Creative visionary, respected leaders win at National NAIDOC Week Awards
The winners of this year's National NAIDOC Week Awards have been revealed in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), with leaders, advocates, artists, educators, innovators and community champions recognised for their work.
Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO has been posthumously honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 National NAIDOC Week Awards in Mparntwe (Alice Springs). The Widjabul Wieybal woman, who recently passed away due to a rare type of ovarian cancer, was recognised for elevating First Nations voices through storytelling, performance, creative direction, and cultural leadership.
Her work guiding prominent festivals like Garma and Parrtjima has had a transformative impact on Australia's artistic landscape. National NAIDOC committee co-chair, Aunty Lynette Riley, praised Roberts as a fearless and brilliant leader whose influence will continue to inspire generations. Other recipients of accolades include Pat Turner AO, the 2026 Person of the Year recipient, who has dedicated over 50 years to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, wellbeing, and self-determination.
Brief written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
