Arrernte man William Tilmouth from Mparntwe Alice Springs has been awarded the highest honour — the Human Rights Medal — at the Australian Human Rights Awards in Sydney.
Mr Tilmouth was a member of the Stolen Generations and has used his experiences to lead a number of Aboriginal community organisations, including as founding chair of non-profit organisation Children's Ground.
Mr Tilmouth said he was honoured to receive the award on behalf of his community.
"Human rights are about people having agency in their lives," he said.
"The guidance and strength of Elders and the community leading change continues to inspire my work."
Children's Ground is a First Nations-led Australian organisation creating long-term change for Indigenous children and families by integrating culturally strong education, health, economic, and community development services.
Mr Tilmouth said his work aims to break cycles of disadvantage through a whole-community approach that empowers families and builds on cultural strengths.
"People are standing up, realising that they have choices in life, that their voices can be heard, that they have agency in their lives - this is the agency that their children will follow," Mr Tilmouth said.
"The children will learn from Elders that the foundation that they were born into is still strong, their language is still strong, culturally their identity is intact."
Mr Tilmouth was among 20 finalists representing a diverse range of contributions from youth support workers, filmmakers, justice advocates, and medical professional.
Of the five categories at the Australian Human Rights Commission's national awards, three winners were from the Northern Territory.
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The coroner has presided over a number of high profile inquests, including the inquests into the death of 19-year-old Warlpiri Luritja teen Kumanjayi Walker, where she found the Northern Territory Police was "an organisation with hallmarks of institutional racism".
In November last year, she concluded a landmark inquest into the domestic violence deaths of four Aboriginal women, making 35 recommendations for reform in the sector.
Credit: Emma Kellaway, NITV
"The people and organisations we celebrate tonight are united by a commitment to human rights," Mr de Kretser said.
"They are transforming lives from healthcare and education to law, the arts and the environment."
"They inspire us and highlight the positive difference that human rights action is making in communities across our nation."
The Human Rights Community Award was taken out by another Territorian, Ramnik Singh Walia, for his work in advocating for accessible services for seniors, people with disability and First Nations communities, particularly in remote areas.
The Media and Creative Industries category was awarded to Walkley award winning journalist Ben Doherty, a reporter with The Guardian and a former foreign correspondent.
Tasmanian Shakira Robertson was honourned with The Young People’s Award for her advocacy for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, after her mother was killed by her ex-boyfriend in 2023.
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