Narragunnawali awards 2025: Finalists announced for excellence in reconciliation education

Reconciliation Australia has announced the finalists for the 2025 Narragunnawali Reconciliation in Education Awards, recognising early learning services and schools leading the way in embedding First Nations histories, cultures and values into daily educational practice.

Established in 2017, the biennial awards celebrate institutions across Australia that demonstrate outstanding commitment to reconciliation in education. Finalists are selected for their ability to foster deep, sustained relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and to promote truth-telling, cultural inclusion, and anti-racism across their settings.

Winners in each category, Schools and Early Learning Services receive $10,000 to support ongoing reconciliation initiatives.

Early Learning Service Finalists

• Evans Head – Woodburn Preschool, New South Wales
• Goodstart Early Learning Shailer Park, Queensland
• Tillys Play and Development Centre – Rutherford, New South Wales

School Finalists 

• Bannister Creek Primary School, Western Australia
• Briar Road Public School, New South Wales
• Karuah Public School, New South Wales

The Narragunnawali Awards are the only national awards of their kind, elevating models of reconciliation that are practical, relational, and community-led. They acknowledge services that:

• Establish and sustain meaningful relationships with local First Nations peoples
• Promote respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• Integrate reconciliation actions into everyday learning experiences for both children and educators

Early learning services play a pivotal role in shaping values and building inclusive, respectful foundations for future generations. The finalists represent some of the most progressive reconciliation work being carried out in educational settings. Their achievements provide important case studies for:

• Approved providers and centre managers developing or reviewing Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs)
• Educators seeking meaningful and age-appropriate ways to embed First Nations perspectives
• Organisations building partnerships with local Elders and community leaders

As demand grows for culturally responsive practice across early childhood settings, these centres demonstrate what best-practice reconciliation looks like in action and the powerful role education can play in shaping a more inclusive Australia.

For more information on finalists, award criteria, and program outcomes from previous cycles, visit here.