Awards Categories

Health and Community Service

Recognises women who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and have contributed to the
rights of people with a disability or health related illness. Nominees will have experienced success through their involvement in one or more of the Following areas:
● Clinical competence, values, commitment and willingness to be involved in health & disability, aged care or emergency related services
● Outstanding achievement in the health & disability, aged care or emergency service related fields of research/development or studies in the field
● Outstanding contribution to community development and/or education regarding supporting
the needs of those related to health & disability, aged care or emergency services
● Outstanding contribution or mentoring toward professional development in their chosen profession to fellow colleagues
● Outstanding “beyond duty” contribution within their role
● Leadership and commitment to the rights and positive profiling of health & disability issues, aged care or the emergency services
● Developed programs, services or processes that have made a significant contribution to improving the lives of people in aged care, health & disability or those accessing emergency services
● Teach/educate or advocate on issues that profile and enhance outcomes in the areas of health & disability, aged care or emergency services
● Promote equality and equity of services for persons in aged care, disability or health related illness or those accessing emergency services
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their peers, colleagues and the broader community

Awards Categories

Youth and Children's Services

Recognises women who have promoted positive attitudes, skills and actions of youth and children.
Nominees will have supported and encouraged youth and children to achieve their goals in order to enhance their self-worth, making it possible for them to reach their potential. The nominee will have achieved success in one or more of the following areas:
● Outstanding commitment through volunteering within early childhood services or promotion of health, safety and wellbeing of children and youth
● Promotion of the health and wellbeing of children
● Promotion and development of programs for children of non-English speaking backgrounds,
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. These programs to include issues relating to
gender, class and other areas of inequity and bias
● Promotion of cultural, educational, social, physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing of
disadvantaged children within the region through working alongside careers and children
● Promotion and commitment to healthy minds and bodies through programs specific to children with disabilities
● Outstanding contribution to programs and promotion of safety to children in the early years and beyond

Awards Categories

Creative Arts (Art, Music, Drama, Media, Expression)

Recognises women who, through their passion and enthusiasm, have inspired people to explore their
creativity in their artistic field. Nominees will have demonstrated inspiration, commitment and
leadership to the Creative Arts through one or more of the following areas:
● Involvement and achievement in the creative sector
● Active engagement of the community in the promotion of local artistic talents/artists
● Active engagement and education of people in the appreciation of Creative Arts
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the
broader community

Awards Categories

Environment and Sustainability Award

Recognises women who are passionate about the prevention of the degradation of our environment.
Nominees will have demonstrated optimism, enthusiasm and perseverance in their effort to protect, manage and restore the environment through one or more of the following:
● Raising awareness of significant and innovative environmentally sustainable initiatives
● Involvement and achievement in the environmental sector
● Commitment in supporting and encouraging participation in environmental or sustainability activities
● Involvement and leadership in undertaking and advocating for environmental or sustainability change
● Encouraging and educating the community on environmental issues
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the broader community

Awards Categories

Making a Difference—Individual Community Supporters and/or Volunteers

Recognises women who have volunteered or gone above and beyond the call of duty in their support or
encouragement of the community. Nominees will have been outstanding in one or more of the following:
Commitment to community programs
● Ongoing commitment and demonstrating a caring attitude to their chosen field
● Ability to enhance the growth of community participation and leadership in advocating positive change within the community
● Active involvement in promoting a whole community development approach within the region
● A commitment to achieving future community development and promotion or advancement and education of young women in the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the broader community

Awards Categories

Making a Difference – Group/Service /Team

Recognises teams, group or services who demonstrate outstanding leadership and commitment to
women and children. Nominees will have demonstrated a “beyond call” contribution to enhancing and supporting
their community through one or more of the following:
● Professional competence, values, commitment and willingness in support women
● Leadership and mentoring that encourages community participation and actively promotes a whole of community approach
● Outstanding “beyond duty” contribution to the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and broader community

Awards Categories

Unsung Hero Award

Recognises women who demonstrate outstanding qualities in leadership, community involvement and
who have the commitment to make a difference, but usually go unnoticed. Nominees will have:
● Will have reflected high personal standards and values and have also awakened others to
opportunities or needs within our local communities or within their own family.
● Sustained presentation as a role model
● Provided significant contribution to the community
● Displayed the ability to motivate other women to challenge themselves and make their own
contributions
● Recognised amongst their colleagues, peers and the broader community as going above and
beyond but they are not usually recognized for their work.

Awards Categories

Ecommerce/ Digital Service or Product Award

Recognises women who demonstrate outstanding qualities in leadership, community or charity and
who have the commitment to make a difference, through their ecommerce store / digital service or product

Nominees will have:
● Will have reflected high personal standards and values and have also awakened others to
opportunities or needs within our local communities through their ecommerce store / digital service or product

Ecommerce website will offer the best online shopping platforms for exceptional user experiences,

innovative features, and outstanding customer service.
● Provided contribution to the community ecommerce store / digital service or product
● Recognised amongst their colleagues, peers and the broader community for making a difference in the community with their ecommerce store or digital product

Awards Categories

Big Idea Award

Recognises women who have a new concept either ready to implement or is under 2 years old in
operations which enhances the encouragement or advancement of the community. Nominees will have been outstanding in one or more of the following:
● The new concept must be unique
● Commitment to the wider good of the community through their chosen field
● Dedication to community with positive impact
● Active involvement in promoting a whole community development approach within the region
● A commitment to achieving future community development and promotion or advancement and education of young women in the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the boarder community

Awards Categories

Podcast of the Year Award

This category recognises exceptional female hosts (including solo hosts and teams) who demonstrate engaging , clear communication with their listeners, and have a dedication to make an impact on their community or listeners.

