NESA’s remarkable Dr Jodi Edwards a finalist in the 2023 NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year

An injury forced Jodi to leave an illustrious sporting career behind, so she went back to school and completed her HSC at 27 years of age. Now a Doctor of Philosophy and University Fellow, Jodi Edwards has forged a life of service to others, championing Aboriginal Literacy and the revitalisation of Aboriginal Language, writes Lauren Grimson. 

The Dharawal language advocate is a Curriculum Reform Advisor for Aboriginal Education with the NSW Education Standards Authority, providing expertise and advice to support the curriculum reform and delivery process.

Dr Edwards, a Yuin/Dharawal Custodian, has dedicated her life to Community, Culture, education and Language, connecting with and forming local communities and contributing to Aboriginal Education across NSW.

Dr Edwards says being nominated for NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year is an honour and gives her a platform to continue to do the work she is passionate about.

“It’s an honour being a finalist for NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year and it also gives me an opportunity to show our kids they can follow their dreams. I’m only as good as the people around me and I’m here because of the kids. My nomination is a way to say to them ‘look how deadly you are!’.”

An author and advisor, Dr Edwards has published 4 local Dharawal Dreaming Stories, co-founded the Shellharbour Aboriginal Community Youth Association, established the Guwura Surfing program, works with the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre and continues to sit on the advisory board of Shellharbour Council.

In her role at NESA, Dr Edwards works to incorporate knowledge about Aboriginal Languages, Cultures and histories throughout the curriculum.

“As part of NESA’s strong Aboriginal Education Team, I have seen our histories and Culture built into the curriculum.

“Education plays a really important role in reconciliation – it teaches understanding, which can spark curiosity to learn and know more and this transfers onto others. The kids are the ones who are going to make change well into the future of this country, so it’s important to pass this information onto them.”

Dr Edwards was named 2022 Shellharbour Woman of the Year and Illawarra Regional NAIDOC Aboriginal Community Person of the Year for her Language and Cultural work across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven local government areas.

“I want to reconnect the disconnected. We’re all children of the earth and we need to teach our young people to respect the earth. When we lead by example, the children see that and they make changes too. We’ve just got to make sure we leave them something to change.”