I'd like to give a shout-out to the University of Newcastle for their success at the Australian Financial Review higher education awards. These prestigious awards recognise the very best in higher education across the nation.

The University of Newcastle claimed two of the eight categories, standing tall among 43 universities from across Australia.

The Wollotuka Institute received the equity and access award for a decades-long commitment to Indigenous education. From humble beginnings in the 1980s with just four staff, Wollotuka now proudly serves a student body where five per cent identify as First Nations students. Wollotuka is a home away from home for so many, and its success is testament to the university's deep commitment to equity and excellence in higher education.

The emerging leadership award went to Professor Matt Dun, one of Australia's leading brain cancer researchers. Matt's story is both heartbreaking and inspiring. After losing his two-year-old daughter, Josephine, to the most aggressive form of brain cancer, Matt pivoted his research from leukaemia to paediatric brain cancer. He has since led ground-breaking clinical trials to give children and families hope where there was none.

To everyone at the University of Newcastle, our community thanks you for your exceptional work.