Awards and recognition
Awards and honours help define, encourage and reinforce excellence. Australia has a system of honours and awards so its citizens can be recognised for excellence, achievement, or meritorious service.
Australia’s honours system was established in 1975 with the creation of the Order of Australia, replacing the previous Imperial system of British honours that were phased out by the 1980's. 1
Many athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators from regional and remote towns have been recognised over the years through the Australian honours system for their contribution to sport and society.
Order of Australia
The Australian honours system has been uniquely designed to ensure anyone can nominate, opens in a new tab a member of the sporting community for an award in the Order of Australia. Search for previous Order of Australia recipients The easiest way to find someone that has been recognised with an award is to search the Prime Minister and Cabinet database, opens in a new tab.
Australian of the Year awards
A number of elite athletes from regional and rural towns have been recognised for their service to sport and the community through Australian of the Year award, opens in a new tab recognition. These include:
Australian of the Year Award recipients:
- 1971 - Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, opens in a new tab (Tennis) - Griffith, NSW
- 1998 - Cathy Freeman, opens in a new tab (Athletics) - Slade Point, QLD
- 1999 - Mark Taylor, opens in a new tab (Cricket) - Leeton, NSW
- 2002 - Patrick Rafter, opens in a new tab (Tennis) - Mount Isa, QLD
- 2014 - Adam Goodes, opens in a new tab (Australian Football) - Wallaroo, SA
Young Australian of the Year Award recipients:
- 1988 - Duncan Armstrong, opens in a new tab (Swimming) - Rockhampton, QLD
- 1990 - Cathy Freeman, opens in a new tab (Athletics) - Slade Point, QLD
- 1997 - Nova Peris, opens in a new tab (Hockey) - Darwin, NT
Sport Australia Hall of Fame
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab (SAHOF) has a number of award categories. Although awards are not gender specific Australian sportswomen are under-represented compared to their male cohort.
- Athlete Members, opens in a new tab have achieved the highest honours at the peak level of competition.
- General Members, opens in a new tab are people who have shown excellence and had outstanding achievements in roles supportive to participants (i.e. administration, coaching, training, sports media, history, sports science, technology).
Legends of Australian Sport
In 1993 the SAHOF introduced the 'Legends of Australian Sport, opens in a new tab' category for Members who have distinguished themselves at the absolute highest level and whose achievements are considered part of Australian folklore. A Member must be 15 years retired before being considered for elevation to the category.
- Marjorie Nelson (nee Jackson) AC, CVO, MBE (Athletics) - Coffs Harbour, NSW
- Walter Lindrum OBE (Billiards) - Kalgoorlie, WA
- Margaret Court AC, MBE (Tennis) - Albury, VIC
- Rod Laver AC MBE (Tennis) - Rockhampton, QLD
- John Raper MBE (Rugby League - Camperdown, VIC
- Ron Barassi AM (Australian Football) - Castlemaine, VIC
- Greg Norman AO (Golf) - Mount Isa, QLD
- Susan O'Neill AM (Swimming) - Mackay, QLD
- Catherine Freeman OAM (Athletics) - Slade Point, QLD
The Don Award
In 1998 the SAHOF introduced the Don Award, opens in a new tab, named after Sir Donald Bradman. The Award honours a current Australian athlete who, by their achievements and example over the previous 12 months, are considered to have had the capacity to most inspire the nation. Athletes can be awarded the 'Don Award' multiple times, and there may be more than one winner in a year.
- 1998 - Mark Taylor (Cricket) - Leeton, NSW
- 1998 - Heather Turland (Athletics) - Southern Highlands, NSW
- 2000 - Cathy Freeman (Athletics) - Slade Point, QLD
- 2001 - Patrick Rafter (Tennis) - Mount Isa, QLD
- 2004 - Petria Thomas (Swimming) - Lismore, NSW
- 2006 - Kerryn McCann (Athletics) - Bulli, NSW
- 2007 - Glenn McGrath (Cricket) - Dubbo, NSW
- 2011 - Cadel Evans (Cycling) - Katherine, NT
- 2015 - Jason Day (Golf) - Beaudesert, QLD
- 2018 - Kurt Fearnley (Paralympic Athletics) - Cowra, NSW
The Dawn Award
In 2021 the Dawn Award, opens in a new tab, named after Dawn Fraser AC MBE, was introduced. The Award honours an individual, team, or organisation – from this or a previous generation – who are courageous, brave, and have changed sport for the better.
- 2021 - Evonne Goolagong Cawley (Tennis) - Griffith, NSW
- 2024 - Lauren Jackson (Basketball) - Albury, NSW
Australian Sports Commission (ASC)
AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs). The AIS Sport Performance Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, coaches, volunteers, and leaders in Australian sport.
