National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards

The inaugural National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards were held at Adelaide's Hilton International Hotel on 6 September 1986.

[1] The Awards were established to pay tribute to the contribution of Aboriginal men and women to Australian and international sport.

Charlie Perkins, Secretary of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, strongly supported the establishment of the Awards and obtained Australian Government funding.

[2] The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission continued funding after the department ceased to exist.

[1] At the Awards, Evonne Goolagong Cawley received her Sport Australia Hall of Fame gold medallion.

Cathy Freeman has won five National Sportswoman awards