Bilawara Lee

Elder, teacher, healer, academic-in-residence

2022 NT Senior Australian of the Year Nominee

Aunty Bilawara Lee is a highly respected Elder of the Larrakia Nation. For the past three years, she has been steadfastly committed to reviving the Larrakia language. This has included teaching Australia’s Governor General and the Northern Territory’s Administrator an Acknowledgement to Country in Larrakia Language.

A recipient of the Female Elder of the Year Award in the 2021 NAIDOC Awards in Darwin, Bilawara is an internationally published author of two books (Star Dreaming and Healing from the Dilly Bag), and the first and only Larrakia Academic in Residence at Charles Darwin University. She also chairs the Menzies Child Health Division’s Indigenous Reference Group.

Bilawara is acknowledged and respected internationally as a Healer and Teacher of the ancient wisdoms of Aboriginal Spirituality and Healing, cross-cultural communication and Larrakia cultural protocols. She represents Australia on the International Indigenous Grandmothers Council.

A much-loved community communicator, Bilawara is an authorised marriage celebrant, conducting weddings, funerals, namings and other important civil ceremonies. Bilawara also conducts many Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies.