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Wollongong City Council
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City of Wollongong Awards

These awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the people and organisations who make our city a better place.

Nominations now open

We're now accepting nominations for the next City of Wollongong Awards, which will be announced in January 2024.

To make a nomination:

  1. Read the category information on this page
  2. Read the terms and conditions for the awards
  3. Use the button below to submit your nomination by 11.59pm, Friday 1 December 2023.
Make a nomination
Make a nomination

Award categories

A person of any age who has made a contribution to the Wollongong Community to an exceptionally high standard should be regarded as worthy to be the ‘Wollongong Citizen of the Year’.

A person aged 65 and over in 2023, who has made a contribution to the Wollongong Community to an exceptionally high standard should be regarded as worthy to be the ‘Senior Wollongong Citizen of the Year’.

A person aged 30 or under in 2023, who has made a contribution to the Wollongong Community to an exceptionally high standard, and should be regarded as worthy to be the ‘Young Wollongong Citizen of the Year’.

A person aged 18 years or under in 2023, who has made such outstanding contribution to the Wollongong Community, that they would be worthy to be named Wollongong’s 2023 'Rising Star'.

A person or group who has influenced or made the most valuable contribution to environmental initiatives in the City of Wollongong.

A person or group who has influenced or made the most valuable contribution to the performing or visual arts, or the heritage of the City of Wollongong.

A person/team which has influenced or made the most valuable contribution to the playing, coaching, management or promotion of at least one sport in the City of Wollongong.

A person or group who has influenced, or made the most innovative contribution, in such endeavours (but not limited to) science, technology, education, research, medicine, mathematics or the environment in the City of Wollongong.

A local volunteer, not-for-profit, or service organisation based in the Wollongong City Council area which has made an outstanding contribution to the people of the City of Wollongong.

A person or group that has shown outstanding and innovative contributions that promote social inclusion, acceptance and understanding of human diversity in the City of Wollongong.

A person who has a strong Wollongong Connection but who is no longer residing in the City, but who is achieving great things nationally and/or internationally in any field of endeavour.

Recent recipients

The Wollongong Australia Day Awards recipients for 2023 were:

  • Citizen of the Year - Sally Stevenson AM
  • Young Citizen of the Year - Shannon Fox
  • Senior Citizen of the Year - Nyan Thit Tieu
  • Lord Mayor's Award - Kim Bell
  • Lord Mayor's Award - Judy Skiller
  • Rising Star Award - Jack Khan
  • Environmental Achievement Award - Saul Griffith
  • Arts and Cultural Achievement Award - Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
  • Sports Achievement Award - Flynn Ogilvie
  • Innovation Achievement Award - Sandra Pires
  • Community Group of the Year - Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services
  • Diversity and Inclusion Award - Jonathan Goerlach
  • Wollongong to the World Award - Dr Meganne Christian

Congratulations to our award recipients and nominees for 2023.

To read more about our recipients, please see the the 2023 media release.

Note: These awards were previously called the Wollongong Australia Day Awards.