NISA named finalist in Space Awards

Monash Engineering’s National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) has once again been named a finalist in the "Indigenous Space Initiative of the Year" category at the Australian Space Awards 2026.

The category recognises programs that drive meaningful inclusion and participation in the space industry, highlighting initiatives that deliver tangible impact and help shape a more diverse and innovative space ecosystem.

Such recognition reinforces NISA's impact as a flagship program which is building a new generation of Indigenous leaders in the global space industry.

NISA provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander STEM students with transformative, hands-on experience through international placements at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the USA and RAL Space in the United Kingdom.

The program is delivered with the support of key partners including the Australian Space Agency and CSIRO, alongside program sponsors The Andy Thomas Space Foundation and Boeing.

Together, these partnerships are enabling Indigenous students to access world-class training, build global networks and contribute to Australia’s space future.

NISA founder Professor Christopher Lawrence says “Being named a finalist again affirms our mission to create pathways for Indigenous students into the global space sector. We are ambitious in our goal to see Indigenous Australians in space, and to see our students shaping the future of the industry."

The awards will take place on Thursday 18 June in Sydney, Australia.

Learn more about the Australian Space Awards here.