Back for a third year, the Dreamtime Awards are set to recognise and celebrate the success and achievements of Australia’s First Nations people this Saturday.
The event has seen major stars like Latrell Mitchell, Archie Roach, Baker Boy and Cody Walker grace the red carpet since its inaugural ceremony in 2017.
This year the event will welcome top talents Jessica Mauboy, Thelma Plum, Briggs and Rob Collins.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will be acknowledged in various categories on the night, including community, sport, education, arts and entertainment, and health plus other major awards categories such as the lifetime achievement award.
Founder of the awards, Matt Rose said he wanted to create an event that "brings all the best blackfellas together in one room".
"it's around changing the mindsets of people and start to celebrate Aboriginal excellence," he told NITV News.
"We see a lot of negative stories out there a lot and I wanted to bring something positive. And over the last two years that's what we've had, really positive stories from all over Australia and celebrating all the things that we as blackfellas are achieving every day."
Mr Rose said that nominations for award winners are submitted by the public which then goes to a panel who chooses four finalists.
"And then they come up with a winner out of that four," he said.
"We have a panel that has a cross-section of people from across Australia that also have expertise in all those areas (the categories)".
The event is an opportunity for Indigenous people across all fields to come together to support one another and to be recognised for their excellence.
2019 Dreamtime Awards Finalists
NITV will stream via. the The National Dream Awards red carpet, hosted by Brooke Fryer and ravis Cardona on Saturday, 16 November at 5.30pm. Join the conversation #DreamtimeAwards.
