Dr Shellie Morris AO

BIO

Dr Shellie Morris is a luminary Indigenous Australian singer-songwriter who has been bestowed with an honorary doctorate by the University of Sydney for her remarkable contributions to music and education, especially within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Raised in Sydney and later reconnecting with her Indigenous Yanyuwa, Gudanji, Marra, and Garrwa families, Shellie has become a custodian of Aboriginal languages and cultures. With an unyielding passion for preserving traditions, she has crafted music in around 17 Aboriginal languages, many of which were at risk of fading away. Her profound dedication to Indigenous well-being extends to her work with organisations like the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Jimmy Little Foundation, where she empowers the youth through music, striving to enhance health and cultural awareness in Indigenous communities.

SKILLS

Indigenous Music Preservation | Multilingual Songwriting | Cultural Advocacy | Collaborative Music Creation | Community Engagement | Youth Empowerment | Storytelling through Music | Philanthropy | Cultural Reconnection | Cross-Cultural Collaboration | Leadership | Inspiration | Empowerment | Diversity, Equality and Inclusion | Adversity | Resilience

ACHIEVEMENTS

+ Indigenous Australian Leader + Honorary Doctorate from the University of Sydney (Degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa) + Celebrated Indigenous Singer-Songwriter + Recipient of multiple awards including NT Australian of the Year and NAIDOC Artist of the Year + ARIA Award for Ngambala Wiji li-Wunungu (2013) + Noteworthy role in the Australian documentary Murundak – Songs of Freedom + Extensive musical career and collaboration with internationally renowned artists + Ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation and the Jimmy Little Foundation + Pioneering efforts in preserving and revitalizing Aboriginal languages and cultures + Notable work with Borroloola Songwomen and elders in Borroloola + Amplification of the Aboriginal stories and experiences through music + Leadership in advocating for Indigenous rights and representation