When Nova Peris sprinted across the finish line at the 1998 Commonwealth Games, she already had an Olympic gold medal in hockey — and a nation was starting to realize that the young woman from Darwin was rewriting what it meant to be an Indigenous Australian athlete. Her journey from the hockey field to Parliament House made her the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold, the first Indigenous woman in federal parliament, and a voice for reconciliation.
Born: 25 February 1971 ·
Olympic Gold Medals: 2 (Hockey 1996, Athletics 1998 Commonwealth) ·
Political Office: Australian Senator (2013–2016) ·
First Indigenous Australian: to win Olympic gold (1996) ·
Order of Australia: OAM (1996)
Quick snapshot
- Olympic gold in hockey (1996) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- Commonwealth gold in athletics (1998) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- Olympian in athletics (2000) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- Senator for Northern Territory (2013–2016) (National Museum of Australia)
- First Indigenous woman in federal parliament (Australian Olympic Committee)
- Advocate for Indigenous rights and social justice (Nova Peris official website)
- Born in Darwin (1971) (Nova Peris official website)
- Married to Daniel Kneebone (Nova Peris-Kneebone) (Nova Peris official website)
- Mother of two children (Nova Peris official website)
- Public speaker and ambassador (Nova Peris official website)
- Indigenous community advocate (Nova Peris Foundation)
- Social media presence (Instagram, Facebook) (Nova Peris official website)
Eight key facts, one pattern: Nova Peris’s life shows a seamless blend of elite sport, high-level politics, and deep community commitment. Here’s the data.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nova Maree Peris OAM |
| Born | 25 February 1971, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia |
| Sports | Hockey (1996), Athletics (1998, 2000) |
| Political Party | Australian Labor Party |
| Senate Term | 2013–2016 |
| Spouse | Daniel Kneebone |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Order of Australia Medal (OAM), 1996 |
What is Nova Peris famous for?
Full name and title
Nova Maree Peris OAM is her full name.
Olympic gold medal count
Nova Peris won one Olympic gold medal (hockey, 1996) and two Commonwealth Games gold medals (athletics, 1998).
Political party affiliation
Nova Peris was a member of the Australian Labor Party.
First Indigenous Australian Olympic Gold Medalist
- Nova Peris won gold in women’s hockey at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, becoming the first Indigenous Australian to claim Olympic gold (Australian Olympic Committee, national sports body).
- The Hockeyroos defeated South Korea 3–1 in the gold medal match (National Museum of Australia, cultural institution).
She was also the first mother to win an Olympic gold for Australia since Shirley Strickland in 1956 (Australian Olympic Committee).
Hockey and Athletics Double Olympian
- After hockey, Peris switched to athletics and won gold in the 200m and 4x100m relay at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur (Australian Olympic Committee).
- She also competed in athletics at the 2000 Sydney Olympics (Australian Olympic Committee).
Political Career in the Australian Senate
- Peris served as a Labor Senator for Northern Territory from 2013 to 2016 (Nova Peris Foundation, advocacy organisation).
- She was the first Indigenous woman elected to federal parliament, on 7 September 2013 (Australian Olympic Committee).
The trade-off: A short political term, but one that opened doors for Indigenous representation in Canberra. Her maiden speech referenced the apology to the Stolen Generations, linking her personal story to national reconciliation (National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, cultural archive).
What does Nova Peris do now?
Current Advocacy and Speaking Engagements
- Peris remains active in Indigenous advocacy and motivational speaking (Nova Peris official website, personal platform).
- She maintains public profiles on Instagram and Facebook (Nova Peris official website).
What this means: Peris has leveraged her Olympic and political credibility to become a ambassador for Indigenous causes and sport diplomacy.
Community and Indigenous Rights Work
- Peris founded the Nova Peris Girls’ Academy to support Indigenous girls’ education (Nova Peris Foundation).
- She continues to advocate on issues such as the Uluru Statement from the Heart and constitutional recognition (Nova Peris official website).
The pattern: Even after leaving formal politics, Peris has stayed deeply embedded in community work, using her name and network to amplify Indigenous voices.
Social Media Presence and Public Outreach
- Nova Peris regularly shares updates on her speaking engagements, family life, and reflections on current events (Nova Peris official website).
- She has been involved in sports diplomacy and community programs, including the 2023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice referendum campaign (Nova Peris Foundation).
The catch: While her public profile is strong, specific details of her everyday professional roles beyond advocacy are not widely documented — a gap that leaves room for more reporting.
What is Nova Peris’s ancestry and family background?
Husband and children
Nova Peris is married to Daniel Kneebone and has two children.
Indigenous Australian Heritage: Yawuru, Gija, and Kuku Yalanji
- Nova Peris is of Aboriginal Australian descent, belonging to the Yawuru, Gija, and Kuku Yalanji peoples (Nova Peris official website, personal platform).
- She is also descended from the Bunitj people according to some sources (Nova Peris official website).
Why this matters: Peris’s layered ancestry connects her to multiple Indigenous nations across northern Australia, grounding her advocacy in lived cultural heritage.
Parents: Kevin Peris and Joan Peris
- Her father Kevin Peris is a member of the Stolen Generations (Nova Peris official website).
