Nominations are now open for the 2026 Australia Day Awards, a tradition that recognises the efforts of everyday Australians who go above and beyond for their local community.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne encouraged residents to nominate and help a community champion get the recognition they deserve.
"Our community is blessed with incredibly generous people and community groups who devote their time to helping others," Mayor Byrne said.
"So many do so behind the scenes without expecting anything in return. These awards provide an opportunity to spotlight the good deeds that help our region thrive.
"Please nominate someone and help us bring their contributions to our community into the limelight."
There are five categories for the 2026 Australia Day Awards:
- Citizen of the Year
- Young Citizen of the Year - Nominees must be aged 24 years or under as of Wednesday, 21 January 2026
- Sporting Citizen of the Year
- Environmental Citizen of the Year
- Community Group of the Year
Nominees must be residents of The Hills Shire Local Government Area (LGA) and must have made a positive impact on The Hills Shire community over the past year.
Finalists will be announced in the lead up to Australia Day 2026.
To nominate someone, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for 'Australia Day Awards' to fill out the online form.
Submissions close at 12 noon on Wednesday, 10 December 2025.
