Australia Day award nominations now open

Each year, Somerset Regional Council proudly hosts an Australia Day Awards Ceremony recognising the outstanding contributions of many Somerset residents.

NOMINATE NOW

To access a physical form, click here(PDF, 4MB)
Completed forms can be submitted via Council's Customer Service Centres in Esk, Kilcoy and Lowood.

Award Categories

Citizen of the year - An individual who has provided their time in contributing to the community during the current year or have given outstanding service to the community over several years.

Young citizen of the year - A young citizen who has provided their time in contributing to the community during the current year or have given outstanding service to the community over several years.

Arts and Culture award - Celebrating an individual or group who has made a positive contribution to arts and culture in the Somerset region during the preceding year. This could include artists, musicians, performers, writers, makers and other creatives, as well as those who have worked to develop and support cultural activities and projects within the Somerset region.

Sports award - Open to an athlete or team which has achieved exceptional results in sporting endeavours, or to coaches, administration and officials who have provided their time in contributing to the Somerset sporting community.

Community group of the year - A not-for-profit group that has made a significant contribution to the community within the Somerset Regional Council area.

Event of the year - This is presented to the person or group who has staged the most outstanding community event during 2026 within the Somerset Regional Council area. Events must have occurred between Monday, 1 December 2025 and Sunday, 15 November 2026.

Key Dates

NOMINATIONS OPEN
9am Friday, 18 September 2026

NOMINATIONS CLOSE
5pm Sunday, 29 November 2026

WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Tuesday, 26 January 2027 at the Australia Day Ceremony.

2026 Award Recipients

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CONDITIONS OF ENTRY

• Nominations must be made on the official form.
• Supporting evidence may be attached to the nomination form or emailed to mail@somerset.qld.gov.au
• Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.
• Nomination forms must be received by 5pm Sunday, 29 November 2026.
• A candidate may only be nominated for one award category per form.
• An individual can only receive one award in the same year.
• The nominee must be a resident of the Somerset Regional Council area.Nominations will not be accepted for category winners from the previous two years.

SUBMISSION OPTIONS

1. Find and complete the form at somerset.qld.gov.au/AustraliaDay or collect and complete the nomination form at any any Council Customer Service Centre
2. Email your submission to: mail@somerset.qld.gov.au OR Mail your submission to: Chief Executive Officer Somerset Regional Council PO Box 117 ESK QLD 4312
3. Hand in your submission to your nearest Somerset Regional Council Customer Service Centre:
   • 2 Redbank Street, Esk
   • 15 Kennedy Street, Kilcoy
   • 1 Michel Street, Lowood

SELECTION CRITERIA

• Keep information concise and relevant to meet the conditions of entry.
• In choosing the recipients of the Australia Day awards, regard is given to the nominee who has made a significant contribution to their local community in the year immediately prior to receiving the award, as well as their past achievements and ongoing contribution to the community.
• Supporting documents which you believe will assist the judges in making their decisions may also be provided with your nomination form. This can include items such as portfolios, personal references, photographs or samples of work. Please note Council will retain all supporting documentation, so do not supply originals.

JUDGING

• The judging panel will make its decision based on the criteria for each award and the information completed on the nomination form.
• Judges reserve the right to consider any nomination for any award category.
• The judges’ decisions are final and there will be no further correspondence.
• A nominee only needs to be nominated once to be considered.

NOTIFICATION PROCESS AND CEREMONY INVITATIONS

• Nominees will receive a letter advising them of their nomination.
• Nominees and nominators will receive an invitation to the award ceremony.
• Awards will be presented by the Somerset Regional Council Mayor at the Australia Day Ceremony on Tuesday, 26 January 2027.
• Nominees will receive a certificate of acknowledgement.