Ipswich Australia Day Awards

Ipswich, it is time to show thanks to our local heroes and those inspiring individuals that better our community.

Do you know someone or a community group who goes above and beyond? Let’s show our recognition and appreciation with the honour of an Australia Day Award.

How to nominate

Submit your nomination in 3 easy steps before 11.59 pm Sunday 5 November. It takes less than 30 minutes:

  1. Simply scroll to the “Awards Categories” section below
  2. Review the nomination criteria, then click the link under your selected category
  3. Enter required details and add supporting documents

2024 Ipswich Australia Day Awards - Nomination Guide (PDF, 99.4 KB)

Key dates

Please note the following key dates for the 2024 Ipswich Australia Day Awards Ceremony:

ActionsDates
Nominations open Wednesday 29 March 2023
Nominations close Sunday 5 November 2023
Reference checks 20 November – 4 December 2023
Judging 21 November 2023– 4 December 2023
Finalists announced and contacted From 11 December 2023
2024 Ipswich Australia Day Awards CeremonyWednesday 17 January 2024

Judging process

Those nominees that meet the eligibility criteria will be passed onto a judging panel to determine the finalists and winners in each category.  The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into. The judges reserve the right to not allocate an award in any of the award categories if, in their opinions, the nominations are of insufficient merit.

Awards ceremony

Finalists and their nominators in each category will be notified at least three weeks prior to the awards ceremony. Finalists will be invited along to the official awards ceremony (Wednesday 17 January 2024), where winners will be announced. A winners list will also be publicly released after the ceremony.

Nomination conditions

  • Nominations can only be submitted online via the official nomination form
  • Nominations provided in hard copy or by way of email, USB or cloud storage will not be accepted
  • Supporting documentation will only be accepted via the online upload function within the online nomination forms
  • The nomination must address eligibility, category and judging criteria relating to the nominee in order to be a valid nomination.  Ipswich City Council reserves the right to decline nominations if they do not meet the criteria for the specific category being applied for or if nominations are incomplete or if information is incorrect
  • You may be contacted after submitting a nomination and asked to provide further details including photographs, videos, newspaper clippings or reference letters
  • Nominees are able to be nominated for more than one

Award categories and nomination links

Eligibility criteria

Ipswich City Council will confirm nominations across all award categories based on the eligibility of each nominee. If no eligible nominations are received, Ipswich City Council reserves the right to remove any award category as required. All nominees must satisfy the below criteria:

  • Nominees must be Australian citizens
  • Nominees must have resided within the Ipswich local government area during 2023
  • Nominees should satisfy any other criteria specific to each category (listed under each category above)
  • Nominators must be over the age of 18 years
  • Regard will be given to the nominee’s achievements in 2023, as well as their past achievements and ongoing contribution to the Ipswich community
  • Self-nominations are not accepted
  • Council reserves the right to pre-select finalists in categories where a high volume of nominations have been received
  • Submitting multiple nominations for the same individual/event will not influence the nominee's chances of being selected as a finalist and/or winner
  • Nominations must be received by midnight on Sunday 5 November 2023. Late nominations will not be considered. No responsibility will be taken for nominations that are not received by the closing date

Citizen of the Year

Nominees must be Ipswich residents aged 26 years or older as at 26 January 2023.

Demonstrated achievement in one or more of the following:

  • Personal, academic or professional achievements
  • Contribution in the relevant field
  • Demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity
  • Personal interests and community involvement
  • Contribution to the development of the City of Ipswich community and/or economy
  • Contributions being completed on a voluntary basis or exceeding the normal requirements of the nominee’s paid work

Senior Citizen of the Year

Nominees must be Ipswich residents aged 65 years or older as at 26 January 2023.

Demonstrated achievement in one or more of the following:

  • Personal, academic or professional achievements
  • Contribution in the relevant field
  • Demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity
  • Personal interests and community involvement
  • Contribution to the development of the City of Ipswich community and/or economy
  • Contributions being completed on a voluntary basis or exceeding the normal requirements of the nominee’s paid work

Young Citizen of the Year

Nominees must be Ipswich residents under 26 years of age as at 26 January 2023.

Demonstrated achievement in one or more of the following:

  • Personal, academic or professional achievements
  • Contribution in the relevant field
  • Demonstrated leadership, innovation and creativity
  • Personal interests and community involvement
  • Contribution to the development of the City of Ipswich community and/or economy
  • Contributions being completed on a voluntary basis or exceeding the normal requirements of the nominee’s paid work

Cultural Award

Open to performers, musicians, actors, directors, etc. who reside in Ipswich, as well as those who have worked to develop cultural activities and projects within the Ipswich community.

