Now in its 14th year, the Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations that make our city such a unique place to live, visit and do business.
Included in the shortlist of 30 finalists across eight categories are iconic institutions such as the Arts Centre, Crown Melbourne, Zoos Victoria and the Melbourne Museum, and smaller-scale community organisations such as the MPavilion, The Big Issue, Movember Foundation and The Water Well Project.
City of Melbourne Chief Executive Officer Martin Cutter congratulated the organisations shortlisted.
“This year’s finalists embody the true spirit of our city, the most liveable in the world. Our finalists vary in their areas of focus and expertise but they are all exemplary in their commitment to Melbourne.”
The Awards celebrate significant achievements in the areas of Environmental Sustainability, Community, Profile and Multiculturalism, with subcategories to recognise corporations and community organisations within their respective fields.
The independent judging panel for the 2016 Melbourne Awards included 53 business and community leaders across a range of industry sectors. The final shortlist was made following a rigorous assessment and interview process.
A gala event will be held at the Melbourne Town Hall on Saturday 12 November where the winners from each category, along with the 2016 Melburnian of the Year, will be announced.
Please see the full list of 2016 finalists below. For more information, visit Melbourne Awards or call 9658 9658.
2016 Melbourne Awards finalists
The Contribution to Environmental Sustainability category recognises projects or activities that create a more environmentally sustainable city through advancements in sustainable innovation and design, the development of new environmental projects, or programs that educate, connect and inspire others to change community behaviour.
Contribution to Environmental Sustainability by a Corporation
- Crown Melbourne - CROWNEARTH
- Fieldtech Solutions
- The Little Veggie Patch Co - Federation Square Pop Up Patch
- Zoos Victoria.
Contribution to Environmental Sustainability by a Community Organisation
- Future Business Council
- Market Forces
- Moral Fairground.
The Contribution to Community category is awarded to organisations or projects that enhance the lives and wellbeing of residents and workers through new approaches to community services and volunteer work, improvements to accessibility or the development of programs that provide support and positive outcomes for the disadvantaged or vulnerable in the community.
Contribution to Community by a Corporation
- Arts Centre Melbourne - Dominoes
- Herald Sun / CityLink - Run for the Kids
- Probuild - ProCommunity.
Contribution to Community by a Community Organisation
- The Big Issue
- Channel 31 Melbourne
- Creativity Australia
- Movember Foundation
- Travellers Aid Australia.
The Contribution to Profile category celebrates projects or activities that have built Melbourne’s reputation as a centre for business, sport, entertainment, knowledge and culture. These initiatives may have delivered economic benefit to the city, strengthened Melbourne’s profile by generating national and/or international media exposure, or encouraged visitation to the city.
Contribution to Profile by a Corporation
- Victorian Major Events Company
- Victorian Opera
- White Night Melbourne.
Contribution to Profile by a Community Organisation
- BioMelbourne Network
- Melbourne Festival
- The Melbourne Prize Trust
- MPavilion
- Royal Melbourne Show
- veski.
The Contribution to Multiculturalism category recognises projects or activities that have contributed towards developing Melbourne as a multicultural city. This may include programs or initiatives that promote racial harmony and cultural understanding, improve community relations, or provide support to migrants and refugees living in the community.
Contribution to Multiculturalism by a Corporation
- Crown Melbourne - Indigenous Employment Program
- Indian Film Festival of Melbourne
- Melbourne Museum - Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
Contribution to Multiculturalism by a Community Organisation
- The Huddle
- Multicultural Arts Victoria
- The Water Well Project.
About the Melbourne Awards
The Melbourne Awards honour a diverse range of contributions, focusing on community organisations and corporations who work tirelessly for the benefit of the city. Highlighting these achievements inspires and challenges others to help create a better future for Melbourne.
Four areas have been identified by the City of Melbourne as vital elements for securing Melbourne’s future as a thriving, forward-thinking capital city: honouring significant contributions to Melbourne’s environmental sustainability, community, profile and multiculturalism. Within each of these areas, winners are recognised in two separate divisions: corporations and community organisations;resulting in a total of eight award categories.
An inspirational individual within the Melbourne community is also honoured as the ‘Melburnian of the Year’. The recipient will be selected by a committee of notable Melburnians appointed by the Lord Mayor.
A full list of previous Melbourne Awards recipients is available on request.
Past winners of the Melburnian of the Year include:
- Bryan Lipmann AM – Founder and CEO, Wintringham Specialist Aged Care
- Professor Sharon Lewin – Leading research scientist on HIV and AIDS
- Major Brendan Nottle – Salvation Army
- Michael Gudinski AM – Founder, Mushroom Records
- Harold Mitchell AC – Founder, Harold Mitchell Foundation
- Jim Stynes OAM – Co-Founder, Reach and AFL great
- Susan Barton AM – Director and Founder, Lighthouse Foundation
- John Bertrand AM – Chairman, Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Winning America’s Cup Skipper
- Lyn Swinburne AM – Founder, Breast Cancer Network Australia
- Ron Barassi AM – AFL legend
- Andrew Gaze AM – Australian Olympian.