2026 Australia Day Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards
Nominations close: Sunday, 14 December 2025
The Rockhampton Region Australia Day Awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of individuals and organisations in our Region.
These awards are an opportunity to publicly acknowledge those who have made an extraordinary contribution or are an outstanding achiever.
If you know of a person or community group dedicated to making the Rockhampton Region a better place, help us recognise their efforts and nominate them for a Rockhampton Region Australia Day Award 2026.
Nominate here
Please complete the online nomination form (preferred option) by Sunday, 14 December 2025.
Alternatively a printable PDF copy of this form is available here(PDF, 1001KB).
Award categories include:
Citizen of the Year - Recognising those who have made a noteworthy contribution to the betterment of the Rockhampton Region and/or given outstanding service to the local community. Must be older than 30 years as at 26 January 2026.
Young Citizen of the Year - Recognising young people who have made a noteworthy contribution to the betterment of the Rockhampton Region and/or given outstanding service to the local community. Must be aged between 15 years and 30 years as at 26 January 2026.
Community Service Award - In recognition of individuals who have made a noteworthy contribution to the community or enhanced social interaction among the community through their involvement with community groups, charity organisations or similar.
Arts and Culture Award - This award recognises the significant achievement and dedication by an individual or group to the arts and promotes outstanding creative work in the Rockhampton Region.
Sportsperson of the Year - Recognising those who have an outstanding record of achievement in sport. Must be older than 18 years as at 26 January 2026.
Junior Sportsperson of the Year - Recognising those who have an outstanding record of achievement in sport. Nominees must be between 12 years and 18 years as at 26 January 2026.
Sports Official of the Year - Recognising those who have an outstanding record of achievement through their involvement within their club, organisation or committee in an executive position.
Community Initiative/Event - Recognising individuals, informal groups or formal organisations that have made a significant and beneficial contribution to the wellbeing or liveability of the Rockhampton Region through projects, activities or events.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Please provide as much information as possible to assist the judging in the judging process. We can only judge based on the information provided in this nomination form.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
1 The nominee must reside within the Local Government boundary of Rockhampton Regional Council.
2 Under exceptional circumstances consideration may be given where the nominee has made an outstanding contribution to the Rockhampton Region but reside outside the Local Government area.
3 Nominees must be an Australian Citizen.
4 Nominations for the Rockhampton Region Australia Day Awards 2026 must be received by Sunday, 14 December 2025.
5 Nominees must be over the age of 12 as of 26 January 2026
6 Entrants in individual categories automatically qualify for nomination to the Citizen of the Year or Young Citizen of the Year Award. Entrants may also be nominated in more than one category.
7 Previous award winners may only be nominated for a different category. Previous recipients of any awards will not be eligible to win that same award again.
8 Nominations are to include as much detail about the nominee as possible, as this is the only information that the judging panel will use to assess nominations. See form for further details.
9 Please do not send original supporting documentation, as all documentation will be retained by Rockhampton Regional Council.
10 Nominees must be notified of your intent to nominate them for an award.
11 Rockhampton Regional Council employees and their families are eligible to apply for the awards.
12 The judging panel will only consider unpaid service to the community. Please clearly delineate between paid and volunteer.
13 The judging panel, at their discretion, may choose to swap a nominee into a more suitable category.
14 The Judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
15 Please return completed nominations via one of the following:
- Online
- Post: Attn: Mayor’s Office Rockhampton Regional Council, PO Box 1860, ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4700
- Deliver in person: At one of Council’s Customer Service Centres:
- Rockhampton: 232 Bolsover Street
- Gracemere: 1 Ranger Street
- Mount Morgan: 32 Hall Street
CONTACT US
For further details on nominating, please contact Council:
Phone: 0749 329000 I Email: enquiries@rrc.qld.gov.au