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 women athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and board members have been recognised over the years through the Australian honours system for their contribution to sport and society. Although Australian Government awards are not gender specific, it is significant that women in sport can be recognised in this way for their achievements.
Advancing Women: women and the Order of Australia, opens in a new tab, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia (2011). Since the Australian honours system was introduced in 1975, a great number of deserving Australians have been recognised and rewarded for their contribution to society, yet women remain under-represented in the number of nominations and this flows through to the number of people receiving honours.
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.
A number of elite female athletes 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs). The AIS Sport Performance Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, coaches, volunteers, and leaders in Australian sport.
In 2019 Women Sport Australia launched the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (WISPAA), opens in a new tab to generate greater recognition and respect for the skill, strength and athleticism of Australian women actively participating in sport.
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.
The IOC established a 'Women in Sport Working Group' in 1995 that soon evolved into the IOC Women in Sport Commission. The Commission advises the IOC on policy matters and is tasked with the responsibility of encouraging greater female participation in the Olympic Games and sport in general.
The Women and Sport Awards, opens in a new tab were introduced in 2000 to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of those who promote gender equality in sport. Each National Olympic Committee, International Federation, and Continental Association is invited to nominate a person or association active in promoting gender equality and the presence of women in their sport or country.
The IPC Women in Sport Committee works to increase the number of women in leadership positions across the Paralympic Movement. The International Women's Day Recognition awards, opens in a new tab are a celebration of those who are breaking down barriers and opening up new opportunities for athletes, coaches, administrators and executives in Para sport.
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