NOMINATING someone for the 2016 Australian of the Year awards is quick and easy, says National Australia Day Council chairman Ben Roberts-Smith VC.
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“It’s as simple as providing the name of someone you would like to see recognised and why they should be considered for the awards,” he said.
“By submitting a nomination for someone you find inspiring and worthy of our attention, you can help recognise Australians doing great things in the community locally, nationally and globally.”
Rosie Batty, the 2015 Australian of the Year, said being nominated for the awards was unexpected and a very humbling experience.
“I’ve watched the awards announcement over many years and I’ve always admired the people who are recognised."
- Christine Evans nominated Rosie Batty
“When I was told I had been nominated I was very surprised and a little embarrassed, but it also gave me a lot of strength because I realised the nomination was a show of support,” Ms Batty said.
“Nominating me was really about showing support for the issue I represented – someone wanted to bring attention to the message I was communicating and to the issue of family violence.
“That nomination has been a powerful thing – it has helped bring about change and I’m so grateful for that support.”
Ms Batty was nominated by Canberra woman Christine Evans - someone she’d never met but who was moved by her strength and character in tragic circumstances.
“I’ve watched the awards announcement over many years and I’ve always admired the people who are recognised,” Ms Evans said.
“When Rosie came to public attention, I was really inspired by her and how she was coming through her own tragedy with a consciousness of helping others and bringing awareness and understanding to this really important issue in our society. I was so struck by her story, I simply had to nominate her for the awards.”
The Commonwealth Bank, principal partner of the 2016 Australian of the Year awards, has been a supporter of the awards for 36 years.
“We’re very proud of our long-term partnership with the awards [which] recognise people who have been nominated by their peers for their exemplary work and commitment to make Australia even better,” the bank’s chief executive officer Ian Narev said.
The National Australia Day Council receives thousands of nominations for the Australian of the Year awards each year.
From these public nominations, finalists in the four award categories (Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year and Local Hero) are selected from each state and territory. In total 128 people are put forward as finalists around the nation.
State and territory awards events are held in October and November, where a recipient is announced in each category.
These 32 state and territory award recipients then become the national finalists for the Australian of the Year awards which are announced in January each year.
You can nominate someone you think is worthy of attention at Australian of the Year awards. Nominations close on August 3.
Fairfax Media is a media partner of the Australian of the Year awards.