Nominations are now open for Yarra City Council’s annual Community Awards – recognising the everyday heroes making a difference in Yarra.

The annual awards are an opportunity to honour our local community members who make Yarra such a wonderful place to live, work and visit.

Whether it’s advocating for residents in public housing, providing mentoring and opportunities for young people, going above and beyond as a sports coach or bringing the community together to protect nature – our past winners have shown incredible commitment, leadership and dedication to the Yarra community.

Your nominations help us discover the local heroes in our community, celebrate their achievements and share their stories.

Do you know an individual or group who deserves to be recognised? It takes under 10 minutes to submit a nomination!

Nominations close at 11.59pm on Sunday 30 June.

This year’s award categories:

• Citizen of the Year  
  Must be a current Yarra resident aged 26 years or older (at 1 July 2024).
• Young Citizen of the Year 
  Recognising a current Yarra resident aged 12 to 25 years (at 1 July 2024).
• Community Initiative of the Year  
  Recognising an initiative by a group, event, campaign or movement. Individuals are not eligible for this category.
• Contributions to Sustainability  
  Recognising an individual or group for a program, project or activity that addresses the climate emergency or an environmental issue relevant to Yarra.
• Contributions to Sport  
  Recognising an individual or group that encourages physical activity as part of everyday life for people of all ages and abilities.
• Contributions to Arts and Culture  
  Recognising an individual or group that contributes to Yarra's vibrant arts and culture, including contributions to protecting and celebrating local history.
• Contributions to Diversity and Inclusion  
  Recognising an individual or group that works to make sure all people can participate in community life, feel welcome and be connected in Yarra.

Winners in the Citizen, Young Citizen and Community Initiative of the Year categories will win a $500 prize, and winners in each of the remaining categories will win a $250 prize.  
 
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Thursday 12 December.

Interested in being part of the judging panel?

The Community Awards Selection Panel is comprised of 5 community representatives who assess each nomination based on their contribution to the Yarra community, the positive impact they have made, their leadership and being a positive role model for others.

Submit an expression of interest to join the panel by Sunday 30 June.

Find out more on our 2024 Yarra Community Awards webpage.