Nominees will have been outstanding in one or more of the following criteria:

consistency in delivery and presentation, a strong understanding of communication,
and informative or engaging conversations.
Outstanding hosts or teams will exhibit a dynamic blend of creativity, confidence, and charm to draw listeners into their community.

● Commitment to the wider good of the community through their chosen field
● Dedication to community with positive impact
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the boarder community

Awards Categories

Agape Ambassador of the Year 2025

THIS AWARD IS BY INVITATION ONLY FOR VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE FUNDRAISED FOR AGAPE OUTREACH

Recognises women who made a commitment to helping the homeless and needy through Agape
Outreach Inc. Their ambassadorship has included volunteering during a ten months period, fundraising a
minimum of $1000 to qualify and working hands on with the homeless. Agape’s ambassadors can be
aged between 13 and 100 years old. An Agape ambassadorship and a nomination in this award is NOT
limited to being a woman. All qualifying Agape ambassadors (both male and female)are automatically
nominated in this category by Agape Outreach Inc. All Agape ambassadors have demonstrated a
“beyond duty” contribution in their endeavors through one or more of the following:
● Ongoing commitment and demonstrating a caring attitude in their chosen fields
● Ability to enhance the growth of the community participation and leadership in advocating
positive change within the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the
broader community

Awards Categories

Entrepreneur of the Year 2025

Recognises women who are committed to serving the wider community and making a positive impact
through their business endeavors. Nominees will have demonstrated a “beyond duty” contribution in
their endeavors through one or more of the following:
● Display leadership through running their own program or business
● Ongoing commitment and demonstrating a caring attitude in their chosen field
● Outstanding “beyond call” contribution within their role
● Ability to enhance the growth of the community participation and leadership in advocating positive change within the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and thebroader community

Awards Categories

Young Woman of the Year 2025

Recognises young women who have demonstrated enthusiasm, vision and commitment in their
endeavor to enhance and improve their community. Nominees will have shown an enthusiastic and
passionate involvement in one or more of the following:
● Outstanding initiative and innovation in a leadership capacity
● Involvement in the development of group/ organization / club direction
● Active effort in working towards a group’s goal and vision
● Active commitment to personal development through courses, forums, conventions, community activities etc.
● Active contribution to the community and/or mentoring to peers
● Participation and achievement in educational and extra curriculum activities/groups or services curricular
● A commitment to achieving future goals and promotion or advancement of young people in the community
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their peers, colleagues and the broader community
● Must be 24 years old or younger at the time of the awards presentation

Awards Categories

Woman of the Year 2025

Recognises women who demonstrate outstanding qualities in leadership, community involvement and
who have the commitment and passion to motivate everyone with whom they come in contact.
Nominees will have:
● Experienced satisfying achievements through their optimism, generosity, enthusiasm, perseverance and courage which have reflected high personal standards and values and have also awakened others to opportunities or needs within our local communities.
● Recognised efforts towards advancing the profile of women
● Sustained passion and continued commitment to women through leadership, education and mentoring
● Significant achievement and contribution to the community
● Ability to motivate other women to challenge themselves and make their own contributions
● Recognition as a leader, communicator and/or educator amongst their colleagues, peers and the broader community

Awards Categories

Woman of the Decade

The Woman of the Decade Award honours an extraordinary woman whose leadership, passion, and unwavering dedication have created a lasting impact over many years.

THERE ARE NO NOMINATIONS FOR WOMAN OF THE DECADE.

Woman of the decade will be selected based on the previous 10 years of Women of the Year Award Winners.

This award recognises a woman whose sustained contributions have inspired real change in her community and beyond — a woman who leads with heart, uplifts others, and embodies the spirit of service, empowerment, and purpose. The Woman of the Decade will have:

Demonstrated outstanding leadership and community involvement over an extended period
Achieved meaningful change through generosity, courage, and perseverance
Consistently worked to uplift and elevate others through advocacy, mentoring, and action
Inspired others through consistent optimism, integrity, and commitment
Acted as a powerful educator, motivator, and role model to women across generations
Made a significant, long-term contribution to advancing community, equity, and opportunity

This is not just a celebration of achievement — it's a recognition of legacy.

Who Can Be Nominated?

Nominees must be living in Australia.

A nominee will demonstrate sustained passion and commitment to women through outstanding achievement, leadership, and representation of women and women’s issues.
A nominee must provide consent to the nominator to be nominated

How Do I Make a Nomination?

Nominations can be made between 1 September 2025 and close midnight on 14th January 2026

Click Here to Make a Nomination

If needed, assistance in completing the nomination form is available by contacting us.

The full list of nominees will be posted on Heart of Women awards website for a period of 14 days for community feedback.