Ernie Dingo has earned enormous respect as a performer capable of extraordinary versatility. His talents as an actor, television host, reporter and comedian have made him one of Australia's best known and most loved performers.

Ernie grew up in Mullewa, in the Geraldton region of Western Australia. He moved to Perth when he was 17 and his first job was as an apprentice sign writer, which he says developed from his interest in painting.

He was selected for the state basketball team in 1973 and 1977 and was also very involved in traditional Aboriginal dancing. He joined the Middar Aboriginal Dance Theatre in 1978 and made his first trip overseas on the company's tour of Germany, which he says "was a real eye-opener".

In 1979, Ernie embarked on a theatre career that was to span almost a decade, before moving into television and film in 1987. He has been with The Great Outdoors since it began in 1992.

Ernie is a passionate advocate for his people and is vigilant about the portrayal of Aboriginals in film and television.

He has won numerous awards and accolades and in 1997 was declared one of Australia's Top 100 "national living treasures".

In 1990, Ernie was awarded the General Division of the Order of Australia by Her Majesty the Queen. In 1994, he was voted 'Aboriginal of the Year' by the NAIDOC Committee and 'Personality of the Year' by the Australian Caption Centre. In 2004 he was again recognised for his work when he was awarded the Deadly Award for Outstanding Contribution to Film and Television.

Ernie Dingo has won numerous awards and accolades and in 1997 was declared one of Australia's Top 100 "national living treasures".