The ASC Media Awards recognise excellence in sports journalism, broadcasting and production, with the ultimate aim of fostering improved coverage of key issues within sport. Categories include:
- Best coverage of a community sport issue – rural and regional media. This award recognises the best example of responsible, well-researched and analytical coverage of issues affecting community sport in rural and regional Australia.
State and Territory
CBR Sport Awards, opens in a new tab, ACT Government. Celebrating the individuals and teams who have excelled with sporting achievements throughout the past 12 months.
ACT Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab, ACT Government. The ACT Sport Hall of Fame began in 1995 and has enabled athletes, officials, coaches and administrators from our region to be recognised for excellence in their field and their contribution to our sporting community.
Her Sport Her Way Awards, opens in a new tab, NSW Office of Sport. Recognising and celebrating the achievements of leaders in women’s sport through awards and storytelling shines a light on gender equity across the sector.
NSW Champions of Sport, opens in a new tab, Sport NSW. The entire NSW sporting family comes together on one night, to celebrate the year’s achievements of NSW athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and organisations, alongside the states greatest athletes as they join the NSW sporting hall of fame.
NSW Community Sports Awards, opens in a new tab, Sport NSW. Recognising outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW – largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.
NSWIS Awards, opens in a new tab, NSW Institute of Sport. Awards are given to recognise NSWIS’ top athletes, coaches, and programs across a range of categories.
NSW Hall of Champions, opens in a new tab, Sydney Olympic Park. A sports museum and hall of fame, paying tribute to NSW's greatest athletes.
NT Sports Awards, opens in a new tab, Northern Territory Government. The Northern Territory (NT) Sports Awards recognise the achievements of athletes, coaches, sporting officials and volunteers.
Queensland Sport Awards, opens in a new tab, QSport. The Annual Queensland Sport Awards have been running since 1995, and serve to celebrate the achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and organisations on an annual basis.
Queensland Sport Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab, QSport. Distinguished individuals who excel in top-tier competition, making notable contributions to sport in Queensland. This includes high-level achievements through personal effort or innovative initiatives that contribute to athlete performances and elevate the status of sport in the region.
South Australian Sport Awards, opens in a new tab, Sport SA. Each year, as one of the most prominent events on the SA sporting calendar, the South Australian Sport Awards honours those making outstanding contributions to sport in South Australia, as individual or team athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers from both metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia and recognises our state’s great events.
South Australian Sport Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab, Sport SA. Membership of the South Australian Hall of Fame represents the highest level of recognition. The Hall of Fame recognises and promotes the outstanding achievements of this State's greatest athletes and general members who have made significant contributions to South Australia.
South Australian Sports Institute Awards, opens in a new tab, South Australian Sports Institute. Awards are given to recognise SASI’s top athletes, staff and coaches across a range of categories, acknowledging their outstanding contributions and achievements over the past 12 months.
Tasmanian Athlete of the Year, opens in a new tab, Tasmanian Government. The Tasmanian Athlete of the Year recognises outstanding performance based on the athlete’s performance at international level, their contribution to their sport and to the Tasmanian sporting community.
Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab, Tasmanian Government, Active Tasmania. Honouring outstanding Tasmanians who have represented their State and nation with distinction and ensures their sporting achievements receive recognition.
Victorian Sport Awards, opens in a new tab, VicSport. Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours those who have made an outstanding contribution to sport in Victoria as an individual or team athletes, coaches, administrators, and volunteers from both metropolitan and regional areas in Victoria.
Award of Excellence, opens in a new tab, Victorian Institute of Sport. The prestigious Award of Excellence is presented to a VIS athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results during the year, while adopting a planned approach to sporting excellence and contributing to the promotion and development of their sport.
WA Sport Awards, opens in a new tab, SportWest. The WA Sport Awards enable the West Australian community to recognise excellence in sport and celebrate the achievements of WA sportspeople. The most prestigious sporting Award that a West Australian athlete can win is The West Australian RAC SportWest Awards. Many of Western Australia’s outstanding sportspeople have won this Award since it was first presented to Morna Pearce in 1956.
WAIS Excellence Awards, opens in a new tab, Western Australian Institute of Sport. The WAIS Athlete of the Year award has been annually presented since 1985.
Western Australia Hall of Champions, opens in a new tab, Western Australian Institute of Sport / Curtin University of Technology. Since 1985 the Western Australian Hall of Champions honours Western Australia’s sporting greats.
REFERENCES
- Timeline for Australia’s Honours and Awards, opens in a new tab, Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, (accessed 5 December 2023).
- The Order of Australia, opens in a new tab, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, (accessed 5 December 2023).
See more on this topic:
- Overview
- Factors influencing participation
- Policies, programs, and supporting structures
- Awards and recognition
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