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The State Government acknowledges the importance of recognising and celebrating iconic individuals, groups and events that have made an extraordinary impact and contribution to the Western Australian community through sport and recreation.
Modern ways of recognition are moving away from historical, static forms such as statues, memorials and plaques due to ongoing maintenance, resourcing and changing land use arrangements.
Today, recognition is primarily achieved through dynamic and contemporary forms such as digital recognition, naming dedications for buildings or places, or legacy programs that support future generations like scholarships.
When seeking recognition of the contribution of a person or group to the Western Australian community, it is important to consider the list of recognition opportunities provided through local governments, industry or sector awards at both a state and national level, and recognition opportunities at a national level.
It is important that the State Government provides a consistent approach to recognition or commemorative works and memorials located on or in Western Australian state-owned or managed buildings, parks and other public spaces. A number of policies and guidelines apply to the naming of streets, parks, public art and other public places and these are considered in recognising the contributions of Western Australians to our community.
There are many opportunities for Western Australians to have significant contributions or impacts to our community recognised at local, state and national level.
We’ve included several local, state and national recognition opportunities and awards for you to look through below. Members of the public may nominate people that have made significant contributions to the Western Australian community through these options.
Contact your local government to learn about awards in your local community:
The Western Australia of the Year Awards are the initial step in the Australian of the Year Awards and recognises outstanding achievements by Western Australians.
Awards Australia host community achievement awards to acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses make throughout regional and rural Western Australia.
The WA Sport Awards, presented by SportWest, are Western Australia’s premier sports awards, recognising excellence in sport and celebrating the achievements of WA sportspeople.
The Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS) supports the WAIS Awards of Excellence and the WA Hall of Champions, recognising some of WA’s greatest sportspersons.
The Western Australian Multicultural Awards recognise individuals and organisations for their outstanding contributions to multiculturalism and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities in Western Australia.
Established in 1975, the Australian Honours System recognises the special contribution Australian citizens make to their communities locally, nationally, and internationally across a wide range of fields. There are four levels of award:
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
Since its inception in 1960, the Australian of the Year Awards has provided a focal point for Australia Day celebrations and a forum for the recognition of outstanding achievement. Categories include Australian of the Year, Senior Australian of the Year, Young Australian of the Year and Australia’s Local Hero.
The National NAIDOC Week Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions and excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across 10 award categories, including art, culture, education and training, sport, environment and leadership.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame recognises and promotes the outstanding sporting achievements of our greatest athletes.
The Paralympic Pin project — each of the more than 1100 athletes who have represented Australia at Summer and Winter Paralympic Games will receive a unique sequential number according to the order in which they competed. They will also receive a pin depicting ‘The Journey’, an emotive indigenous artwork which has featured on the Australian Paralympic team’s official attire since the Rio 2016 Games and portrays the connectedness of Australia’s Paralympians across time and distance.
Recognition at a state level requires the person or group to have demonstrated an extraordinary contribution to the Western Australian community, with lasting impacts and an ongoing legacy, well beyond that which would typically be recognised through the sport’s own recognition pathway, such as Hall of Fame, Life Membership or ‘Legend’.
Applications for consideration for recognition by the State Government can only be made by the relevant State Sporting Association (SSA) or State Active Recreation Organisation (SARO), through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
For further information about this process, or to enquire about other opportunities for recognition in sport and recreation, please contact sport.business@dlgsc.wa.gov.au.
Image credit: WA Cricket