Banksia Indigenous Award Closing Date Extended Until 4 August 2013

The Banksia Indigenous Award - Caring for Country, sponsored by the Australian Government Caring for Our Country, recognises those delivering excellence in stewardship of the land, waterways, wildlife habitats, native flora and fauna through demonstrated indigenous leadership, community involvement and benefit.

The Banksia Indigenous Award has a long history of highlighting environmental efforts of the Indigenous community around the country. In 2012, the award was taken out by North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA) for their I – Tracker Initiative. NAILSMA and the I-Tracker Initiative also won the Banksia Land and Biodiversity Award.

“Winning a Banksia award is an outstanding recognition of NAILSMA’s work, and winning both the Indigenous and Land and Biodiversity categories was a real affirmation of the increasing role that Indigenous people are playing in national environmental efforts. It was an honour to be recognized alongside the finalists of both categories, all of whom are making significant contributions to the conservation of Australia’s unique cultural and natural heritage” said Joe Morrison - CEO at NAILSMA.  

Banksia Indigenous Award winners have had great success at the Banksia Awards. In 2010 Banksia Indigenous Award winner, Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, took out the prestigious 2010 Banksia Gold Award for their Yellow Crazy Ant Management Project. The recipient of the Banksia Gold Award is selected from the winners of the various Banksia Category Awards.  It is awarded to the individual or organisation which, in the judges' opinion, has made the contribution most worthy of extra recognition and acknowledgement.

Recognition through the Banksia Awards program can make a difference. “Winning two Banksia Awards has been a great boost to NAILSMA’s current efforts, and has helped us raise the profile of our program. It has also been a fantastic way of affirming the success of our efforts, and strengthening the links between our project partners across north Australia and internationally” added Joe Morrison.

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