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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-03-19 Daily Xml
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South Australian Aboriginal Achievement Award

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister please inform the chamber about the Department of Human Services SA Aboriginal Achievement Award 2024 finalists for the 7News Young Achiever Awards?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:58): I thank the honourable member for his question. I would be delighted to inform him about the Department of Human Services SA Aboriginal Achievement Award finalists. For several years now the South Australian Young Achiever Awards have recognised the achievement of young people under the age of 30 across our state, whilst giving them a platform to highlight their efforts and successes.

I am informed 303 young South Australians were nominated across 10 categories. These young South Australians get to showcase the achievements of the next generation over many different categories. I want to take time to highlight the four finalists in the Aboriginal Achievement Award. Annually, this award has seen young Aboriginal people make a name for themselves and be recognised for their outstanding efforts and contributions to our community.

This year in particular, the four finalists for the Aboriginal Achievement Award are from four very different areas, each as inspiring as the next. Cooper Plummer is a 14 year old from Campbelltown who has been making a name for himself across the country for his contributions to the drag racing community. Most recently, Cooper was the junior dragster point leader, winning his first Gold Christmas Tree at the Westernationals in Perth, the biggest field he had won in and his second first place for his first racing season.

Cooper's public Facebook page is filled with his achievements and it is no surprise why he was nominated for this award. Not only has he shown he is a talented racer, his promotion of the sport and his sportsmanship is commendable, but I know many people will be keeping an eye out for his name in the future.

The next finalist is Nathan May, a 29-year-old Arabana man who is no stranger to the 7News Young Achiever Awards, previously winning the Carclew Creative Achievement Award back in 2022. Nathan is a musician, a writer and youth mentor, using his story to inspire and influence his art. I am sure some in this chamber will have heard Nathan perform at many community events around Adelaide and South Australia.

In no small way we have the former President of the United States, Barack Obama, to thank for Nathan's career, as Nathan met President Obama in 2011 and was personally encouraged to pursue a career in full-time music. Nathan very often gives back to his community and the wider Aboriginal community through developing and delivering youth mentorship programs through the Culture is Life suicide prevention program in particular, Generation Change through Relationships South Australia, and school holiday music programs.

Shahna Smith is the next finalist, a remarkable Ngarrindjeri woman who has an extensive CV at such a young age with impressive titles such as founder and CEO, entrepreneur and make-up artist. Like Nathan, Shahna has been recognised previously for her achievements in the 7News Young Achiever Awards, winning the Leadership Award in 2023. Shahna grew up in Broken Hill, where she left after the passing of her mother to pursue her dreams of being a make-up artist in Melbourne.

Shahna recently relocated to Adelaide where she began her own make-up business, SSmith Artistry, which has garnered international publicity. Shahna also launched one of the first Indigenous-owned cosmetic brands in the world, Amplified Beauty, and continues to promote diversity, inclusion and empowerment amongst young women throughout the globe.

Finally, Tiahni Adamson, a wildlife conservation biologist. Graduating from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Science, specialising in wildlife conservation biology, at just 28 years old she has already achieved more in her short career than many would in their lifetime. She has trained under Al Gore as a Climate Reality Leader in 2019, worked with the CSIRO on Indigenous education programs, joined Seed (Australia's only First Nations-led youth climate justice group), was a youth dialogue member for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, was recognised as one of Science and Technology Australia's superstars of STEM, and was named one of InDaily South Australia's 40 under 40 for 2023.

Most recently, earlier this year, she was named as the 2024 Young Australian of the Year for South Australia. Her passion has seen her soar from one achievement to the next and I am sure she will continue to achieve great things. I want to congratulate all four finalists for their incredible achievements so far and look forward to hearing about the winners of each category when they are announced in May.

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