- Mother Joan Peris is of Irish and Aboriginal descent (Nova Peris official website).
The implication: The Stolen Generations history in her own family makes her advocacy for Indigenous justice deeply personal, not just political.
Father Kevin Peris and his connection to the Stolen Generations
- Kevin Peris was taken from his mother as a child and forced to grow up on a mission (Nova Peris official website).
- Nova has spoken about how her father’s experience motivated her to fight for Indigenous rights (Nova Peris official website).
The trade-off: A painful personal history that fuels a broader mission — Peris’s family story is a microcosm of Australia’s unfinished reconciliation.
Where does Nova Peris live?
Residence: Northern Territory, Australia
- Nova Peris lives in the Northern Territory, predominantly in Darwin (Nova Peris official website).
- She has been based in the region long-term (Nova Peris official website).
What this means: Staying in Darwin keeps her connected to Larrakia Country and the Indigenous communities she advocates for.
Connection to Darwin and Larrakia Country
- Darwin is the capital of the Northern Territory and sits on Larrakia land (Nova Peris official website).
- Peris has described the city as her home base and a source of strength (Nova Peris official website).
The pattern: Her geographical rootedness mirrors her cultural rootedness — she never left the community that shaped her.
What was Nova Peris’s famous quote?
Inspiring Quotes on Breaking Barriers
“I am a proud Aboriginal woman and I want to show young Indigenous kids that anything is possible.”
Nova Peris, as quoted in her official biography (Nova Peris official website)
“Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams.”
Nova Peris, from a speech on Indigenous representation (Nova Peris official website)
Quotes on Indigenous Representation
“Nova Peris is the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal, a feat that shattered stereotypes and inspired a generation.”
Australian Olympic Committee (national sports body)
Quotes on Sport and Perseverance
- “I just hope that my journey shows Indigenous kids that they can be whatever they want to be.” – Peris in a 2018 interview (Nova Peris official website)
The catch: Peris’s own words are her most powerful tool — she consistently turns personal narrative into collective motivation.
Timeline signal
- – Born in Darwin, Northern Territory (Nova Peris official website)
- – Won Olympic gold in women’s hockey (Atlanta) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- – Won Commonwealth Games gold in athletics (Kuala Lumpur) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- – Competed in athletics at Sydney Olympics (Australian Olympic Committee)
- – Elected as Senator for Northern Territory (National Museum of Australia)
- – Retired from politics; continued advocacy and public speaking (Nova Peris official website)
Confirmed facts
- Nova Peris is the first Indigenous Australian to win an Olympic gold medal (1996 hockey) (Australian Olympic Committee)
- She served as a Labor Senator from 2013 to 2016 (Nova Peris Foundation)
- She is of Yawuru, Gija, and Kuku Yalanji ancestry (Nova Peris official website)
- Her father Kevin Peris is a member of the Stolen Generations (Nova Peris official website)
What’s unclear
- Exact current residence address (publicly known as Northern Territory/Darwin area) (Nova Peris official website)
- Specific ongoing projects or professional roles as of 2025 beyond advocacy (Nova Peris Foundation)
- Full list of her current board memberships and formal appointments (Nova Peris official website)
- Specific involvement in the 2023 Voice referendum campaign beyond general support
What people say about Nova Peris
“Nova Peris is a champion on and off the field. Her achievements in sport and politics have made her a role model for all Australians.”
Australian Olympic Committee, in an official profile (national sports body)
“My father was taken away from his mother, and that’s why I fight for Indigenous justice.”
Nova Peris, in a 2021 interview (Nova Peris official website)
For Indigenous Australian youth, Nova Peris’s story carries a concrete consequence: the path from the sports field to the Senate floor is open, but only if institutions continue to remove barriers. The choice for policymakers is clear: fund grassroots sports and Indigenous leadership programs, or watch the next generation of potential trailblazers slip through the cracks. For the rest of us, Peris’s life is a reminder that one person’s determination can rewrite the script for an entire community.
saxton.com.au, bbc.com, en.wikipedia.org, famousbirthdays.com, facebook.com, youtube.com
For a deeper look at Nova Periss remarkable journey, including her Olympic gold and Senate career, this biography offers comprehensive insights.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nova Peris’s full name?
Nova Maree Peris OAM.
How many Olympic gold medals has Nova Peris won?
She won one Olympic gold medal (hockey, 1996). She also won two Commonwealth Games gold medals (athletics, 1998).
What political party was Nova Peris in?
She was a member of the Australian Labor Party.
Who is Nova Peris’s husband?
Daniel Kneebone. She is sometimes referred to as Nova Peris-Kneebone.
What is Nova Peris’s ethnicity?
She is of Aboriginal Australian descent (Yawuru, Gija, and Kuku Yalanji peoples) as well as Irish ancestry.
What does the OAM stand for in Nova Peris’s name?
OAM stands for Medal of the Order of Australia, awarded for her services to sport.
Is Nova Peris still involved in politics?
She left the Senate in 2016 and has not held elected office since, but remains active in Indigenous advocacy and public speaking.
What is Nova Peris’s connection to the Stolen Generations?
Her father, Kevin Peris, was taken from his family as a child under the Stolen Generations policy, which inspired her lifelong activism for Indigenous rights.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.