At the age of 24 is already a University lecturer and a champion of Indigenous culture and education. Kiel was recently well-deserved winner of NAIDOC’s Youth of the Year award. Born and raised in Brisbane he is a proud descendant of the Mununjali people of the Beaudesert region in Queensland. After immersing himself in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, Kiel developed a strong desire for a better life for Indigenous people in Australia. He was the first in his family to attend university, graduating with a Bachelor of Education from Griffith University.

He is now a literacy coordinator at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Western Australia and a lecturer at the University of Notre Dame, where he helps other teachers understand the needs of Indigenous school students. Kiel plans to study further study and hopes one day to be a principal in an Indigenous school. Through his dedication, passion and love for his people, Kiel has influenced many young lives. He is a role model for Indigenous students and an inspiration for other young educators.