Award Programs

The Community Achievement Awards started in 2002 and are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions that individuals, communities and businesses make throughout NSW & The ACT. These Awards aim to recognise their success and achievements, which contribute to making NSW & The ACT a better place.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

• AV Partners Leadership and Innovation Award
• Awards Australia Foundation Health and Wellbeing Award
• Beyond Bank Community Group Award
• Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award
• Crown Land Management Excellence Award
• Konica Minolta Customer Service Award
• Shangri-La Sydney Local Legend Award
• Sharpe Bros Business for Good Award

The NSW Women of the Year Awards celebrate the incredible women and girls improving the lives of people in NSW. 

Since 2012 these annual awards have recognised the women and girls whose determination, bravery, skill and passion has inspired their communities and others to achieve great things. 

The awards celebrate the role models who challenge inequality, innovate and inspire.

The recipients of the awards will be announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards ceremony on Thursday 4 March 2027 as part of NSW Women's Week 2027 (2-8 March).

Categories for 2027

• NSW Premier’s Woman of Excellence
  The NSW Premier's Woman of Excellence is a role model who has excelled in her chosen field. In doing so, she effects lasting change and is an inspiration to others. 
• NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year
  A dedicated pillar of her community, the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year is a role model who promotes economic, cultural and/or social opportunities for Aboriginal people in NSW. Open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
• NSW Community Hero
  The NSW Community Hero Award shines a light on the accomplishments of an extraordinary woman who works tirelessly to contribute to the prosperity of those in her local community.
• NSW Regional Woman of the Year
  The NSW Regional Woman of the Year recognises the accomplishments of an exceptional woman living in regional NSW who inspires and advances her community and contributes to the fabric of her local area. Nominees for the NSW Regional Woman of the Year must reside outside of Newcastle, Wollongong or Greater Sydney.
• NSW Young Woman of the Year
  The NSW Young Woman of the Year has demonstrated incredible potential or achievement in her chosen field, passion or area of interest. Open to women aged 16-30 years.
• The Ones to Watch
  Recognises girls and young women aged 7 to 15, who demonstrate a single act or ongoing acts of courage, bravery, strength, determination and/or kindness to help and support those around them.
  
  The program will showcase up to 10 girls who will be recognised and profiled as part of the NSW Women of the Year Awards 2027, as the next generation of rising stars.
  
  The Ones to Watch girls will be featured in a video reel that highlights their achievements and will be invited to attend the prestigious NSW Women of the Year Awards events including being presented with a special acknowledgement at the awards ceremony on 4 March 2027 held in Sydney.
  
  Nominations can be made by the nominee's parents/guardians and schoolteachers only. 

After a hiatus in 2025, the Australian Museums and Galleries Awards return in 2026.

The AMaGAs celebrate the best of what our sector does: the exhibitions, programs, publications, community partnerships, research projects, digital initiatives and acts of institutional leadership that make Australian museums and galleries extraordinary.

This year's ceremony will be held in Canberra during the conference — and live-streamed so the whole sector can celebrate together, wherever you are.

In recognition of the 2025 hiatus, they're accepting entries for outstanding work realised in both 2024 and 2025 — so projects produced between January 1st 2024 and December 31st 2025 are eligible across all categories.

The AMaGAs welcome entries from a diverse range of non-commercial collecting institutions across Australia, including but not limited to museums, galleries, libraries, archives, and historical societies. The Digital Excellence and Excellence in Print categories are also open to non-commercial collecting institutions in New Zealand.

Entries must be submitted by an organisation, association, or non-profit company; however, individual contributors are permitted to submit entries on behalf of the organisations with whom they have collaborated. These entries must be submitted under the name of the respective cultural organisation and with their written permission. This collaborative spirit ensures that the AMaGAs accurately recognise and honour the achievements and contributions of the cultural institutions and the creative professionals who collaborate with them.

Nominations are open for the 2027 First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award. Valued at $25,000 this Award, for one business, recognises innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship among Australian First Nations small to medium arts and culture businesses or community organisations (including Art Centres) nationwide.  

This category is only open to self-nominations from First Nations owned and led small to medium arts and cultural businesses that demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation and cultural integrity in their business practices.  The recipient will be presented with the Award at the First Nations Arts and Culture Awards ceremony to be held on Thursday 27 May 2027. 

The Award categories are: 

• The prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Artistic Excellence, to recognise the outstanding contribution of senior First Nations artists to their arts practice. Two recipients of the award will receive $60,000 each.
• The prestigious Red Ochre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Cultural Advocacy and Leadership, to recognise the outstanding contribution of senior First Nations arts leaders or arts and cultural workers. Two recipients of the award will receive $60,000 each.
• The Established Artist of the Year Award, to recognise outstanding achievement in artistic practice of established Australian First Nations artists. The recipient of this award will receive $25,000.
• The Youth Award for Achievement in the Arts, to recognise the achievement of Australian First Nations artists or arts workers between the age of 18 and 35. The recipient of this award will receive $25,000.
• The First Nations Arts and Culture Business Innovation Award, to recognise innovation and excellence in entrepreneurship among Australian First Nations small to medium arts and culture businesses and community organisations (including Art Centres) nationwide. The recipient of this award will receive $25,000.
• The First Nations Arts Fellowships, supporting the creation of major works by two artists.

The Ethnic Business Awards (EBA’s) recognise the outstanding accomplishments of Migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs. They highlight the contribution made to Australia by these people. As Australia’s longest running business awards, these awards are the most prestigious of their kind.

Indigenous Award
The first of it’s kind. Launched in 2010 the EBA recognises excellence in business endeavours by Indigenous entrepreneurs. The award is open to businesses of all sizes and in the last decade has brought much attention to the growing number of creative, diverse and inspiring Indigenous business men and women.

Migrant Awards
The Migrant awards are open anyone born outside of Australia. There are two categories for the Migrant awards.

• Medium to Large Migrant Business Category (turnover greater than $10 million per annum)

• Small Migrant Business Category (turnover less than $10 million per annum)

Our communities are full of upstanding individuals from volunteers to local sporting heroes to community legends, future leaders and eco-warriors who merit the recognition for their work in our communities and regions.

Residents of NSW are encouraged to keep a look out and nominate remarkable community members of all ages for a NSW Local Citizen of the Year Award in the following categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Sportsperson of the Year
• Environmental Citizen of the Year
• Young Environmental Citizen of the Year
• Australia Day Award

The NSW Local Citizen of the Year Awards have been a part of the Australia Day in NSW program since 2005, with many Local Government Areas (LGAs) embracing the program to celebrate outstanding citizens and unsung heroes across the state.

Each year award presentations are incorporated into the local council's Australia Day Program with certificates presented by Mayor's and Australia Day Ambassadors.