Community Awards
2025 Awards Winners (PDF 9MB)
The Inner West Council's Community Awards Program honours the exceptional people working hard in our community and includes the Pauline McLeod Awards for Reconciliation, Citizen of the Year Awards and Amy Large Volunteer of the Year Awards.
The annual Community Awards celebrate Inner West community members who live, study, work and volunteer across our local government area. Our awards recognise and celebrate locals who are making outstanding contributions to our community and making a difference in the Inner West. The Community Awards are a chance to nominate these individuals and groups and have their contribution recognised. Nominees and award recipients will be celebrated as part of a ceremony event in May 2025 as part of NSW Volunteer Week.
Anyone can nominate someone they feel fits the award criteria.
Key program dates:
- Nominations open Monday 17 February 2025
- Nominations close Sunday 23 March 2025
- Nominees notified 1 May 2025
- Awards ceremony Wednesday 21 May 2025
The Pauline McLeod Awards for Reconciliation
The Pauline McLeod Awards for Reconciliation acknowledges the achievements of those who work to promote Reconciliation through selfless acts. They may be your neighbours, work colleagues, family members or acquaintances. They will have one thing in common, and that is their desire to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The nominee can be an individual or organisation that has demonstrated their commitment to Reconciliation over the past year. For example, an individual or group may hold an activity or event with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples. They may have formed a touch footy club; held regular morning teas in the community; or provided equal employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Categories
Award categories include, with an award for Indigenous and non-Indigenous persons in each category:
- Primary Student Award (an individual aged 5-12 years at the time of nomination)
- Secondary Student Award (an individual aged 13-18 years at the time of nomination)
- Open Award (an individual aged 19 or over)
- Organisation Award (organisation or business within the Inner West local government area)
Eligibility
- For individuals: Must be a resident, student, worker, or a volunteer within the local government areas of Inner West local government area; or hold a cultural connection to Gadigal/Wangal lands that Inner West Council resides on
- For an organisation: Must be an organisation or business within the Inner West local government area; or hold a cultural connection to Gadigal/Wangal lands that Inner West Council resides on
- Must not be Members of Parliament, former Councillors, or employees of Inner West Council;
- Must be nominated by someone other than themselves;
- Cannot be considered for a second award in a category in which they have already received an award in a previous year;
- Council reserves the right to withdraw an award if further information or the recipient's conduct draws the Council awards into disrepute.
- Awards will not be granted posthumously.
View Past Winners
Amy Large Volunteer Awards
The Amy Large Volunteer Awards honour local resident and much loved volunteer Amy Large. Amy was widely known for her long years of service supporting Birchgrove Public School committees, the Birchgrove Scorpions Junior Rugby League team, the Balmain Town Hall and the Back to Balmain Day Committees, as well as volunteering for the Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
Formerly known as Volunteer of the Year Awards, the Amy Large Volunteer Awards celebrate the enormous contribution volunteers make in the Inner West.
Categories
- Young Volunteer of the Year (an individual aged 24 years or under at time of nomination)
- Adult Volunteer of the Year (an individual aged 25-64 at time of nomination)
- Senior Volunteer of the Year (an individual aged 65 or over)
- Volunteer Team or Group of the Year (groups made up of more than one individual)
- Sports Volunteer of the Year (an individual award for someone who has significantly contributed to a sporting club or association)
Eligibility
- Nominees must have undertaken the volunteer work in the previous 12 months,
- Communities in the Inner West Council area must be significant beneficiaries of the nominee’s voluntary work OR the nominee must reside in the Inner West.
- Previous award recipients are ineligible to be re-nominated
View Past Winners
Citizen of the Year
The Inner West Council Citizen, Senior Citizen and Young Citizen of the Year Awards aim to recognise outstanding contributions from individuals within the Inner West community.
The nominee must have contributed significantly to their community in any field. The contribution will demonstrate an active concern for the rights, welfare, wellbeing and/or the advancement of others. Such a contribution could have been made to the general community, community groups, or individuals within the community. A person may be considered who has displayed an act of compassion, generosity or bravery.
