NT Human Rights Awards 2022 recognise advocates for change

Creating safer spaces and support for people with mental health issues, and righting social wrongs to take the NT into the future, these are the people unashamedly fighting for change.

The Northern Territory’s fiercest advocates for change have been recognised for their dedication bringing about a better future for all residents.

The NT Human Rights Awards acknowledge the diverse work of people across the NT underpinned by a desire and commitment to protect the human rights of all residents, from remote communities to urban centres, from Darwin to Alice Springs.

The 2022 Fitzgerald awards, named after former anti-discrimination commissioner Tony Fitzgerald, acknowledge their work with recipients named at a special ceremony at the Supreme Court in Darwin on Thursday night.

Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers, in awarding the 2022 Fitzgerald Diversity honours, said it was a privilege to be involved in the NT Human Rights Awards and “see the human rights work being done across the Northern Territory community on a day-to-day basis”.

The Fitzgerald awards are named in honour of former Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tony Fitzgerald.

“A fitting way to celebrate and recognise December 10, United Nations Day for Human Rights,” she said.

Brenda Nangala Smith was the individual winner for her work protecting and fulfilling the human rights of Pintupi-Luritja First Landguage speaking Territorians.

Her work ensures people can fully understand and express themselves when communicating with professionals across the legal, health and social services sectors.

She is a level four NATI accredited Pintupi-Luritja interpreter.

The Connected Women Group of the Australian Red Cross was named the organisational winner for its work helping women overcome barriers to economic and social participation, and decreasing isolation through “engagement in the wider community”.

The program was created by and for migrant women and families.

Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Sally Sievers says the Fitzgerald awards honour the tireless and dedicated work of the Northern Territory’s advocates for change. Picture: Therese Ritchie

Kathleen Ruth Hutcheson was awarded the Fitzgerald Justice award for her years of service including in the Aboriginal justice movement as a senior field officer and board member of NAAJA.

The Darwin Community Legal Service earned the organisational gong in the category, having celebrated 30 years of operation.

It is a not-for-profit confidential service that supports community members to protect their legal rights.

Alpurrurulam (Lake Nash) advocates Jackie Mahoney and Pam Corbett were the joint individual winners for the Fitzgerald Social Change award for their combined efforts fighting for the community’s right to safe drinking water – a 12-year crusade.

The Sex Worker Outreach Program and Sex Worker Reference Group were honoured as the organisational winner of the same category for their work undertaking “high level strategic advocacy to bring about a new sex industry act 2019”.

NT News journalist Zizi Averill

NT News photojournalist (A)manda Parkinson

The act underpins the full decriminalisation of the Northern Territory’s sec industry.

NT News journalists (A)manda Parkinson and Zizi Averill’s tireless reporting on social issues in the Territory earned them the Fitzgerald Award for Advancing the Human Rights of Young People.

The awards acknowledged the pair’s more than 50 stories on issues such as raising the age of criminal responsibility, the mental health of young people in Territory detention centres, and the use of spit hoods.

The Henbury Learning Precinct was award the organisational award for the category for developing initiatives including an op shop and cafe that helps transition students to work and equip them with other life skills.

Their students have a wide range of mild impairments to profound disability and multiple disabilities.