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Australia Day Awards

Let's recognise those who go above and beyond for our community!

Nominations have closed.

 

Australia Day Awards

The City of Canterbury Bankstown Australia Day Awards honour the exceptional contributions of individuals and organisations who have made a meaningful impact on our community.

Each year we recognise five people and one community organisation to celebrate their dedication, hard work and achievements.

It is an opportunity to pay tribute to a friend, family member, neighbour, colleague or community organisation that makes proud to be an Australian and fellow community member.  Whether through leadership, volunteering, cultural preservation, environmental advocacy or acts of kindness, nominees exemplify the spirit of service and commitment to the Canterbury-Bankstown community. 

Award categories and criteria

  • Citizen of the Year
    Criteria: a person aged 25 and over who has made a significant contribution to the Canterbury-Bankstown community. This person inspires others and demonstrates excellence in their field over a period of time – such as education, health, the arts, sport, the environment or volunteering. They must be a resident of Canterbury-Bankstown and an Australian Citizen.

    Note: the selection process for the Citizen of the Year Award will consider the nominee’s activities in the year prior, as well as past and future activities. 
     
  • Young Citizen of the Year
    Criteria: a young person aged 12-25 who has made an exceptional contribution to the Canterbury-Bankstown community as a role model, or through excellence in their area of service. They must be a resident of Canterbury-Bankstown and an Australian Citizen.
     
  • Volunteer of the Year  
    Criteria: a person who has provided outstanding voluntary service to the Canterbury-Bankstown community. They must live, work, study or volunteer in Canterbury-Bankstown and must be an Australian Citizen. 
     
  • Community Organisation of the Year
    Criteria: an organisation that has made a significant impact on the Canterbury-Bankstown community through programs, services or advocacy. The Community Organisation of the Year Award is for a group, project, event or activity which has contributed to the Canterbury-Bankstown community within the previous 24 months. 

    Note: community groups must be based, operating in or servicing the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area at the time of nomination. 
     
  • Jack Mundey Environment and Heritage Award 
    Criteria: person or group contributing to environmental conservation or heritage protection in Canterbury-Bankstown. They must live, work, study or volunteer in Canterbury-Bankstown and must be an Australian Citizen. 
     
  • Community Woman of the Year 
    Criteria: a woman who has demonstrated exceptional community contribution, leadership and service to the Canterbury-Bankstown community. They must be a resident of Canterbury-Bankstown and an Australian Citizen.

All nominees who meet the criteria will be contacted. Winners of each category will be presented their award by the Mayor at a ceremony.

Important information

  • To be eligible for Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year or Community Woman of the Year, nominees must be a resident of Canterbury-Bankstown Local Government Area (LGA).  

  • For the category of Volunteer of the Year and the Jack Mundy Environment and Heritage Award, nominees must either live, work, study or volunteer in the LGA.  

  • Minimum age is 12; Young Citizen of the Year nominees must be aged 12–25 (as at Australia Day).

  • Individual nominees must be Australian citizens.

  • Nominators can make a submission for a ‘couple’ or a ‘partnership’ to be considered for a single individual award if both are within the same category.

  • Self-nominations are not accepted for individual awards.

  • Community groups may self-nominate.

  • Council staff, Councillors, and Members of Parliament are not eligible for nomination.

  • Previous award winners are not eligible for an award they have already won.

  • Awards are not granted posthumously.

  • Ineligible nominations will not be assessed.

  • Nominations opened Wednesday 5 November 2025 and closed Monday 8 December 2025 at 11:59pm. Nominations and support material will not be accepted after this date.

  • All nominations must be submitted via official online forms. Assistance is available by calling 9707 9379.

  • Supporting material is encouraged to strengthen the nomination and must be included with the nomination when it is submitted. 

  • Nominators should address the assessment criteria by outlining the nominee’s background, achievements and reasons for nomination.

  • All nominations will be processed and reviewed with the eligibility criteria in mind.

  • You may be asked to provide further information about your nomination.

  • Only one nomination is required for a nominee to be considered for an award. Weight is not given where multiple nominations are received for the one group or individual.

  • Nominators can nominate more than one nominee, but a separate form must be submitted for each nomination.

  • All nominees will be provided with the opportunity to accept their nomination and may be asked to submit further supporting information within a specified period to be considered as part of their nomination.

  • Where required, nominees will be asked to provide evidence of their local residency as part of their nomination acceptance e.g. photocopy of driver’s license.

  • A valid contact phone number and email address is required for both the nominator and nominee. 

  • Nominations for people under the age of 18 require parental consent.

  • Information provided in the nomination submission, and by the nominee may be included in the event program, media releases and social media.

  • Nominees should note, this could be a summary of the information provided and all information may not be included.

  • All nomination information and materials submitted remain the property of Council. 

  • All nominations will be reviewed by the Canterbury Bankstown Australia Day Awards Selection Committee. 
     
  • The panel will assess each nomination based on the information provided in the nomination form and any supporting documents. 
     
  • Nominations may be considered in more than one category if the assessment panel deems them eligible.  In such cases, the panel will evaluate the nomination against the criteria of each relevant category. 
     
  • The panel reserves the right to request additional information from nominators or nominees to support the assessment process. 
     
  • There is no obligation for the panel to allocate an award in every category if no nomination satisfactorily meets the criteria. 
     
  • All decisions made by the Selection Committee are final.