2025 Recipients - Ember Connect

Game Changer Round 1

Recipient Name	Round	Funded Activity	Grant Funding
Livinia Williams	Round 1	Undertaking a Bachelor of Medical Studies/Doctor of Medicine UNSW Sydney. She wants to focus on Indigenous health initiatives upon graduation.	$2,500
Sophie Albion	Round 1	Undertaking Clinical Science (Medicine)/Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Western Sydney University. She wants to specialise and train as a child and adolescent psychiatrist.	$2,500
Piper Stewart	Round 1	Undertaking a Bachelor of Paramedicine Western Sydney University. She recognises that there are a limited number of First Nations people in the paramedic field, and it’s a critical space as its often the first point of contact for First Nations people and the medical system.	$2,500
Tiah Worley	Round 1	Undertaking a Bachelor of Paramedicine Western Sydney University. She recognises that there are a limited number of First Nations people in the paramedic field, and it’s a critical space as its often the first point of contact for First Nations people and the medical system.	$2,500

Game Changer Round 2

Recipient Name	Location	Mob	Funded Activity
Azra Coombe	Adelaide, SA	Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Narungga	Attend the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education 2025 in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) to share her PhD research and amplify the voices of Indigenous teachers who navigate and resist the ontological violence embedded in educational institutions.
Darinka Ondrovcik	Sunshine Coast, QLD	Kamilaroi	Support the development and publication of a pregnancy book and a child development book specifically designed to reflect the cultural values, traditions, and experiences of Indigenous communities.
Nikyah Hutchings	Sydney, NSW	Wonnarua-Gringai	Take part in the “Influential Women” course by NIDA Corporate to enhance communication skills, confidence, and gravitas. As a multidisciplinary creative and Executive Producer of Commercial and Sponsored Content at NITV, Nikyah is eager to amplify her leadership skills and empower other women in her community.

About the recipients

Nikyah Hutchings is a Wonnarua-Gringai woman living in Sydney and working as a multidisciplinary creative and Executive Producer of Commercial and Sponsored Content at NITV.

Nikyah applied for a Game Changer Grant as she is eager to amplify her leadership skills and empower other women in her community.

“The “Influential Women” course by NIDA Corporate offers a transformative opportunity to enhance my communication skills, confidence, and gravitas,” she said.

“By undertaking this course, I aim to become a more impactful leader, inspiring and mentoring other First Nations women in media and creative industries.

“This opportunity is a Game Changer for me because it aligns perfectly with my career aspirations and personal growth goals.

“As a First Nations woman in a leadership role at NITV, I recognize the importance of effective communication in driving change and promoting cultural representation.

“This grant will not only support my personal development but also amplify my ability to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. It represents a crucial step towards realizing my vision of a more diverse and inclusive media industry.”

Darinka Ondrovcik is a Kamilaroi woman living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. An experienced Aboriginal Health Practitioner, Darinka has founded The Awakening Journey – a business committed to supporting and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.

“My game changing opportunity is bringing culturally appropriate resources to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families through my new business. I have developed a pregnancy book and a child development book specifically designed to reflect the cultural values, traditions, and experiences of Indigenous communities,” Darinka said.

“These resources fill a critical gap by providing information in a way that is culturally safe, accessible, and empowering. By incorporating Indigenous knowledge and perspectives, these books help strengthen community connections and promote better health and developmental outcomes for children.

“Seeing these books in the hands of parents, knowing they feel seen and supported, is what drives me. It’s a game-changing step toward greater representation, equity, and self-determination for our communities.”

“This initiative is already in motion, with my pregnancy and child development books completed and ready for distribution. Over the coming months, I will be focusing on launching them into communities, partnering with health services, and ensuring they reach the families who need them most.

“I intend to use the grant funds to support the production, distribution, and promotion of my books. The funds will help ensure these important resources reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families while also allowing me to scale my business and make the books available for purchase.”

Ngarrindjeri, Kaurna, Narungga woman Azra Coombe from Adelaide, SA is a renowned education scholar and researcher who will use her Game Changer Grant to attend the World Indigenous Peoples’ Conference on Education 2025 in New Zealand in November.

“As I approach the final stages of my PhD, presenting my work—Refusing the Margins—will allow me to amplify the voices of Indigenous teachers who navigate and resist the ontological violence embedded in educational institutions,” Azra said.

“My research explores Indigenous ways of Elun (being), Enun (doing), and Nglelun (knowing) as acts of survivance and refusal. By mapping pathways for action, I aim to challenge dominant narratives and advocate for Indigenous research methodologies that honour and sustain our ways of knowing. WIPCE is the ideal space to share this work, as it brings together Indigenous educators, scholars, and leaders from around the world to drive systemic change.

“This is more than just a conference presentation—it is an opportunity to contribute to a movement that reclaims Indigenous intellectual sovereignty and transforms education. By attending, I will not only strengthen my own scholarship but also help inspire and inform practices that centre Indigenous voices and knowledge systems. I am ready to take this next step and ensure that our stories and ways of knowing are heard, valued, and acted upon.

“This experience will also be transformative for my own growth as a scholar and advocate. Engaging with Indigenous educators from around the world will deepen my understanding, expand my networks, and strengthen my ability to contribute meaningfully to the decolonization of education. WIPCE 2025 is more than a conference—it is a movement, and I am ready to be part of it.”