Time is running out to have your say on who should be considered for the 2017 Australian of the Year Awards, with nominations closing midnight on Sunday 7 August 2016.
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The Australian of the Year Awards rely on the public to submit nominations for fellow Australians they would like to see recognised by the Awards.
More than 1800 individuals have already been nominated across the four Award categories:
- Australian of the Year
- Senior of the Year (65 years and over)
- Young Australian (16 - 30 years)
- Australia’s Local Hero
It only takes one nomination for someone to be in the running for the Awards, but there must be a nomination formally submitted in order for them to be considered.
Nominations can be made quickly and easily at australianoftheyear.org.au.
If you do not have access to the internet, you can call the National Australia Day Council
on 02 6120 0600 for assistance to submit a nomination.
Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, Chairman of the National Australia Day Council, said nominating someone for the Awards was a powerful way to bring recognition to people who are often very humble.
“We’re looking for those people who are making extraordinary contributions to our communities or whose achievements are making a real difference to others,” Mr Roberts-Smith said.
“It may be someone in your town or suburb or it could be someone you’ve never met but have admired as a fellow Australian.
“Everyone has an opinion on who should be Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero each year, but you must submit a nomination for someone you think is worthy by midnight Sunday 7 August in order for them to be considered for the Awards.”
BACKGROUND ON THE AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR AWARDS PROCESS
How the Awards process works:
- Members of the public submit nominations for the Awards – a nomination must be submitted for an individual before they can be considered for the Awards,
- Visit australianoftheyear.org.au where you can submit a nomination
- Up to 3,000 individuals are nominated in the Australian of the Year Awards each year,
- Once nominations close on 7 August 2016, they will be sorted into the four Award categories in each State and Territory,
- Up to four finalists are selected in each category, from which Award recipients in each State and Territory are announced in late 2016 (it’s these people who then go on to be considered for the national Awards),
- The national Awards are decided by the Board of the National Australia Day Council and are announced on January 25, 2017.
Who’s eligible:
There are four Award categories:
- Australian of the Year
- Senior Australian of the Year (65 years and over)
- Young Australian of the Year (16 to 30 years)
- Australia’s Local Hero
Nominees must be Australian citizens
- You don’t have to know the person you’re nominating – you just need to tell us why you think they are worthy of recognition and provide brief details of what they’ve done
- You can’t nominate yourself
- No sitting members of state or federal parliament
- The Awards judging criteria considers:
- Demonstrated excellence in their field
- Significant contribution to the Australian community and nation
- An inspirational role model for the Australian community
- The Local Hero Award acknowledges a significant contribution at local community level
For more information on the Awards process, visit http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/criteria/