The University of Queensland’s Professor Bronwyn Fredericks has been awarded a 2022 National NAIDOC Week award for decades of work to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) was named the recipient of the Education Award at a ceremony in Melbourne on Saturday night.
UQ Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Deborah Terry congratulated Professor Fredericks for her outstanding contributions to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
“This is a wonderful acknowledgement of the tireless work by Professor Fredericks over 30 years to improve education and life outcomes for Indigenous peoples,” Professor Terry said.
“It is fitting to see Professor Fredericks awarded on the national stage, alongside Australia’s finest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders and trailblazers.”
Professor Fredericks dedicated her award to all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who work for better education and systemic and structural change across all sectors.
“It’s your words and those of others who’ve been working in education and with communities for decades that lifts me up and encourages me to be better and do better,” she said.
“I acknowledge all the nominees in the Education category and the winners and nominees across all categories.”
The awards were announced as part of NAIDOC Week 2022, which runs until July 10.
Other award recipients include three-time tennis grand slam singles champion Ash Barty, who was named Person of the Year, and Dr Stanley Grant Senior received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work to reconstruct the Wiradjuri language.
Hundreds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been honoured by the awards since their inception in 1985.
Media: communications@uq.edu.au, +61 429 056139.
