The first few months of 2019 have been big for Luca Saunders, with awards and interstate performing opportunities coming her way.

The 14-year-old from Wallabi Point is hoping to build on that success saying, "I hope it's my biggest year".

Already Luca has received the New South Wales Nanga Mai Award for outstanding achievement in creative and performing arts, was a guest performer (along with her brother Tyler) at Deadly Funny in Melbourne, and stole the show as a wildcard finalist in the Made Deadly showcase at the Saltwater Freshwater Festival in Coffs Harbour.

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The Nanga Mai Awards are held annually by the Department of Education and celebrate the achievement of Aboriginal students, staff and community members as well as non-Aboriginal staff.

Nominated by Taree High School principal Allison Alliston, Luca travelled to Sydney for the presentation with Mrs Alliston as well as family members Gregg Andrews and Sue Pitman.

"Only two people received it and I was not expecting it at all. I felt lucky to be part of the talented people I was nominated among.

"It was an amazing experience. There were a lot of different people there - a very inclusive bunch of people."

Luca was also invited as a guest to perform at the Deadly Funny showcase in Melbourne, which is part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

"It's a massive competition for aspiring Aboriginal comedians from across Australia.

"I was a guest performer and it's my first time singing at it. Tyler has danced before. I'm very proud of what he's doing."

Her dad, Andy Saunders, has been emcee previously.

Luca has big dreams of where she wants her music to take her.

"I want to work towards New York, and perform in New York. If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere."

First though, she's aiming for success in Australia but she knows she's got a lot of hard work ahead of her to reach her goals.

"I try to put the best effort into it. You're only as good as your last performance.

"I want it to be my job. I feel like I need to do it and have to do it."

Luca said she's started writing her own songs ("I don't know if they're any good") and also wants to learn an instrument.

She'll also be back in the recording studio soon.

"Dad has written a song that we'll be producing soon but this time I'll be singing and he'll be singing and accompanying me."

Luca said that while she feels the pressure and does get nervous before taking the stage, she loves performing.

"I don't know why I love it. I feel like I was born to do it. I just get up on stage and it feels like it's part of me and I'm meant to be up there.

"I really want to prove myself to everyone in the audience... I want to bring the house down and show them the best I can really do.

"I get in a state if I do something wrong but you have to let things go and you learn from things. You never lose, you learn. And you never rise up by pulling people down."

As well as singing, Luca is also working on her dancing and acting skills.

When she's onstage she feels empowered and uplifted, explaining that she puts on a stage character who is a heightened version of herself.

"When I'm on stage I turn into a stage character and grow up fast.

"It's like Beyonce. When she's off stage she's Beyonce but when she's on stage she's Sasha Fierce."

She said she has learned a lot from her parents and hopes that if she get to be well known she can use that profile to promote kindness and accepting people as they are.

"It's how I've been brought up, to see people as they are."

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