Wallam scored the winning goal for the Diamonds in a test match with England.

The Queensland Firebirds shooter is now headed to South Africa as a reserve player for the Diamonds at the Netball World Cup in late July.

Australia's First Nations people are honouring their Elders and celebrating the community's best and brightest this NAIDOC week, with the theme 'For Our Elders'.

Events to celebrate, reflect and learn about the oldest continuous living culture on earth will be held from July 2 to 9, 2023.

NAIDOC stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee with its history tracing back to community efforts in the 1920s to bring greater awareness and recognition of First Nations people.

The main event is the National NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony on July 1.

But local communities across Australia will also gather for events including flag raising ceremonies, arts and cultural exhibitions and workshops that can be found by visiting naidoc.org.au/local-events

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National NAIDOC committee co-chair Steven Satour said it was important to recognise the importance of Elders to their communities.

"They have the enormous task of maintaining and passing on traditional knowledge, values and customary practices, while helping us find balance as we navigate between two very different worlds," he said.

"The inspiration they spark in us as Anangu (Aboriginal) people allows us to dream of futures that are bigger, brighter and blacker and that's what we are celebrating this NAIDOC week."

The national NAIDOC Week Awards celebrate the contributions and excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.

NAIDOC committee co-chair Aunty Dr Lynette Riley said the finalists exemplified the spirit of the week celebrating Blak excellence.

"The National NAIDOC Committee is very fortunate to be able to read the stories of so many of our people who are achieving remarkable results and working tirelessly to support their communities," she said.

Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri woman Aunty Dr Naomi Mayers OAM is receiving the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award for her lifelong dedication to advancing Indigenous health.

Aunty Dr Mayers was an original member of music group The Sapphires and dedicated her career to health reform, including establishing the Redfern Aboriginal Medical Services in 1971.

Meanwhile Australian cricketer Ash Gardner is coming off a record-breaking showing at the Ashes in England to being named a finalist for the national NAIDOC Sportsperson Award, alongside Diamonds' netballer Donnell Wallam and para-athlete Indi Cooper.

The full list of finalists selected from a pool of nearly 200 nominees are below.

NAIDOC Person Award

Female Elder Award

Male Elder Award

Sportsperson Award

Youth Award

Creative Talent Award

Education Award

Innovation Award

Caring for Country and Culture Award Category