Ruby Hunter, Shellie Morris and Missy Higgins among recipients at Australian Women in Music Awards
Many well-known names presented at the award ceremony, including ABC Brisbane's Kat Feeney and The Superjesus singer/guitarist Sarah McLeod. (AWMA: Darcy Goss Media)
From artists working in remote communities, to those gracing Australia's biggest concert stages, the Australian Women In Music Awards (AWMA) celebrated women, non-binary and gender non-conforming members of the Australian music community in Meanjin/Brisbane on October 9.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following article contains the names and images of people who have died.
Jump to the full list of finalists and winners.
Celebrating First Nations women
The spotlight was on First Nations women, with a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Legacy Award added, to recognise and encourage First Nations women and their contributions to the music industry.
Cultural songwomen from the Arrkula Yinbayarra (Together We Sing) project, with Dr Shellie Morris AO, were the inaugural recipients of the award.
The project was born out of a desire to maintain the languages of Borroloola, in the Northern Territory's Gulf region.
Arrkula Yinbayarra and Morris also performed during the event.
Morris picked up two other awards, the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Artistic Excellence Award.
Ruby Hunter was inducted into the Honour Roll, which includes artists like Helen Reddy and Dame Olivia Newton-John. (National Portrait Gallery: Jacqueline Mitelman)
Ruby Hunter was posthumously inducted into the AWMA Honour Roll.
In 1994 the Ngarrindjeri, Kukatha and Pitjantjatjara woman became the first Aboriginal woman to sign with a major record label on the release of her solo debut album, Thoughts Within.
Hunter helped tell the stories of the Stolen Generation through her music and was a mentor and parental figure to so many First Nations musicians in subsequent generations.
Speaking of Hunter's importance as a role model, Yvette Scholtmeyer said:
"You can't be what you can't see."
Recognising artists across genres
Artistic awards crossed a full range of genres, including indie-folk, heavy music, hip-hop and R&B, opera and classical music.
Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn from The Waifs received the Inspiration Award recognising creative role models for younger generations.
Accepting the Songwriter Award, Missy Higgins thanked the women who supported her journey:
"I would not be where I am without the incredible women in my life."
Chinese-Australian hip-hop/R&B artist, Grace Chia, won the Diversity in Music Award for her genre-defying sound and her transformative contributions to cultural diversity and inclusion.
Internationally renowned Australian soprano Nicole Car received the Opera Impact Award, and composer and performer, Catherine Milliken, won the Excellence in Classical Music Award.
Soprano Nicole Car has built a huge international career, helping pave the way for other Australian opera singers. (Supplied: Heather Elizabeth.)
Composer Katia Geha took out the Emerging Artist Award, and the Women in Heavy Music Award went to Monica Strut.
Celebrating other contributions of women in music
Other awards on the night recognised advocates, photographers, music journalists, filmmakers, producers and leaders.
Tina Broad's work in regional areas won her the Humanitarian Award. (Supplied: AWMA)
For her work to create a vibrant musical life outside of metropolitan areas, Tina Broad received the Humanitarian Award.
Broad ran the national programs Play for Life and SongMakers while based in regional Australia, prioritising engaging outreach outside of metropolitan areas.
Dark Mofo music director Kimberley Galceran won the Creative Leadership Award recognising her bold and progressive programs, showcasing some of the most exciting female, gender-diverse, and culturally diverse artists from Australia and the world.
Acknowledging progress and exploring what still needs to be done
Throughout the ceremony, the presenters and recipients stressed the importance of women supporting each other, holding each other up, and making a better future for women and gender diverse people in the music industry.
"We pay tribute to the many among us and those who have gone before us, who have fought for safety, for opportunity, for creative excellence and the freedom to express the deepest truths of ourselves," said Vicki Gordon, founding executive producer and program director of AWMA.
Acknowledging the challenges of her 30-year career, and the people who supported her on her path, The Superjesus singer and guitarist, and AWMA Chair said:
"Equality should be the starting point, not the finish line."
The awards ceremony was preceded by a one-day conference exploring issues still affecting women in Australian music.
Entertainment photographer 'on wheels', Brittany Long, shared the challenges and triumphs that shaped her career, as well as her vision for a truly barrier-free live music scene.
Other conversations centred on remote First Nations women in music, storytelling and cultural leadership, explored the young female and gender diverse creatives shaping the future of music, and examined gender norms in audio and tech.
The ceremony has a history of star-studded performances. This year included Kate Miller-Heidke, Missy Higgins, and Sarah McLeod and many others. (AWMA: Darcy Goss Media)
Hosted by broadcaster Yumi Stynes and soprano Nina Korbe, the ceremony also featured performances by Aylish Ryan, Babyshakes Dillon, ixaras, Missy Higgins, Sarah McLeod, and Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn.
In a tongue-in-cheek performance, Kate Miller-Heidke along with the house band summed up much of the feeling of the room:
"You underestimated me dude / And I almost feel sorry for you / Because the tide is turning."
Winners and finalists of Australian Women In Music Awards 2025
Executive Leader Award
- WINNER: Nicole Richards
- Monique Douglas
- Kimbali Harding
Opera Impact Award
- WINNER: Nicole Car
- Andrée Greenwell
- Siobhan Stagg
Lifetime Achievement Award
- WINNER: Dr Shellie Morris AO
Tina Arena Special Impact Award
- WINNER: Kylie Thompson
- Nancy Bates
- Elise Reitze-Swensen
Humanitarian Award
- WINNER: Tina Broad
- Catherine Mundy OAM
- Yantra de Vilder
Diversity in Music Award
- WINNER: Grace Chia
- Christine García
- Mindy Meng Wang
Excellence in Classical Music Award
- WINNER: Catherine Milliken
- Cheryl Barker AO
- Claire Edwardes
Australian Women in Music Inspiration Award
- WINNER: Donna Simpson and Vikki Thorn of the Waifs
Women in Heavy Music Award
- WINNER: Monica Strut
- Leah Martin-Brown
- Chrissy McHugh
Creative Leadership Award
- WINNER: Kimberley Galceran
- Luara Brandao
- Sonja Horbelt
Artistic Excellence Award
- WINNER: Dr Shellie Morris AO
- Kate Miller-Heidke
- Missy Higgins
Studio Production Award
- WINNER: Tahlia-Rose Coleman
- Elise Reitze-Swensen
- Louise Wheatley
Live Creative Production Award
- WINNER: Kate Berry
- Karen Norris
- Sarah Ponturo
Live Production Touring Award
- WINNER: Letisha Ackland
- Bonnie Knight
- Kat Rallis
Music Leadership Award
- WINNER: Fiona Duncan
- Alexis Benedict
- Maggie Collins
Songwriter Award
- WINNER: Missy Higgins
- Dallas Frasca
- Vikki Thorn & Donna Simpson (The Waifs)
Emerging Artist Award
- WINNER: Katia Geha
- Beckah Amani
- Maeve Grieve
Music Photographer Award
- WINNER: Suzanne Phoenix
- Adrianne Armida
- Izzie Austin
Filmmaker Award
- WINNER: Emily Dynes
- Izzie Austin
- Chrissy McHugh
Music Journalist Award
- WINNER: Jules LeFevre
- Megan Burslem
- Jane Gazzo