Mount Gambier’s Danielle Smith received not just one, but two awards in conjunction with NAIDOC Week.
Ms Smith received the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation Student of the Year 2023 Award and was a 2023 Premier’s NAIDOC Award Finalist.
Ms Smith was announced as a 2023 Premier’s NAIDOC Award Finalist at the Adelaide Convention Centre on stage in front of around 1000 people.
“With this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘For our Elders’ I saw fit to take my parents along with me, so that was beautiful they were able to come,” she said.
“It was very humbling, and to even think the leader of our state knows who I am and knows what I do for the community down here, because sometimes I feel like Mount Gambier gets left alone a little bit, we are out of the spotlight a little bit, so it felt really good, I felt very proud.
“It was a very big honour.”
Ms Smith received the Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Student of the Year Award for her dedication to her studies as a UniSA Mount Gambier Campus Aboriginal Pathways student.
“I have not scored lower than a D (Distinction) yet in all my assessments, so I am really quite proud of myself there,” she said.
“The support is just amazing, I have never felt so supported in any of the studies I have ever done other than what I have done at UniSA, they are incredible.
“Barry Tarr is our tutor at the moment, and he is just an incredible support, and a really strong ally for First Nations people.
“And Ian (McKay) as well, he is a great ally for our mob, he is really supportive.”
Ms Smith works at Pangula Mannamurna Aboriginal Corporation, but previously worked at Child and Family Health Service, where she created an Aboriginal clinic for young children.
“I did ASQ-TRAKs, so tracked their growth and development, and created a culturally safe room for Aboriginal families down there which was really, really special,” she said.
Ms Smith is active within the community and sits on many local working groups, including the Aboriginal Family Support Services-led working group and is the founder and chairperson of SE Nations Netball.
“I also study and work full-time, I am a single mum of three and I have four beautiful grandchildren,” she said.
“I like to think that I inspire my community that nothing is out of reach, the timing might not be right, but do not give up.
“I come from a very long line of strong, educated, social-justice pioneers’ women, like the women in my family, my mum, Cheryl, she took out the Lifetime Achievement Award last year.”
“I hope to be like her, she is just incredible, and she has just given us kids all the right foundations.
“I am extremely grateful to my community for both of these nominations.
“It is really nice to be acknowledged for the work I do, and especially on a state-wide level, that just threw me.
“It just goes to recognise my outstanding achievements of service with the South Australian Aboriginal community and the significant contributions I make towards our community.”
Next year, Ms Smith plans to study social science to follow her passion for creating policies and making change for her people.
UniSA regional manager Mount Gambier Ian McKay was thrilled for Ms Smith and the awards she received.
“UniSA Mount Gambier Campus is excited by Danielle’s achievements and congratulates her for this wonderful recognition,” Mr McKay said.
“Danielle is an enthusiastic student who is dedicated to her studies and has a clear future focus for what she would like to study after completing her Aboriginal Pathways Program.”
