Recognising Young Aboriginal Achievers - Vic Form for... · DO YOU KNOW OF A YOUNG ABORIGINAL ACHIEVER? The Ricci Marks Award originated in 1997 as The Aboriginal Young Achievers

DO YOU KNOW OF A YOUNG ABORIGINAL ACHIEVER?The Ricci Marks Award originated in 1997 as The Aboriginal Young Achievers Award. The award recognises individual achievements and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in training, education, arts, sport, culture and community leadership. In 2004 the award was named in memory of Ricci Marks, a proud Wotjobaluk man who, in his short life, made an outstanding contribution to his community.The Ricci Marks Award is provided by the Victorian Government to encourage and support young Aboriginal people to pursue their goals and aspirations and continue with their leadership development. In 2017 two young people will each receive a $5,000 bursary, and a third young person will be recognised with the Ricci Marks Rising Star Award valued at $1,500. All Award nominees and their guests will be invited to attend the Award Presentation Ceremony, at which the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs will announce the recipients of the 2017 Ricci Marks Awards.

RECIPIENTS OF THE 2016 RICCI MARKS AWARD

WHO CAN BE NOMINATED FOR THE 2017 AWARD?Aboriginal organisations, individuals, community groups, schools, employers and others are invited to nominate young achievers for this award. Nominees must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and must have lived in Victoria since at least 1 January 2015. Nominees need to be aged between 16 and 25 years on 6 March 2017.Nominations close on Monday 6 March 2017.

WANT MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT:Luke IsaacsAboriginal VictoriaP: 03 8392 5339E: [email protected] to www.dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/aboriginal-affairs/projects-and-programs/leadership/ricci-marks-award for extra copies of the nomination form

2016 Ricci Marks Award recipient Taneisha Webster with Minister Jenny Mikakos

2016 Ricci Marks Award recipient Dylan Clarke with Minister Jenny Mikakos

2016 Ricci Marks Rising Star Award recipient Elise Muller with Minister Jenny Mikakos

Recognising YoungAboriginal Achievers

NOMINATIONS CLOSEMonday 6 March 2017

HOW TO NOMINATE

PROFILE OF THE 2016 RICCI MARKS AWARDS RECIPIENTS - What are they doing now?Taneisha Webster aspires to live in a culturally rich and strong community where all Aboriginal people are able to feel connected to and proud of their culture. Working with the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency as a team leader for foster care, kinship and leaving care services she demonstrates a high level of competence, with passion and commitment, and a high level of respect towards families, children and other staff. Taneisha demonstrates insight and maturity, and possesses the courage to call out injustices, and to confront difficult situations. Taneisha is also very effective in building networks and relationships with other community service organisations. Taneisha is also the Secretary of the Willum Warrain Gathering Place Board of Management, and participating in the Maarni Aboriginal Women’s Leadership Program with Woor Dungin, where she is building on her capabilities as a young leader. Having completed a degree in Psychology, Taneisha aspires to undertake postgraduate study specialising in Aboriginal childhood trauma, intergenerational trauma, and culturally based healing.

Dylan Clarke A.K.A: DJ Sadge is a proud young Wotjobaluk man from the Wimmera, a DJ, Producer, Sound Engineer and Broadcaster. Dylan works at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation as the Radio Programme Project Officer. Dylan’s contributions to the Aboriginal community include developing VACCHO’s radio program ‘Yarnin’ Health’, a weekly public radio program focused on Aboriginal health and wellbeing in Victoria, now into its second year of broadcast with 3KND Kool N Deadly. One of Dylan’s long-term goals is to change the perception of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in news and current affairs on mainstream media. Dylan completed Advanced Diploma in Sound Production at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2009 and runs his own sound production and engineering business from his home studio.

Elise Muller is an energetic young Aboriginal woman who has significant achievements in sport, education and community leadership. She completed her Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning at Sports Education Development Australia, where she was also school captain. Elise is dedicated to her sporting activities, and was a member of the Leadership Team for the Woomeras, the National Indigenous Girls Football Team which competed in National Championships in 2015. Elise demonstrates great leadership qualities, and a passion to confront racism. As the only Aboriginal student at her school, she was very active in educating students and teachers about her Aboriginal culture. Elise has a very positive attitude, and is able to motivate and encourage others. Elise has been involved in many volunteering activities, and is currently involved with the ‘I CAN’ Network, working with local schools to create a better understanding about the needs of students with autism. Elise has completed several certificate courses, and also works to assist in financially supporting her family. Elise aspires to become a youth worker.

To nominate a young person for the Award, please fill out the form on the next two pages and make sure you also attach: • A resume or statement describing the young person’s educational, employment and voluntary activities (required). • Up to four pages of additional information supporting the nomination (optional). • Two digital photographs – in JPEG format (1 MB) suitable for audio visual presentation.

SELECTION PROCESSAn Aboriginal selection panel of government and non-government representatives will consider the following in making their decision: • What are the young person’s achievements and aspirations?

• How are they contributing to the Victorian community? • How are they demonstrating leadership and initiative?

SEND YOUR NOMINATION TOLuke Isaacs Aboriginal Victoria GPO Box 2392, Melbourne VIC 3001P: 03 8392 5339 E: [email protected] nominations must be received by Monday 6 March 2017.Please Note: All documentation will be retained by Aboriginal Victoria. All personal information will be used in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000 (Vic).

NOMINEE’S CONTACT DETAILS (the young person)

Young Person: Date of Birth:

Residential Address:

Landline: (BH) (AH) Mobile:

Email Address:

DETAILS OF THOSE SUPPORTING THIS NOMINATION (the nominator and referee)

Nominator (your name and details):

Character Referee (a person other than a family member):

Position and/or your relationship to the nominee:

Position and/or your relationship to the nominee:

Address: Address:

Phone: Phone:

Email: Email:

Signature: Signature:

To be completed by the nominator: TELL US WHY YOU ARE NOMINATING THIS YOUNG PERSON (add additional lines or pages if you need more space)

What are their achievements and aspirations?

How are they contributing to the Victorian community?

How are they demonstrating leadership and initiative?

RICCI MARKS AWARD 2017 - NOMINATION FORM ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE SIGNED - IF EMAILING PLEASE SIGN, SCAN & SEND

To be completed by the character referee:TELL US ABOUT THIS YOUNG PERSON (add additional lines or pages if you need more space)

Why are you supporting this nomination?

NOMINEE’S STATEMENT

To be written by the young person (add additional lines or pages if you need more space)

Name _________________________________ Signature _________________________________

Tell us about your aspirations for the future, what you value about your community, what changes you would like to see and how this award would support you in pursuing your goals.

Nominations must be submitted to Aboriginal Victoria by midnight Monday 6 March 2017.

Post, fax or email to:Luke IsaacsAboriginal VictoriaGPO Box 2392, Melbourne, VIC, 3001Fax 03 8392 5339Email [email protected]

Have you included:

• Nomination Form completed and signed Yes / No by nominator, character referee and nominee (required)

• Resume or statement describing education, Yes / No training, voluntary activities and/or employment as relevant, including your current activities (required)

• Other supporting Information Yes / No

• Two digital photographs in JPG format (1mb) Yes / No suitable for audio visual presentation emailed to [email protected]