The Narragunnawali Awards is the first national awards program in Australia that recognises and celebrates educational environments implementing outstanding reconciliation initiatives – across the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors – and nominations for the Narragunnawali Awards 2021 are now open.

Held biennially since 2017, the Narragunnawali Awards is part of Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education, a program of Reconciliation Australia that is dedicated to supporting all Australian schools and early learning services to develop environments that foster a high level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.

Narragunnawali (pronounced narra-gunna-wally) is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land and waterways of the area on which Reconciliation Australia’s Canberra office is located. It means alive, wellbeing, coming together and peace.

There are two Narragunnawali Awards categories:

• Schools, which incorporates primary, secondary, senior secondary and combined schools within the Government, Independent or Catholic sectors.
• Early Learning, which  incorporates early childhood education and care, preschool, family day care and out of school hours care services.

Finalists are acknowledged for strengthening relationships, building respect, and providing meaningful opportunities in the classroom, around the school or service, and with the community.

The Narragunnawali Awards 2021 is following a two-stage process. Parents, carers, staff, students, and community members can nominate a school or early learning service that they believe is demonstrating exceptional commitment to reconciliation in education, and encourage these schools and early learning services to formally apply for an Award.

Applications will remain open until 30 April 2021. For more information about the application process, download the Information Kit or register for an Awards walk-through webinar.