The annual Deadly Awards have been launched at the Sydney Opera House, with SBS' Living Black in one of the nominations for TV show of the year.
Now in their 17th year, the awards showcase the best of national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island music, sport, entertainment and community programs.
Fifteen-year-old Junior Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty has been nominated for a Deadly Award.
Following her Junior Wimbledon win earlier this month, Queenslander Ashleigh is up for sportswoman of the year.
Singers Jessica Mauboy and Casey Donovan, both former Australian Idol contestants, were nominated for Female Artist of the Year.
A former Deadlys winner Donovan co-hosted and performed at Friday's launch along with Descendance performance group. Presenter Rhoda Roberts recalled the first awards launch 17 years ago, which she said was held at an arts co-op.
"There was orange juice, some really cheap wine and sandwiches and we thought we were incredibly flash," she said.
"Seventeen years later, we're here at the Opera House."
After naming the finalists, Donovan remembered there was supposed to be a didgeridoo blast in place of a drum roll.
It rang out a few minutes later. Speaking to AAP after the launch, Donovan, who is set to play singer Mama Cass in a new musical, Flowerchildren, said she had been nominated for a Deadly award almost every year since she shot to fame in 2004.
"It is always so beautiful and so nice to still be recognised," she said. But her chances of winning an award were "slim to none", she added. "Jessica Mauboy, she's got it under her belt."
The film Mad Bastards is also up for an award, while 2011 Miles Franklin Award winner Kim Scott was nominated in the Outstanding Contribution to Literature category. Other finalists include Offspring actor Deborah Mailman, AFL player Leroy Jetta and singer Benny Walker.
Voting for this year's winners is now open to the public on www.vibe.com.au/deadlys and will close on Saturday, September 10.
The Deadlys will be held at the Sydney Opera House on September 27.
