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, 854KB)
Completed forms can be submitted via Council's Customer Service Centres in Esk, Kilcoy and Lowood.
Award Categories
Citizen of the year - Persons who have 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 - Young persons (aged 16 to 30) who have 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 - Open to performers, musicians, actors, directors and artists, celebrating their individual creative achievements for the preceding year, as well as those who have worked to develop cultural activities and projects within Somerset.
Sports award - Open to coaches, administration and officials who've provided their time in contributing to the Somerset sporting community or athletes or teams which have achieved exceptional results in sporting endeavours.
Community group of the year - A not-for-profit group that has made a significant contribution to the Somerset community.
Event of the year - Presented to a person or group which has staged the most outstanding community event during 2025 within Somerset. Events must have occurred between Sunday, 1 December 2024 and Saturday, 1 November 2025.
Key Dates
NOMINATIONS OPEN
9am Friday, 24 October 2025
NOMINATIONS CLOSE
5pm Sunday, 4 January 2026
WINNERS ANNOUNCED
Monday, 26 January 2026 at the Australia Day Ceremony.
2025 Award Recipients
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
- Nominations must be made on the official form.
- Supporting evidence may be attached to the nomination form.
- Incomplete nomination forms will not be considered.
- Nomination forms must be received by 5pm Sunday, 4 January 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.
HOW TO SUBMIT
- 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
- 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
- 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 Monday, 26 January 2026.
- Nominees will receive a certificate of acknowledgement.