Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards 2026
The Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards is an annual event that celebrates and promotes the achievements of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations based in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven area.
The event is organised collaboratively by four councils: Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven.
Key dates
Awards presentation event | Saturday 18 July 2026 at University Hall, University of Wollongong. Tickets on sale soon. |
Nominations | Now closed |
Sponsorship opportunities | Now closed |
Awards presentation event
Award winners will be announced at the 2026 Regional NAIDOC Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday 18 July 2026, at the University Hall, University of Wollongong.
Tickets go on sale soon. This page will be updated when tickets open.
Nominations
Nominations have now closed. Thank you to everyone who made a nomination.
An independent selection panel will review all applications and determine the finalists and winners.
The Awards celebrate the amazing contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in six different categories:
- Elder of the Year (Aunty or Uncle)
- NAIDOC Aunty of the Year
- NAIDOC Uncle of the Year
- NAIDOC Community Member of the Year
- NAIDOC Young Achievers of the Year
- NAIDOC Caring for Country and Culture
- NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Volunteer of the Year
- NAIDOC Organisation of the Year (Not-for-Profit or Business)
- Outstanding Contribution to Reconciliation (Aboriginal or Non-Aboriginal).
Sponsorship opportunities
Applications to become a sponsor have now closed.
We'll update this page with details when our official sponsors are confirmed.
About the Awards
The Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards recognise the talents, achievements and outstanding contributions that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make to improve the lives of people in their communities and beyond. The awards also promote issues impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the wider community including working towards reconciliation.
The Awards are a key part of local celebrations for National NAIDOC Week 2026. The national theme is 50 Years of Deadly, marking five decades of NAIDOC Week.
History of the Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards
The first Regional NAIDOC Awards were held in 2011, hosted by Wollongong City Council. Each year, the Awards are hosted in turn by one of the participating four Councils.
The video below explains the Awards' history and was produced for the 2021 Local Government Regional NAIDOC Awards.
You can also visit Shellharbour City Council's website to learn about the most recent Awards and winners from 2025.
Event partners
Page image: adaptation of NAIDOC Awards Artwork 'On Country - Where the mountains meet the sea' by Jodie Stewart.