_{Photo credit Wirrim Media}

The Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education Awards are the only national awards that recognise and celebrate Australian schools and early learning services that are implementing outstanding reconciliation initiatives. 

The awards were presented on 6 November at a ceremony held on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra and were proudly sponsored by Teachers Health (Schools Category) and Telstra (Early Learning Category). 

This year’s winners – Briar Road Public School (Schools category) and Evans Head–Woodburn Preschool (Early Learning category) – were recognised for work that goes far beyond programs or activities. Their practice shows what it looks like when reconciliation becomes embedded in culture, curriculum, leadership, and everyday relationships. 

Karuah Public School was highly commended by the judges, particularly for their excellence in truth-telling. 

For Briar Road Principal Tammy Anderson, a Biripi woman and former student of the school, winning felt ‘humbling’. 

“It’s not a school award,’ Tammy said. “I’ve always believed you should leave communities better than you found them. I hope we’ve helped move our mob and our whole community a step further on the journey.” 

At Briar Road Public School, reconciliation is not an add-on – it’s woven through curriculum, staffing, cultural knowledge, and parent and community relationships. Judges praised the school as a place where First Nations students thrive, and where Pasifika, Māori, migrant and non-Indigenous families are also included and uplifted. 

For Tammy, seeing that shared growth is the real reward: 

“The proudest thing for me is seeing equity come to the front – seeing us challenge histories we once knew, and seeing people embrace new truths in a way they accept, celebrate and retell.” 

The team from Evans Head–Woodburn Preschool say their award belongs to their whole community. 

“It’s emotional and powerful,” Bandjalang woman and Educational Leader and Cultural Advisor Kirby Slade said. “It’s recognition of everyone; our team, our families, our community. It’s huge.” 

Director Cath Gillespie says the preschool’s RAP journey, which began in 2018, has continued and guided them through floods, fires and COVID. 

“For us, it shows what you can actually do. Reconciliation is about a united community with a shared vision. Our RAP kept us moving forward, even in the hardest times.” 

Their advice to other services? 

Kirby puts it simply: 

“Just start. Have a go. Make mistakes. Build relationships. Talk to mob, talk to families. There’s no shame in messing up, that’s how you learn. Just keep going. 

“There are so many resources to support you. It’s a journey and a way to grow social justice within your service.” 

The 2025 finalists were chosen by a judging panel of eminent First Nations educationalists, Mx Sharon Davis, Professor Grace Sarra and Professor Joe Sambono. 

The judging panel praised the finalists for their commitments to building strong and respectful relationships with local First Nations Elders and communities, developing a respectful understanding of First Nations’ cultures and histories, and engaging in truth-telling within their educational communities. 

Chair of the judging panel and Reconciliation Australia Board Director, Sharon Davis, said education is a powerful tool for building a better society. 

“Narragunnawali gives educators a way in. It supports them to bring First Nations cultures, languages and histories into their classrooms and early learning services with care and respect.” 

The Narragunnawali program now supports around half of all schools and early learning services in Australia, each finding their own path toward stronger relationships, deeper knowledge and a more just future. 

Reconciliation Australia also acknowledges the hard work and commitment of the other finalists in both categories: Bannister Creek Primary School, Perth, Goodstart Shailer Park, Logan City Qld, and Tillys Play and Development Centre − Rutherford, NSW. 

To learn more about the finalist schools and early learning services, view the full playlist of all six finalists’ films, captured by Indigenous production company Wirrim Media.