Nominations for 2017 Australian of the Year Awards are now open.
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Australians are being asked to nominate their local heroes and admirable Australians for the 2017 Australian of the Year Awards.
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.
There are four Awards categories:
Australian of the Year
Senior of the Year (65 years and over)
Young Australian (16 - 30 years)
Australia’s Local Hero
Nominations can be made at australianoftheyear.org.au until midnight 7 August 2016.
Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG, Chairman of the National Australia Day Council, encouraged the public to get involved and nominate people who are worthy of attention.
“Nominations from the public are vitally important – it’s the public who know the people doing great things in our communities,” said Mr Roberts-Smith.
“The Awards recognise 128 people nationally each year – people from diverse backgrounds around the nation who contribute in many different ways.
They’re volunteers, charity founders,advocates for those in need, people who’ve overcome their own challenges to help others, pioneers who’ve made a difference, young people looking to create a brighter future and achievers with a sense of community.
Most of all, they are one of us.
“Throughout the 56-year history of the Australian of the Year Awards, there’s a wealth of people whose contributions or achievements have been of benefit to others – from humble heroes such as ‘Angel of the Gap’ Don Ritchie and foster mum Lynne Sawyers to high achievers like Ian Frazer and Fiona Stanley whose scientific developments have had global impact.
“The four Awards categories - Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero - are equal in their importance and allow us to honour people across a range of areas.
“It only takes one nomination for an individual to be in the running for the Awards, but they must be nominated. Don’t assume someone you know of may have been nominated already – if we don’t receive a nomination for someone, we can’t consider them for the Awards.”
Nominations can be made online 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.
The Australian of the Year awards celebrate the achievements of inspirational Australians.
As Principal Partner, Commonwealth Bank, is proud to have supported the Awards for more than 36 years.
“We are delighted to continue our long standing partnership with the Australian of the Year Awards. We look forward to seeing which remarkable Australians are nominated in 2017,” said Ian Narev, Chief Executive Officer, Commonwealth Bank.
For more information on the Awards process, visit http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/the-awards/criteria/
