Hundreds of people gathered at Norlane ARC as Councillor Emma Sinclair presented awards in nine categories, recognising outstanding young people aged 12 to 25 who live, work, learn or play in the region. Two Special Recognition Awards were also presented.

This year’s winners were selected from 103 nominees:

Active Achievement Award

18-year-old Marli Milne has been celebrated for her leadership in sport and dedication to empowering young athletes. Through coaching, mentoring and the creation of inclusive sporting programs, Marli has helped young people build confidence, resilience and a sense of belonging while encouraging lifelong participation in physical activity.

Arts & Music Award

Kiarra Ifka, 16, has been acknowledged for using creativity as a powerful tool for advocacy and inclusion. Through poetry, storytelling and public speaking, Kiarra has raised awareness of neurodiversity, challenged perceptions and inspired meaningful conversations about belonging, understanding and acceptance.

Citizenship Award 

Novalie Morris, aged 13, has been recognised for her extraordinary courage, advocacy and commitment to helping others. Despite ongoing health challenges, Novalie has used her experiences to improve the lives of young patients and families through hospital advocacy, fundraising and community leadership. Through her Bee Brave initiative, she has raised more than $30,000 for hospitals and support organisations while inspiring hope, resilience and connection across the community. 

Cultural Awareness Award (joint winners)

Kailani Jones, 17, has been recognised for her leadership in celebrating and promoting First Nations culture within her school community. Through her involvement in NAIDOC Week activities and cultural education initiatives, Kailani has helped foster greater understanding, connection and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.  

15-year-old Nazanin Husseini has been honoured for her commitment to cultural inclusion and community connection. Drawing on her own experiences, Nazanin has supported refugee and migrant families, shared her story to promote understanding and helped create a stronger sense of belonging for people from diverse backgrounds. 

Innovation Award 

Revant Pandey, 16, has been celebrated for his innovative approach to solving real-world challenges through technology. From developing practical technology solutions to supporting younger students through mentoring and tutoring, Revant combines technical excellence with a strong commitment to community impact. 

Inspiration Award

12-year-old Quinnie Westwood has been acknowledged for her extraordinary resilience, determination and generosity. Despite significant health challenges, Quinnie has excelled in sport, represented Australia internationally and dedicated countless hours to fundraising, advocacy and supporting other young people and families facing difficult circumstances. 

Leadership Award (joint winners)

19-year-old Ella Bone has been recognised for transforming her lived experience into powerful advocacy for young people in out-of-home care. Through leadership roles, community engagement and youth representation, Ella has helped shape services, amplify young voices and create positive change for vulnerable young people.

Mehdi Mohammad Aref, 18, has been honoured for his outstanding leadership, volunteer service and commitment to supporting multicultural communities. Through interpreting, mentoring and community advocacy, Mehdi has helped newly arrived families build connections and thrive while promoting inclusion and belonging. 

Unsung Hero Award

Jessica Missen, aged 21, has been recognised for her selfless dedication to supporting others through volunteering, mentoring and caring responsibilities. Whether delivering meals to families in need through Lasagna Love, mentoring university students or volunteering at major community events, Jessica consistently goes above and beyond to make a difference. Her quiet acts of kindness have had a significant impact across the Geelong community. 

Volunteer Award – working with young people

20-year-old Madeleine Lowe has been awarded for her outstanding contribution to St John Ambulance Youth. Through mentoring, training and supporting young volunteers, Madeleine has helped countless young people develop first aid skills, confidence and leadership capabilities. Her dedication has fostered a welcoming and empowering environment for young people across the region. 

Special Recognition Awards

Aged 17, Isabella Harvey has been recognised for her exceptional advocacy, leadership and commitment to youth participation. Through her involvement in Youth Parliament, the City’s Youth Council advisory committee and community initiatives, Isabella has championed young people's voices and contributed to positive change across the region. 

19-year-old Farzana Mohammad Aref has been honoured for her outstanding achievements in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), multicultural leadership and community service. An internationally recognised young leader, Farzana has dedicated her time to supporting refugee and migrant communities while inspiring others through advocacy, mentoring and education. 

The winners were selected by a panel of young people, including members of the 2026 Youth Council. 

Councillor Sinclair 

There was an exciting atmosphere at the ceremony, not just from the nominees, but also their families and supporters.

We had a whopping 191 nominations for 103 young people this year, making it tough for the judges to shortlist and select the winners.

The large number of nominations goes to show that Greater Geelong is home to inspiring young people who are doing their best to help others, try new things, upskill and make the region more inclusive.

Thank you to all nominees and winners for your contributions – we appreciate everything that you’re doing.

Junior Mayor Vignesh ‘Viggy’ Ram 

The awards are an amazing opportunity to formally recognise the achievements and contributions of young people across Greater Geelong.

Through the Youth Awards, it's inspiring to see so many young people get recognised for the difference they make in our community.

From leadership and volunteering to arts, innovation, and community involvement, young people are contributing in so many unique ways.

Congratulations to all the nominees and award winners - thank you for making Geelong a better place for everyone.