The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) wishes to congratulate Aunty Muriel Bamblett on being awarded NAIDOC Person of the Year at the National NAIDOC Awards held on the lands of the Kaurna people in Tarntanya/Adelaide on Saturday night.

A proud Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, Boon Wurrung Elder, Aunty Muriel has made an enormous contribution to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community over several decades, particularly in her tireless advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

For the past 25 years Aunty Muriel has been the CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency (VACCA), the peak Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation servicing children, young people, families, and community members in Victoria.

Aunty Muriel has also served as Chairperson of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the national peak body in Australia representing the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, for several years.

NATSIEC Co-Chair’s Aunty Geraldine Atkinson and Professor Peter Buckskin PSM FACE shared their pride in Aunty Muriel’s achievements.

“We are incredibly proud of Muriel who is a deserving recipient of the NAIDOC Person of the Year award, acknowledging her decades of advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. The strength of our children and families is fundamental to their education journeys… By giving our children a strong education, we are setting them up for the best possible start in life. Muriel has dedicated her life to achieving this.”