24 April 2026
Recognising the outstanding people who make the Southern Downs a vibrant place to live will now be easier and more accessible for the community, following a review of the Citizen of the Year Awards nomination process.
Southern Downs Regional Council endorsed proposed amendments to the Southern Downs Citizen of the Year Awards Policy PL SD041 at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday 22 April 2026 and identified opportunities to reduce unnecessary complexity for nominators while maintaining the integrity and purpose of the awards.
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton said the changes reflect Council’s commitment to celebrating community contribution while removing barriers to participation.
“Our Citizen of the Year Awards are about recognising the people who make our region such a vibrant place to live,” Mayor Hamilton said.
“By streamlining the nomination process, we’re making it easier and more accessible for community members to put forward deserving individuals, organisations and events and to ensure no valued contribution goes unnoticed.”
Portfolio Councillor for Inspired Communities Cr Morwenna Harslett said the updated process would help ensure the region’s volunteers and community contributors receive the recognition they deserve.
“There are so many incredible people and organisations across our region that deserve to be acknowledged, and we want to make sure it’s easy for people to recognise the volunteers and quiet achievers who go above and beyond for our community.
“These changes reflect feedback that we have received from the community and are about removing unnecessary hurdles and making the nomination process simpler and clearer for everyone.”
The proposed amendments focus on clarity, consistency and efficiency in the nomination process, ensuring the policy aligns with current best practice and community expectations.
Key changes
• Several award categories will be broadened to recognise not only individuals and events, but also organisations, teams and groups across community, sport and creative pursuits.
• The nomination process will be made more flexible, allowing the assessment panel to consider eligible nominees from the previous year.
• The age range for Young Citizen of the Year awards will be expanded to include nominees up to the age of 25.
• The Citizen of the Year nomination period will extend to commence in February rather than September.
• Australia Day community events will continue to rotate across smaller centres, with host locations selected by Council in consultation with the area in question.
Further information on the updated nomination process will be available in the coming weeks ahead of the next Citizen of the Year Awards nomination period.
Last edited date 24 Apr 2026