2020 NASCA NAIDOC Week Youth Awards
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26 November 2020
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2 min read
We kicked off NAIDOC Week in style on the Sydney Harbour with the 2020 NASCA NAIDOC Week Youth Awards – it was so good to be able to come together in celebration of the winners.
Equality, the importance of culture and family, and racism – these were some of the big topics touched on in powerful acceptance speeches delivered by our students yesterday. There was barely a dry eye in the audience, and also little doubt that these young winners are destined to be powerful leaders in their communities and beyond.
The NAIDOC theme this year is ‘Always was, always will be’. Collaboration Award winner MacKenzie, who came in all the way from Wellington in rural NSW, said the NAIDOC theme reminded her of family, “… who will always be around and there for you.” And that’s how we felt yesterday – surrounded by our NASCA mob.
The day was full of this strength in family, and cultural pride. NASCA staff, board members, the family and friends of the winners, and the award winners themselves were beaming with pride all afternoon!
Tia, who took out a Trust Award, had this to say in appreciation of all the people who have her back, “I would like to thank the NASCA staff, my teachers, family and friends, for supporting me and helping me become the woman I am today … NASCA staff have helped me through a lot of tough times and it is really good to connect with other students that are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.”
We’re grateful to be able to do this powerful work – thank you to all the winners for showing us what change and leadership can look like, and inspiring us to face our challenges together.
