Goodes' work combating racism was the main reason for nomination and his success was met with pride.
"I’m going to continue to lead the charge to encouraging those conversations about racism, he said."
"[I’ll take] whatever opportunity I can to talk to young kids in schools."
He rejected suggestions that the award was tokenistic and wasted on a sports star.
"All the finalists that were there in Canberra, I can guarantee that they wouldn’t think of it as tokenistic in any way," he said.
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"It's a great word for all the hard work."
His mother, Lisa Goodes, agreed.
"It just blows me away, all the achievements that he’s made," she said.
"And I’m sure there will be more to come, knowing Adam."
