Congratulations to Eddie Robertson, the 2015 Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year!
Congratulations Eddie Jampijinpa Robertson, the 2015 Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year. The Warlpiri elder and Australian Government Indigenous Engagement Officer from Yuendumu in central Australia has dedicated his life to helping his community.
Warlpiri elder and Australian Government Indigenous Engagement Officer Eddie Jampijinpa Robertson has been named the 2015 Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year.
Eddie, from Yuendumu in central Australia, was named the Northern Territory Senior Australian of the Year for his many years of dedication helping his community.
In addition to his role as the Australian Government’s Indigenous Engagement Officer (IEO) in the community, Eddie has represented Yuendumu in many community roles over a long period of time including being the co-chairperson of the Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation (WYDAC) and the founder of the Yuendumu Local Reference Group, which serves as the key community body providing feedback and advice to the Australian Government.
Eddie was chosen as Yuendumu’s IEO due to the respect he is held in within the community and Eddie believes his job is another way to help his community.
“My role as an IEO is all about working together, the people and the government, to help the community become stronger,” Eddie said.
‘When I took this job, there was a lot of confusion in the community about the Government and the Intervention. They needed someone to talk with the community to help them understand what was happening.”
Born in Yuendumu and raised on a nearby station, Eddie remembers the local priest driving to the camp in a big truck to take him and the other kids to school. The teachers quickly recognised Eddie’s leadership abilities, making him a school prefect.
After finishing school, Eddie’s first job was working as a baker in the local community kitchen where he began to become more involved with community issues.
Along with his wife Lottie, Eddie was instrumental in setting up an anti-petrol sniffing programme at Mt Theo outstation near Yuendumu. The programme was so successful in stamping out petrol sniffing that Eddie is now able to focus on broader youth diversion projects.
Eddie likes to go out to Mt Theo as often as possible to talk with the young kids about what they have been doing and what plans they have for their life.
“The most important thing is to listen to the kids,” Eddie says.
“If kids know you’re listening to them, they open up about themselves and that way you can really help them,” he said.
Find out more
Each year our nation celebrates the achievement and contribution of eminent Australians through the Australian of the Year Awards by profiling leading citizens who are role models for us all. They inspire us through their achievements and challenge us to make our own contribution to creating a better Australia.
The Australian of the Year Awards provides all Australians with the opportunity to recognise someone who makes them proud in four categories:
- Australian of the Year
- Senior Australian of the Year (those aged 60 years or over)
- Young Australian of the Year (ages 16 to 30)
- Australia's Local Hero
For more information on the awards and how you can nominate a role model like Eddie visit http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/
The Australian Government is committed to providing real jobs to Aboriginal people in local communities. Indigenous Engagement Officers like Eddie Robertson live and work in their community and provide an important link between communities and Government.
As well as providing full and part-time job opportunities for local Aboriginal people living and working in remote communities, IEO roles offer the opportunity for learning and development, and career progression in the future.