26 February 2026
A teacher dedicated to sharing language and culture is a finalist for the Department of Education’s 2026 Women of Achievement Award.
Cable Beach Primary school’s language teacher Dalisa Pigram-Ross was recognised as one of five finalists celebrated for their significant contributions to public education in Western Australia.
Dalisa Pigram-Ross has been recognised as a finalist for the 2026 Women of Achievement Award.
Dalisa was nominated for her strong commitment to keeping the Yawuru language and culture alive in her school and community. She supports students and teachers to learn, teach and share Yawuru knowledge with respect.
Her work has focussed on building strong relationships, mentoring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal educators, and embedding Yawuru language, identity, and cultural knowledge into everyday classroom practice.
“I was surprised and honoured to have been nominated and being told I was a finalist made me proud of my school and community,” she said.
“For me, this is a shared achievement for which I am only a link in a long line of strong women and leaders who have paved the way for our languages and culture to be taught and shared in schools.
“I feel proud to be part of the wider achievement for my community and their amazing work over so many years.”
Dalisa shares the knowledge that she has gained from her Elders and acknowledges Elder Doris Edgar, Dianne Appleby and the wider Edgar family for sharing Yawuru language and culture within the school and community.
She has also been recognised for contributing to Two-Way Science and for creating and sharing resources that help students understand Country, seasons and culture in meaningful ways.
“Teaching students and staff about Yawuru language and culture is a way to connect them further to the place they currently call home, while also acknowledging and strengthening their connections to other parts of the region and country,” she said.
“It is important to be able to share our Indigenous culture and languages within the education systems so that all students accessing an education and teachers delivering programs can develop cultural understandings and respect for our ways of knowing and being.
“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids, I feel that through learning about the language and culture of the place you are living helps strengthen their sense of connection and belonging and reinforces the importance of their own identity and world views shaped by cultural knowledge.
“Education has a huge role in supporting truth-telling in the teaching of our history and sharing of our lived experiences in the many learning focus areas so that we can all feel valued and responsible for each other and the Country we live in.”
The Director General’s Women of Achievement Award winner will be announced at the International Women’s Day breakfast on Thursday 5 March, where special guest speaker Liz Ellis will share aspects of her sporting and media careers.
Meet all five finalists. Their stories can be read on our website.
