To be eligible to receive an award, nominees are required to work, live or volunteer within the City of Greater Geelong and live with disability. Businesses or individuals who employ people with disability are also eligible.

Nominations are invited from anyone wanting to recognise a person with disability for their efforts and achievements in the four (4) award categories.

You can nominate yourself for an award or another person who you know is eligible.

Participants of partnering organisations are also eligible for nomination.

Previous award winners between 2023-2025 are not eligible for nomination in the same category.

Please ensure the individual has agreed to be nominated before submitting the nomination.

Nominations can be made in the following four categories:

1. Achievement Award

   Recognises a person with disability who has achieved a significant milestone or success in any area.
   
   Examples may include: 
   a personal accomplishment in the arts, sport, music, civic participation, or any aspect of community life or creating opportunities for people with disability to participate in any aspect of community life.

2. Leadership and Advocacy Award

   Recognises an outstanding individual who has led or advocated for others to achieve a considerable outcome or advancement.
   
   Examples may include: 
   a person with disability who advocates for continued improvements to community venues to make them more accessible, developing and implementing programs or strengthening existing programs designed to improve access and be more inclusive of people with disability or influencing the development of policies or practices to foster a more inclusive organisational culture

3. Volunteering Award

   Recognises a volunteer whose work fosters an inclusive culture, promotes access and inclusion or enhances opportunities for people with disability.
   
   Examples may include: 
   mentoring or supporting people with disability to raise awareness among the community about issues that impact them or organises events or activities that promote a more inclusive culture in their club, organisation or workplace.

4. Business Leadership Access and Inclusion Award

   Recognises excellence in businesses reducing barriers to employment for people with disability and building workplaces that respond to the needs of people with disability.
   
   Examples may include: 
   initiate or influence changes to policies or practices resulting in increased job flexibility and improvements to job design, develop new initiatives or strengthen existing programs to increase employment opportunities for people with disability or influencing changes in the workplace that result in improvements to job quality for people with disability.

Nominations will be reviewed by a judging panel of three, including representatives from our Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee and supporting partner organisations.

All nominees will be celebrated and category winners announced at a FREE community event on International Day of People with Disability, Thursday 3 December. Our event will be held at Norlane ARC.  Event registrations open in November.