In 2024 Oorala hosted the second student and staff Awards Ceremony. This event acknowledges the excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and the UNE staff that support them.

A gala event was held on Thursday 27 November, 2025 at the Armidale Bowling Club to announce the winners.

Student Awards

All Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Pathways, Enabling, Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Higher Degree Research UNE students are eligible to be nominated.

1.  Student Growth & Resilience Award
This award recognises personal growth and resilience by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander UNE student to succeed and persevere with their university studies in the face of adversity and challenges.

2.  Student Academic Excellence Award
This award recognises the academic excellence demonstrated by a high-achieving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander UNE student in their chosen field of study.

3.  Student Community Leadership Award
This award recognises the positive impact that an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander UNE student has made to their local community. This may include being part of a working group, committee, community program, or mentoring younger generations.

4.  Student Creative and Cultural Achievement Award
This award celebrates an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander UNE student who demonstrates outstanding achievement or leadership in sports, performing arts, visual arts, music, dance, or cultural expression—recognising excellence both within and beyond academic studies.

5.  Student Leadership Award
This award recognises an Oorala Student Ambassador who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, initiative, and commitment in representing Oorala within the UNE community.

Staff Awards

All Indigenous and non-Indigenous professional and academic UNE staff are eligible to be nominated.

1. Staff Recognition Award (Professional individual or team) This award recognises a UNE professional staff member or team for outstanding contribution to creating culturally safe and supportive environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff at UNE.

2. Staff Indigenous Education Award (Academic individual or team)
This award recognises a UNE academic staff member or team who demonstrates a strong commitment to Indigenous education through either:

  • Excellence in teaching or curriculum development integrating Indigenous perspectives, or
  • Dedication to supporting the success of UNE’s Indigenous students

3.  Staff Community Partnership Award (Professional or Academic individual or team )
This award recognises a UNE Staff member or team for outstanding commitment to creating meaningful impact through active partnerships with the Oorala Centre and/or their local Indigenous community.

2025 Oorala Student Awards

seven people holding glass boomerang awards img: Monique Davenport, Jayarna Kay, Brooke Herczog, Lindsay Elliot, Chelsea Shearer, Blake Robertson & Zoe Innes

Oorala Student Growth & Resilience Award

  • The Foundation Course Award
    • Blake Robertson - TRACKS Program
  • The Undergraduate award:
    • Chelsy Shearer – Bachelor of Nursing
  • The Postgraduate award:
    • Jamelia Field – Master of Teaching (Primary)

Oorala Student Academic Excellence Award

  • The Foundation Course Award
    • Brooke Herczeg – TRACKS Program
  • The Undergraduate Academic Excellence Award:
    • Tori Thomas – Bachelor of Science
  • The Higher Degree Research Academic Excellence Award:
    • Jayarna Kay – Master of Neuroscience and Business

Oorala Student Community Leadership Award

  • Monique Davenport – Bachelor of Nursing

Oorala Student Creative and Cultural Achievement Award

  • Lincoln Elliott - Doctor of Philosophy

Oorala Student Leadership Award

  • Zoe Ennis – Bachelor of Nursing

2025 Oorala Staff Awards

Eleven people standing with awardsimg: PVCI Professor Peter Anderson, Julie Collins, Tess Cullen, Michelle Clare, Andrew Lawson, Brad Lawson, Lucy Eggleton, Shannon Hamilton, Leilani Munns, Oorala Director Samantha Fowler & Peter Stier

Oorala Staff Recognition Award (professional or academic staff member)

  • The Individual Award
    • Tess Cullen - Media & Events (Oorala)
    • Leilani Munns - Student Recruitment Team Leader (Oorala)
  • The Team Award
    • The Myall Creek Team -  Andrew Lawson, Julie Collins,  Uncle Steve Widders, Tess Cullen, Cameron Moore

Oorala Staff Indigenous Education Award (Academic individual or team)

  • Michelle Clare - Academic TRACKS Tutor (Tamworth)

Oorala Staff Community Partnership Award (Professional or Academic individual or team )

  • The Individual Award
    • Lucy Eggleton - Future Students
  • The Team Award
    • The Estate & Built Environment Team - Brad Lawson, Shannon Hamilton, Peter Stier & Peter O’Neil

Table Setup

All winners were announced at the Oorala Awards
on Thursday 27 November, 2025