Central Coast Council recognises the achievements of individuals and groups who have made an outstanding contribution to their local community through its Australia Day Awards. These Australia Day Awards celebrate the achievements of a growing community that is diverse, multicultural and inclusive.

The Australia Day Awards provide our community with the opportunity to nominate locals that are helping to make the Coast a better place to live. Nominees and winners are from many different walks of life and are very often those who are working quietly behind the scenes right here on the Central Coast.

Awards are presented in five categories

1. Community Group - Recognises the important and inspirational work of a community organisation, in community services, wellbeing and community safety.
2. Community Life - Recognises an individual person that has made a valuable contribution to the community through the fields of sports, arts, culture or environment.
3. Volunteer - An individual volunteer who has made a significant long-term commitment to volunteer work within the community. Someone who has demonstrated outstanding service, commitment, and dedication to our local community through their volunteer work in a non-paid capacity.
4. Young Person - Recognising the outstanding contributions of an individual person of 25 years of age or under who has made a significant contribution to the community. Someone who has achieved high levels in their field and acts as an inspiration and role model to their peers.
5. Senior Citizen - Recognising the outstanding contributions of an individual person of 60 years of age or over who has made a significant contribution to the community.

Citizen of the Year – Overall winner! The Citizen of the Year will be the overall winner chosen from the five categories.

2026 Nomination process

• Nominations open 1st August 2025 and close 29th August 2025. Late nominations were not accepted.
• The decision of the Central Coast Council Australia Day Awards Selection Panel is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
• The Selection Panel reserves the right to move nominations to a category they deem to be more appropriate.

Nominees are determined by the Central Coast Council Australia Day Awards Selection Panel.

Set out below is the selection criteria for each category. Please be sure to respond to each of the relevant criteria in your submission, which will go before the Selection Panel.

The most outstanding nominees will be chosen for all categories with one winner selected in each category.

The Central Coast Citizen of the Year winner is selected by the Selection Panel, based on merit, from the winners of each Award Category.

Eligibility Criteria

The nominee:

1. Must be an Australian Citizen and must live in the Central Coast Local Government area.
2. Will have made a significant community contribution over a long term.
3. Should be a role model that people can aspire to.
4. Should be someone Council can advertise and promote as such.
5. The nominee and the nominator must be separate individuals (i.e., you cannot nominate yourself).
6. Unsuccessful nominees may be re-nominated in subsequent years.
7. Ages are correct as of 26 January 2026.
8. One nomination per organisation, or event.

Enquiries

For enquiries about the Australia Day Awards, please contact us on 02 4306 7900, during business hours or email events@centralcoast.nsw.gov.au

Who will you nominate for Central Coast Council Australia Day Awards 2026?

Help share the word

Help celebrate locals that are helping to make the Coast a better place to live! Download and share our Australia Day Awards 2026 nomination message. 

• Download and pin-up our A3 poster at your workplace or organisation
• Download and share our social media tile – tag @centracoastcouncil
• Download and add our digital banner to your online newsletter.