Photographer and documentary-maker Hoda Afshar has won the National Photographic Portrait Prize for the second time, on her birthday, with her powerful image 'Untitled #01' from her 2024 series 'Code Black/Riot,' which sheds light on the criminalization of Indigenous children in Australia.

Her award-winning photograph features three Indigenous girls concealing their faces with defiant hand gestures, symbolizing resistance and identity concealment, and was created in collaboration with young people from Far North Queensland.

The series 'Code Black/Riot' aims to raise awareness about Australia's low age of criminal responsibility, which allows children as young as 10 to be imprisoned—one of the lowest ages globally—and critiques the systemic issues that perpetuate this injustice.

Afshar's work emphasizes the disproportionate imprisonment of Indigenous children, who, despite constituting only 6.6% of their age group, are 27 times more likely to be incarcerated than non-Indigenous children.

Inspired by the late lawyer Sophie Trevitt, who campaigned for raising the age of criminal responsibility before her death in 2023, the series reflects the broader struggle for juvenile justice reform in Australia.

Afshar collaborated with organizations such as Youth Empowered Towards Independence and Change the Record, traveling to Townsville to engage with community members and justice workers about systemic issues affecting Indigenous youth.

Change the Record CEO Jade Lane praised Afshar’s images as 'defiantly beautiful,' highlighting the importance of young people's agency in how they choose to represent themselves, viewing their self-framing as empowering.

The judges commended Afshar's work for providing Indigenous youth the opportunity to present themselves on their own terms, challenging stereotypes and fostering societal reflection.

The exhibition featuring 48 finalists' works is currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra until October 12, 2025.

The winner received a prize of $30,000 along with photography equipment valued at $20,000.

George Fetting was awarded the Art Handlers' Award for his portrait of Antonio Intili, a tailor who passed away in July 2025.

Sherry Quiambao won the inaugural First Time Finalist Award for her work 'Mother dreams on a stone, 2024'.