Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Awards is an annual celebration of human rights achievements.

Join us and 600 guests from across the country to acknowledge, congratulate and share the important work of individuals and organisations making valuable contributions to advancing and protecting human rights in Australia.

The event will be emceed by SBS TV presenter Karla Grant (left) and also feature the annual Human Rights Day oration delivered by Juliana Nkrumah AM (right).

This year, our finalists will be honoured across 5 categories:

Human Rights Medal
Young People’s Award
Media and Creative Industries Award
Community Award
Law Award

The Awards night brings together people from across the human rights, humanitarian, legal, government and community sectors for a memorable celebration of human rights heroes.

The Human Rights Day Oration - Juliana Nkrumah AM

We're excited to announce women’s equity and racial equality advocate Juliana Nkrumah AM will deliver this year’s Human Rights Day Oration.

Join us on Awards night to hear her insights and vision for equality and justice in Australia, in this 50th year of the Racial Discrimination Act.

For 30 years Juliana has worked to empower women, migrants and refugees and advance their human rights. Juliana uses her strong voice and passion for social justice from within government and organisations to make an impact on people’s lives.

Juliana was awarded the Commission's prestigious Human Rights Medal in 2023.

The 2025 Awards Finalists

Human Rights Medal

· Travis Lovett

· Anjali Sharma

· William Tilmouth

· Michelle Telfer

Law Award

· Elisabeth Armitage

· Jane Tiller

· Tekan Lee Cochrane

· Belinda Kochanowska

Media and Creative Industries Award

· Ben Doherty

· Yokai: Healing our spirit - Genocide in the wildflower state

· Fringe Dweller Films - Killjoy

· In Films - Unbreakable: the Jelena Dokic story

Community Award

· Diversity Arts Australia

· Welcome Merchant

· Womn-Kind

· Ramnik Singh Walia

Young People’s Award

· Shakira Robertson

· Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw

· Charlotte Bailey

· Satara Uthayakumaran

Learn more about the finalists.

Awards Ceremony

Friday 12 December, 5:30pm – 9:30pm
University of Technology Sydney Great Hall, UTS Building 1, 1/15 Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW
The ceremony will also be livestreamed nationally via Zoom.

Guests will enjoy a pre-ceremony reception with canapes and beverages, and music by DJ Annabelle Gaspar (pictured below).

About the Australian Human Rights Awards

The Awards were established by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 1987 to recognise the contributions of individuals across the nation who made it their life’s mission to champion human rights, social justice and equality for all.

Over three decades the Awards has evolved, with a range of different awards presented at various times to respond to relevant changes across our society and culture. The esteemed Human Rights Medal remains the only category from the inaugural Awards.

The first Human Rights Medal winner was Indigenous activist Rose Colless OAM, who was acknowledged for her tireless work in drug and alcohol rehabilitation initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In the following years, the Human Rights Medal was awarded to other individuals including Fred Hollows, Peter Greste, Dorothy Hoddinott AO, Ian Thorpe, Jonathan Thurston, The Hon Peter McClellan AM QC and Chrissie Foster AM, Rosemary Kayess and most recently, Juliana Nkrumah AM.

Enquires

For more information about the event or how to participate, please contact us at Awards@humanrights.gov.au

Contact the host of Australian Human Rights Awards 2025