Stephen continues to reinvent Indigenous story-telling both within Bangarra and through collaborations with other performing arts companies. His most notable collaborations include directing the Indigenous sections for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, writing and directing Bloodland with Wayne Blair and Kathy Balngayngu Marika for Sydney Theatre Company in association with Bangarra, and his roles as Artistic Director of the 2004 Adelaide Festival and Artistic Associate for Sydney Theatre Company’s production of The Secret River.

Stephen made his film directorial debut in 2012, directing the chapter Sand in the feature film The Turning. He choreographed the feature films Bran Nue Dae (2009) and The Sapphires (2011). In 2015 he directed his first full-length film, Spear, which was based on the Bangarra production of the same name from the double bill Skin.

Offstage Stephen has mentored and created opportunities for countless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and youth, and has been a champion of social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. He has nurtured dance and culture in thousands of school children living in disadvantaged communities through workshops and Bangarra’s youth program, Rekindling.

Stephen was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001 and was named 2008 NSW Australian of the Year. In 2015, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Creative Arts by the University of Technology Sydney. In 2017 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing arts and contemporary dance.

Stephen was presented the 2016 JC Williamson Award by Live Performance Australia. This award recognises an individual who has made a truly outstanding contribution to live performance in Australia and has shaped the future of the industry for the better.