Demonstrated achievement in one or more of the following:

  • Growing local participation in arts and cultural activities
  • Building the capacity of local artists and cultural groups
  • Providing arts and cultural programming and opportunities that engage with diverse segments of the community
  • Increasing awareness of the value of the arts and culture within the community

Sport and Recreation Award

Open to sporting coaches, administrators, officials and athletes of all ages who reside within the Ipswich community.

Demonstrated achievement in one or more of the following:

  • Good practice in sport, being a positive role model in sport and recreation pursuits, innovative and inclusive programs or coaching of others
  • Encouragement of membership and participation
  • Contribution to the outstanding management or administration of sport or recreation activities
  • Participation in official sporting or recreational duties in a voluntary capacity Promotion of participation and the benefits

Community Group of the Year

Nominations are open to Ipswich community groups that have shown significant contribution to supporting the Ipswich community by demonstrating two or more of the following:

  • Displayed high level of community engagement through leadership, participation, volunteering and attendance
  • Building community partnerships
  • Contribution to measurable social, cultural and/or community outcomes
  • Strengthened social cohesion within culturally diverse communities
  • Proven commitment and delivery of a service to improve lives and opportunities for the Ipswich community

Consent

Information (including photos) provided as part of the nomination process will be used for the purpose of conducting the Awards Ceremony and promoting the City of Ipswich services to the community.  The photo and name use can include, but is not limited to, social media, website, Council publications and newspapers.  Please ensure to use images and details of the nominees have been gained.

By submitting all documentation and photos you are acknowledging that Ipswich City Council may use them in the public domain.

Ipswich City Council, and its contractors or agents, may take photographs, sound recordings and video recordings at this event (“the Media”). The Media may include images or recordings of you (“Personal Information”).

Council may use and manage the Personal Information for marketing, promotional purposes, and as detailed in Council’s Privacy Statement & Personal Information Digest (these documents are available on Council’s website at Ipswich.qld.gov.au/privacy). The marketing and promotional purposes may include making the Personal Information publicly available on websites, social media and in printed material.

Those appearing in the Media will not receive any fee or benefit for this use of the Media.
If you do not agree to the collection of your Personal Information in this way, please notify the event organiser.

Should you have any further questions regarding this event please call 3810 6666.

Previous winners

2024 Ipswich Australia Day Awards

  • Citizen of the Year -  Amanda Draheim
  • Senior Citizen of the Year – Fay Ison
  • Young Citizen of the Year – Louie Galman
  • Cultural Award – Jenny Stubbs
  • Sport and Recreation Award – David Reid
  • Community Group of the Year – Riverview Neighbourhood Watch

2023 Ipswich Australia Day Awards

  • Citizen of the Year -  Donna Cavanagh
  • Senior Citizen of the Year - Rita Langer
  • Young Citizen of the Year - Noah Springall
  • Cultural Award - Robin “Tallman” Wakkajinda
  • Sport and Recreation Award - Mat Britton
  • Community Group of the Year - Marburg and District Residents Association

2022 Ipswich Australia Day Awards

  • Citizen of the Year - Zoe Knorre
  • Senior Citizen of the Year - Gregory Broad
  • Young Citizen of the Year - Tamara Whiting
  • Cultural Award - Kylie Hill
  • Sport and Recreation Award - Scott Morrison
  • Community Event of the Year - Our Stories

2021 Ipswich Australia Day Awards

  • Citizen of the Year - Glen Smith
  • Senior Citizen of the Year - Pamela Lane
  • Young Citizen of the Year - Blake Wesbro
  • Cultural Award - Toni Risson
  • Sports and Recreation Award - Calvin Hegvold
  • Community Event of the Year – Qld Fire Appeal - Cent Auction
  • Spirt of Ipswich Award - Zoe Knorre

2020 Ipswich Australia Day Awards

  • Citizen of the Year - Amy Hartness
  • Senior Citizen of the Year - Stella Gibbs
  • Young Citizen of the Year - Ripley Tuuta
  • Cultural Award of the Year - Danielle Leedie Gray
  • Sport Award of the Year - Ashleigh Barty
  • Community Event of the Year - Transition 2 Adulthood
  • Spirt of Ipswich Award - Pat Stephens
  • City-Wide Event of the Year - Multicultural Tamil and Indian New Year Celebrations