Dr Guthrie received the accolade for "significant service to Indigenous health, and to justice reinvestment policy".

She said the award recognises the work done by members of the Cowra community.

"In that regard, I really like to acknowledge particular people - Wiradjuri elder Esther Cutmore, Fran Stead at the Neighbourhood Centre, Bill West the Mayor," she said.

"Also two people who have since died and they were really, really key and important people in the research and Wiradjuri people, Les Coe and Isobel Simpson.

"I think this award acknowledges the commitment and the passion that they have about their community... particularly for young kids who might be coming up against the justice system."

The project, which started in 2013, saw Dr Guthrie and ANU researchers engage with the community, getting a range of responses by holding focus groups, community forums and meeting with key stakeholders.

She hopes the award will highlight the project as the team lobbies for the next phase of research.

"That next phase would be some cost-benefit analysis," she said.

"I actually see that this award might help that lobbying, we might get some success."

Dr Guthrie, who originally hails from Cowra, said the town's efforts with the project could be replicated in other communities across the nation.

"It is my hometown, it has special place for me and I was really welcomed back into the town to do this work, there's a sense reciprocity in this for me and I really hope we're able to take this forward," she said.

"Each community is different... but it does become kind of a blueprint."