Glen Eira City Council hosts Citizen of the Year awards each year. These awards recognise individuals and community organisations for their contributions and efforts in the community over a 12 month period.
Citizen and Community Group Awards
Key Dates
Open: Monday, 23 February 2026, 9am
Close: Friday, 3 April 2026, Midnight
Presentation Night: Date TBC
About the Awards
The Citizen of the Year Awards recognise individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions in the community to strengthen connection, leadership, and environmental responsibility.
Awards are offered in the following four categories:
Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year
To be eligible for a Citizen of the Year 2026 nomination, the nominee must be a resident of Glen Eira.
To be eligible for a Young Citizen of the Year nomination, the nominee must be a resident of Glen Eira and be 25 years or younger on at the time of nomination.
As a Citizen of the Year or Young Citizen of the Year recipient, the nominee must have:
- made a significant contribution to the Glen Eira community throughout the year and/or over the previous years; and
- outstanding leadership skills and/or be a role model for other community members.
The nominee must have also excelled in one or more of the following areas:
- Aged Services
- All Abilities
- Arts/Culture
- Charity/Humanitarian
- Carer Support
- Community Health
- Community Information and Support
- Community Services
- Counselling
- Diversity/Inclusion
- Education
- Employment
- Family Services
- Financial/Legal Counselling
- Homelessness/Housing
- LGBTIQA+/Mens/Womens Health
- Mental Health
- Sport/Recreation
- Sustainablity
- Volunteers
- Youth Services
Community Group of the Year
To be eligible for a Community Group of the Year Award, a community group or organisation must be not-for-profit and be operating in the City of Glen Eira. A community group can be nominated for its usual activities or for a special project it has implemented or completed.
Nominated community groups must have made a significant contribution to the Glen Eira community throughout the year and/or over previous years.
They must also have shown that they:
- meet a community need or priority; and
- provide exceptional service to the local community.
Sustainability Award
A Sustainability Award nominee may be either an individual or a community group or organisation. To be eligible for a Sustainability Award, an individual must be a resident of the City of Glen Eira; a community group or organisation must be not-for-profit and operate in the City of Glen Eira.
An individual, community group or organisation nominated must have significantly contributed to sustainability action that benefits the Glen Eira community in at least one of the following areas:
- advocacy for strong climate action and change
- reducing carbon emissions, for example through renewable energy and energy saving
- supporting a circular economy by avoiding waste and improving reuse and recycling
- valuing biodiversity and caring for our environment
- supporting local food systems
- fostering sustainable transport behaviours
- building social connections to increase resilience to climate impacts, such as extreme weather, energy and food security;
- making a positive impact on sustainability and climate change outcomes;
- engaging and influencing people in the Glen Eira community to take sustainability and climate action;
- creating a point of difference, such as a novel or creative approach, or action that is leading to scalable, longer lasting change.
Referees
You must provide the name of at least one referee, who we may contact to speak to about shortlisted nominees or community groups. The referee process is confidential.
Please ensure you contact referees and provide them with sufficient information about the nomination prior to making the nomination. Referees may attach a supporting letter with the nomination.
Our selection process
A selection panel consisting of three Councillors and two community representatives will consider all nominations before making a recommendation to Council.
