Melbourne Awards categories

Divisions

Three areas have been indentified by the City of Melbourne as vital elements for securing Melbourne’s future as a thriving, forward thinking capital city. The awards honour significant contributions to Melbourne’s profile, community and environment.

Within each of these areas, winners will be recognised within three separate divisions, resulting in a total of nine award categories.

Areas of contribution

Contribution to Sustainability

This award celebrates projects or activities that create a more environmentally sustainable city through advancements in sustainable innovation and design or the development of new environmental projects or programs.

To be eligible, projects must have achieved environmental benefits such as waste reduction, water conservation and/ or quality improvements, or increased uptake of renewable energy.

Also eligible are programs that change community behaviour and educate or inspire individuals and businesses to work towards making our city more sustainable.

Contribution to Community

This award celebrates projects or activities that enhance the lives of residents and workers through new approaches to community services and volunteer work, improvements to accessibility, developments in architecture and design, or improvements to parks, gardens, and open spaces.

Also eligible are community events, festivals or cultural programs that have activated the city, engaged residents, increased community health and wellbeing or promoted tolerance and understanding.

Contribution to Profile

This award celebrates projects or activities that have built Melbourne’s reputation as a national centre for shopping, business, sport, entertainment and culture. It could be through a business or technological innovation, educational or training program, commercial or retail development, major sporting event, cultural festival, or through global recognition of a Melbourne product or service.

Projects may have strengthened Melbourne’s profile by generating international media exposure or encouraging visitation to the city.

Divisions

Corporation

Commercial organisations that are privately owned or publicly listed, government departments, statutory bodies, medical and educational institutions.

Community Organisation

Community groups, charitable organisations and other not-for-profit organisations.

Individual

An individual who either works in a volunteer capacity or has made a contribution that exceeds the normal requirements of a person’s paid work.

Melburnian of the Year

An important part of the Melbourne Awards program is the announcement of the Melburnian of the Year. To achieve this honour, the person must be an inspirational role model who has made an outstanding contribution to the city in their chosen field as well as a significant contribution to the Melbourne community.

Past winners of the Melburnian of the Year include:

• Harold Mitchell AC – Founder, Harold Mitchell Foundation
• Jim Stynes – Co-Founder, Reach and AFL great
• Susan Barton – Director and Founder, Lighthouse Foundation
• John Bertrand – Chairman, Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Winning America’s Cup Skipper
• Lyn Swinburne – Founder, Breast Cancer Network Australia
• Ron Barassi – AFL legend
• Andrew Gaze – Australian Olympian.

The 2012 Melburnian of the Year will be selected by a committee of notable Melburnians appointed by the Lord Mayor, Robert Doyle.