Deadline: 4-Sep-23
Nominations are now open for the Australian Human Rights Awards to honour and celebrate all kinds of human rights heroes as well as significant achievements in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia.
Every year, the Australian Human Rights Commission presents the Human Rights Day Oration to mark World Human Rights Day (December 10).
The Oration is delivered by a leading Australian working in the field of human rights and social justice or whose work protects and promotes human rights. The Oration is usually delivered by the recipient of the previous year’s Human Rights Medal.
This year’s Orator will be announced closer to the date of the Awards.
Award Categories
- Human Rights Medal
- Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion, protection, and advancement of human rights in Australia.
- Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Paul Ramsay Foundation
- Law Award
- Awarded to recognise the contribution of a person or organisation within the field of law to the advancement and protection of human rights in Australia.
- Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission and LexisNexis Australia
- Media & Creative Industries Award
- Awarded to recognise the contribution of a person or organisation to the advancement and protection of human rights in Australia within the fields of: journalism; film, TV and radio; literature; music; performing arts; visual arts; fashion; and advertising.
- Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission
- Community Organisation Award
- Awarded to recognise the contribution of an individual or organisation with a proven track record in promoting and advancing human rights in the Australian community.
- Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia
- Young People’s Award
- Awarded to an individual who is under the age of 25 years (on 31 July 2022) and has made an outstanding contribution to advancing human rights in Australia.
- Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Delegation of the European Union to Australia
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for nomination, entrants must have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights in Australia in at least one of the following areas, and been active in this area between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023:
- Taking action to overcome discrimination or infringements of human rights within Australia;
- Encouraging greater harmony between people of different race, sex, sexuality, age or ethnic origin within Australia;
- Enhancing the rights of Indigenous Australians;
- Promoting equal opportunity for people with a disability in Australia; or
- Increasing awareness of issues of injustice or inequality in Australia.
- Nominees must be an Australian citizen or have resident status and be living in Australia or be an organisation or association that is registered in Australia.
- Self-nominations are accepted
- Unsuccessful nominations may be re-nominated in subsequent years
- People and organisations can be nominated in multiple categories.
- Nominations for people aged 25 years or under (as of 31 August 2022) will be considered for the Young People’s Award
- Eligibility is dependent on the award category and may be open to businesses, groups, organisations and/or individuals.
Ineligibility Criteria
- Nominees cannot be:
- an employee of the Australian Human Rights Commission
- an employee of a direct supplier of commercial products or services to the Australian Human Rights Commission
- a member of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards judging panels
- a partner organisation or an employee of a partner organisation of the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards
For more information, visit Australian Human Rights Commission.