30 May 2025
We are thrilled to announce that Dr Mara West, Chair of the North Metropolitan TAFE (NMTAFE) Governing Council has been awarded the Wesfarmers Aboriginal Award at the prestigious Western Australian of the Year Awards on 29 May.
This is a testament to her unwavering commitment to community service and dedication to driving meaningful change for First Nations people.
Her leadership extends across multiple sectors, including education, health, climate policy, and economic development.
She is the chair of our Governing Council at NMTAFE, and also the chair of several other influential organisations including, the Aboriginal Research Projects Forum at The Kids Research Institute Australia, HEAL WA’s Aboriginal Steering Group, Homelands Water, and Energy Group at Murdoch University.
Dr West is a member of the ABS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Roundtable and serves on the Industry Advisory Board for the Clean Energy Skills National Centre of Excellence.
She firmly believes in the power of education to open doors, and her commitment as Governing Council Chair includes great support for initiatives that will ensure First Nations people have equitable access to education, training, and employment opportunities.
“I think education and training gives you more choices in life. It can lead to bigger and better things like a better lifestyle, good health, and job prospects,” Dr West said.
Driven by a vision of a more inclusive and equitable future, she is committed to the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan which sets the West Australian Government’s approach to partnering with First Nations people towards empowerment and better outcomes.
“Aboriginal people have been left behind for too long. They have not had access to education, training, and employment opportunities that exist now,” she explained.
Despite progress in these areas, Dr West acknowledges that systemic challenges remain.
“We are still not having the success rates in schools, and this impacts the pathways that people choose. I think the problem lies in that many people are not exposed to choices,” she said.
Dr West believes in fostering ambition and broadening perspectives within First Nations communities.
“We have to get people to think big like owning and running your own business or being a manager, chief executive officer, or director of a company or organisation. We have to expose Aboriginal people to big business and especially successful Aboriginal businesses,” she emphasised.
Although Dr West concedes there has been progress, she remains firm in her belief that the pace of change has been slow and that more needs to be done.
“We still have kids coming out of school who can’t read and write properly. But universities now have bridging courses and Indigenous education units with tutors and other resources. They also make every effort to attract prospective students, actively employ Aboriginal lecturers, and value Aboriginal knowledge,” she said.
We extend our congratulations to Dr West for her award.
2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR – WINNERS
Western Australian of the Year – Brother Oliver “Olly” Pickett
Wesfarmers Aboriginal Award – Dr Mara West
Crown Perth Arts & Culture Award – Lucy Durack
The Chamber of Minerals & Energy WA Business Award – Nigel Satterley
Alcoa of Australia Community Award – Brother Oliver “Olly” Pickett
Woodside Energy Professions Award – Prof. Sue Fletcher
Channel 7 Sport Award – Nina Kennedy
BHP Youth Award – Kennedy Lay