Nomination Guidelines
Now is the time to nominate Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and staff, non-Aboriginal staff, Aboriginal community members and NSW public schools for a NSW Department of Education Nanga Mai award.
These guidelines will answer your questions about the nomination process, eligibility, and selection criteria for a Nanga Mai award.
What are the NSW Department of Education 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. These awards provide an opportunity for staff, families and communities to acknowledge and celebrate the outstanding achievements in Aboriginal education.
Award winners will be recognised in a special award ceremony in Term 3, 2025, highlighting all the outstanding achievements in Aboriginal education. Further details regarding the ceremony will be published via the department’s Nanga Mai website as they become available. The NSW Department of Education 20th Nanga Mai Awards ceremony will be held on Thursday 25 September 2025, at the Department of Education Parramatta Office.
Who can be nominated?
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and staff; non-Aboriginal staff; Aboriginal community members; and NSW public schools.
Please read and understand the award categories later in the document prior to your nomination.
Who can nominate for an award?
Anyone employed by the NSW Department of Education is eligible to submit a nomination for an award. Before starting the online nomination, you will be required to confirm that you are a departmental employee.
Can I nominate a candidate for more than one award?
Candidates can be nominated for more than one award, but nominators must submit a new form for each category.
When do nominations open and close?
Nominations open Tuesday 10 June 2025 and close Friday 4 July 2025.
How do you prepare a nomination?
The nomination must provide comprehensive information on the nominee’s achievements and how they have gone above and beyond. It should include relevant examples of how the nominee’s accomplishments have been outstanding. The nomination must be written in a format suitable for publication, with correct grammar and punctuation, and be no longer than 200 words. Complete the online form to submit your nomination. The form is easy to access and understand.
Before you begin, please gather the following key information:
- Details of the person you are nominating: full name, age and year group.
- A nomination statement of up to 200 words explaining why you are nominating the individual, including the areas in which they have excelled. The statement must be written in a format suitable for publication in the Nanga Mai Awards program, should the nominee be successful.
| Tips for how to write a strong nomination |
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Write a draft first: Use Word or a similar program to draft your nomination. This lets you carefully check spelling, grammar, and keep your word count within the 200-word limit (check the bottom left corner of Word for the count). Start strong: Begin with a clear and compelling sentence in plain English explaining why you’re nominating the individual. Avoid overly complicated or wordy language—get straight to the point and make your statement stand out. Use bullet points to highlight achievements: List specific, high-quality examples of how the nominee has excelled. Be clear, concise, and impactful. Mention other recognition: If the nominee has received previous awards or recognition, include that information. Avoid overusing ChatGPT or similar tools: While AI tools can help you brainstorm or polish your writing, the most effective nominations come from your personal knowledge and genuine voice. Authenticity and personal insight will always stand out. |
- A photo of the nominee. Students must be in their school uniform, such as their official school photo. The photo must be of high quality and suitable for publication in the Nanga Mai Awards program, should the nominee be successful. By submitting the photo through this nomination process, you confirm that parental and/or caregiver consent has been obtained for the use of this photo. Please ensure the photo file is labeled using the student’s first and last name (e.g., Jane Smith).
- Endorsement from the principal and local or regional AECG representative prior to nominating. Please note: if your area does not have an AECG executive representative, contact the state secretariat ph: 02 9550 5666 or email: Contact Us — NSW AECG Inc.
Who selects the award winners?
Nominations are presented to regional and state panels for consideration. Awards will be presented to outstanding Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students and staff; non-Aboriginal staff; Aboriginal community members; and NSW public schools.
Regional panel members consist of: Senior Education Officer 2 (SEO2); principal representative; Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer; Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG) representative (local/regional).
State panel members consist of representatives from: Aboriginal Education and Communities Directorate; Primary Principals Association; Secondary Principals Council; NSW AECG (State); Aboriginal Education Council; Parents & Citizens and NSW Teachers Federation.
How are successful recipients notified of their award?
Recipients of student and staff awards will be notified via email to the principal prior to the ceremony. Recipients of school and community awards will be notified directly via email prior to the ceremony.
Relevant information to support the organisation of the award ceremony will be communicated and requested at this time.
How is the outcome notified if the nominee is unsuccessful?
If the nominee is not selected as an award winner, nominators and/or principals will be notified of the outcome of nominations after the award ceremony and official publications.
More information or help
If you have any other questions or queries regarding Nanga Mai awards, please contact the Nanga Mai awards coordination team at nangamai@det.nsw.edu.au.
Award Categories
To see the award categories please visit The NSW Department of Education 20th Nanga Mai Awards ceremony page.