Categories
- Young Citizen of the Year (an individual aged 24 years or under at time of nomination)
- Adult Citizen of the Year (an individual aged 25-64 at time of nomination)
- Senior Citizen of the Year (an individual aged 65 or over at time of nomination)
Eligibility
- Nominees must live, study or work within the Inner West local government area, and has made a positive contribution to the community.
- Must not be Members of Parliament, former Councillors, or employees of Inner West Council.
- Must be nominated by someone other than themselves.
- Cannot be considered for a second award in a category in which they have already received an award in a previous year; however future recognition is possible in one of the other two available awards. For example, a person who has previously been awarded a Young Citizen of the Year award would be eligible for consideration under the Citizen of the Year or Senior Citizen of the Year categories in a following year.
- Council reserves the right to withdraw an award if further information or the recipient's conduct draws the Council awards into disrepute.
- Awards will not be granted posthumously.
View Past Winners
Translation Information
Council staff can help you submit a nomination in English. If you need our help, please call us using the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). This is a FREE service. TIS phone number: 131 450 Ask the TIS interpreter to call 9392 5177.
消委会工作人员可以帮助你用英语提交的提名。如果您需要我们的帮助，请通过翻译和口译服务（TIS）给我们打电话。这是一个 免费的 服务。TIS电话号码：131 450询问TIS的传译员致电何超仪在9392 5177
يمكن لموظفي المجلس مساعدتك في تقديم ترشيح باللغة الانجليزيه. إذا كنت بحاجه إلى مساعدتنا ، يرجى الاتصال بنا باستخدام خدمه الترجمة والتفسير (TIS). هذه خدمه مجانية. tis رقم الهاتف: 131 450 اطلب من مترجم tis للاتصال جوزي في 9392 5177.
Nhân viên Hội đồng có thể giúp bạn gửi một đề cử bằng tiếng Anh. Nếu bạn cần sự giúp đỡ của chúng tôi, xin vui lòng gọi cho chúng tôi bằng cách sử dụng Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS). Đây là một miễn phí dịch vụ. TIS số điện thoại: 131 450 Hỏi người phiên dịch TIS gọi 9392 5177
Consiglio personale può aiutare a presentare una candidatura in lingua inglese. Se avete bisogno del nostro aiuto, si prega di telefonare utilizzando il servizio di traduzione e interpretariato (TIS). Si tratta di un libero servizio. TIS numero di telefono: 131 450 Chiedi l'interprete TIS di chiamare 9392 5177
Το προσωπικό του Συμβουλίου μπορεί να σας βοηθήσει να υποβάλουν υποψηφιότητα στα αγγλικά. Αν χρειάζεστε βοήθεια μας, παρακαλούμε επικοινωνήστε μαζί μας χρησιμοποιώντας την Υπηρεσία Μεταφραστών και Διερμηνέων (TIS). Αυτή είναι μια δωρεάν υπηρεσία. ΤΗΣ τον αριθμό τηλεφώνου: 131 450 Ζητήστε από το διερμηνέα TIS να καλέσει 9392 5177
परिषद कर्मचारी तपाईं अंग्रेजी मा एक नामांकन पेश मद्दत गर्न सक्छ। तपाईं हाम्रो सहायता आवश्यक छ भने, अनुवाद र व्याख्या सेवा (TIS) को प्रयोग गरेर हामीलाई कल गर्नुहोस्। यो एक हो मुफ्त सेवा। TIS फोन नम्बर: 131 450 मा कल गर्न TIS दोभासे सोध्नुहोस् 9392 5177
Pessoal do Conselho pode ajudá-lo a enviar uma nomeação em Inglês. Se você precisar de nossa ajuda, por favor contacte-nos através do Tradução e Interpretação (TIS). Esta é uma LIVRE serviço. TIS número de telefone: 131 450 Pergunte ao intérprete do TIS para chamar 9392 5177
Contact Us
If you would like more information about our Community Awards, or if you need support when making a nomination, please contact our team at: events@innerwest.nsw.gov.au