Celebrating Excellence in Aboriginal Education: IntraSpace Supports the 20th Nanga Mai Awards

IntraSpace Joins in Celebrating the 20th Nanga Mai Awards

(Images courtesy of the NSW Department of Education.)

Now in its 20th year, the NSW Department of Education’s Nanga Mai Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of Aboriginal students, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teachers, departmental staff, Aboriginal community members, and schools demonstrating excellence across a range of endeavours.

Held in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc., the awards are open to more than 2,200 public schools across New South Wales, recognising and celebrating excellence in Aboriginal education statewide.

On 25 September 2025, the 20th Annual Nanga Mai Awards Ceremony was held in the NSW DoE Building in Parramatta — a milestone celebration recognising two decades of achievement, leadership, and excellence in Aboriginal education.

The ceremony shines a spotlight on the outstanding contributions of Aboriginal students, educators, departmental staff, community members, and schools who are helping to advance Aboriginal education across NSW. Each year, the awards honour not only academic and vocational success, but also cultural leadership, innovation, and community engagement that strengthen educational outcomes for Aboriginal students. In 2025, there are a total of 25 award winners, with 15 student award recipients.

This year’s ceremony brought together a diverse community of educators, families, and partners to celebrate the positive impact of collaboration and opportunity in shaping the next generation of Aboriginal leaders.

(Images courtesy of the NSW Department of Education.)

IntraSpace as a Supporting Partner

IntraSpace works with education providers across Australia to design, supply, and install furnishing solutions that maximise the best use of classrooms and library space. With a wide range of products and services on offer, IntraSpace works with schools and libraries to design and build effective and efficient learning spaces. IntraSpace offers complimentary consultation as an opportunity to workshop ideas with you on-site and generate plans for flexible seating solutions to suit your needs.

IntraSpace has long looked for meaningful ways to contribute to the community. In the education space, this has included supporting a First Nations Nursing Scholarship that is helping a student complete her degree. This time around, we are honoured to be a Supporting Partner for the award of NSW Department of Education Outstanding School-Based Apprentice/Trainee of the Year, an honour that recognises an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander student who has shown exceptional commitment and perseverance in completing their School-Based Apprenticeship/Traineeship (SBAT).

The 2025 recipient, Georgia Sams from Kurri Kurri High School, exemplified these qualities through her dedication to both her workplace training and her Vocational Education and Training (VET) studies, undertaken alongside her Higher School Certificate (HSC). Georgia’s achievements are a testament to her hard work and to the value of school-based training pathways in supporting successful transitions from education to employment.

Again, we extend our warmest congratulations to Georgia and all award recipients, and acknowledge the NSW Department of Education and event organisers for another outstanding ceremony celebrating excellence in Aboriginal education.

Celebrating Excellence and Future Pathways

As the Nanga Mai Awards mark their twentieth year, they continue to highlight the power of education to inspire change, foster inclusion, and create opportunity. IntraSpace is honoured to contribute to this vision by supporting programs and initiatives that empower students and schools to thrive in culturally respectful and innovative learning environments.

For more information about the Nanga Mai Awards and scholarships supporting Aboriginal education, visit the NSW Department of Education’s website.