The 2017 awards night was emceed by former international journalist and filmmaker
Jeff McMullen. The keynote was presented by Senator
Malarndirri McCarthy. There was a judge's toast speech by Narrungga elder,
Tauto Sansbury. There were 12 finalists for the three categories; For the Dr Yunupingu Human Rights Award, 4 finalists,
Rachel Perkins, award winning filmmaker, Dr Mark Wenitong, a medical doctor in Cape York, Mervyn Eades, founder and CEO of
Ngalla Maya and Dr Kerry Arabena, early childhood academic. For the
Eddie Mabo Social Justice Award, 4 finalists, Dr Kim Isaacs, a medical doctor in the Kimberley, Gayili Marika Yunupingu, suicide prevention campaigner, Richard Weston, CEO of The Healing Foundation and Noeletta McKenzie, youth suicide prevention worker. For the
Anthony Mundine Courage Award, 4 finalists, Dr Meg Wills, justice reinvestment campaigner, Professor
Chris Sarra, founder of Stronger Smarter Institute,
Joe Williams, suicide prevention advocate and Clinton Pryor, who walked across Australia to raise awareness to continuing injustices to Indigenous people. The recipient of the Dr Yunupingu Award for Human Rights was Mervyn Eades. The recipient of the Eddie Mabo Award for Social Justice was Gayili Marika Yunupingu. The recipient of the Anthony Mundine Award for Courage was Professor
Chris Sarra. ==2018 awards==