Nominations are open for the 21^st annual Nanga Mai Awards. The NSW Department of Education Nanga Mai Awards are held to celebrate and recognise excellence and educational achievements in Aboriginal Education in New South Wales public schools and their school communities.

The theme for the 2026 awards is ‘Deadly stories, Deadly futures’. The theme honours the rich cultural stories and histories that empower Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, staff and community to achieve their educational goals and build strong futures that realise their dreams and aspirations.

The awards are an opportunity for the NSW Department of Education to celebrate and promote the educational achievements of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers, other departmental staff, Aboriginal community members and schools.

Award winners will be recognised in a special award ceremony in Term 4, 2026, highlighting all the outstanding achievements in Aboriginal Education.

Nominations for the 21^st can be submitted online until Wednesday, 29 July 2026