Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award
Nominations close on Tuesday 1 September at 5:00 pm.
About the awards
The Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards recognise individuals and groups of young Canberrans aged 12 to 25 who have made a significant contribution to the ACT community.
The awards celebrate a diverse range of achievements, including:
- leadership
- community service
- advocacy
- education
- sport
- the arts
- environmental sustainability
- personal achievement.
Who you can nominate
When nominations are open we encourage nominations from and for young people from all backgrounds and life experiences. You can nominate yourself or someone else aged 12 to 25 who has made a positive contribution to the ACT community.
Nominations can recognise both outstanding and everyday contributions like:
- volunteering
- supporting peers
- leading community projects
- advocating for change
- helping others.
If you know a young person doing great things, nominate them for the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards.
Before you apply
Read the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award guidelines [PDF 343KB].
Award categories
The 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards includes 6 award categories. You can nominate an individual or a group for more than one category.
Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award
This award recognises an individual aged 12 to 25 who:
- is an exceptional role model
- has championed youth issues
- has made significant contributions to the ACT through personal effort or community involvement.
Young Achiever Award
This award recognises an individual aged 12 to 17 who:
- demonstrates emerging leadership potential
- has championed the values of youth issues in the ACT
- has taken initiative to achieve goals that benefit their ACT community.
Personal Achievement Award
This award recognises an individual aged 12 to 25 who has:
- has overcome adversity or significant challenges
- has shown exceptional commitment to achieving their goals
- has made a positive contribution to their community or inspired others through their achievements.
Environment and Sustainability Award
This award recognises an individual or a group of young people aged 12 to 25 who:
- has made a meaningful contribution to protecting or improving the environment
- promotes environmentally responsible behaviour
- has driven positive environmental change in their community.
Group Achievement Award
This award recognises a group or organisation that:
- has delivered initiatives that promote and benefit young people in the ACT
- has responded to the needs and interests of young people
- has created or expanded opportunities for young people.
Arts and Multimedia Award
This category recognises an outstanding young creative individual and/or group of young people aged 12 to 25 who:
- have demonstrated excellence in the arts, multimedia or creative expression
- have used creative platforms to promote, express or raise awareness of youth issues
- have inspired, empowered or positively engaged young people through their creative work.
How to nominate
Nominations for the 2025 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards are now open.
Nominations open: Wednesday 1 July 2026
Nominations close: Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 5 pm
You can make a nomination online.
You can nominate the same individual or group in more than one award category. You will need to fill out a separate nomination form for each category.
If you submit an incomplete form, it will not be assessed.
To nominate online:
- Choose the award category
- Attach supporting material like references, photographs, videos, media articles or examples of work
- Submit your nomination before the closing date.
We recommend sharing a copy of your nomination form to any referees. This will help if the selection panel contacts them for more information.
How we choose a winner
All nominations are reviewed to make sure they meet the eligibility requirements.
Sponsors
Sponsors for the 2026 Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards:
- Beyond Bank Australia (Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award)
- Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner (Young Achiever Award)
- Anglicare ACT (Personal Achievement Award)
- Ginninderry (Environment and Sustainability Award)
- Australian Catholic University (Group Achievement Award)
- ACT Government (Arts and Multimedia Award)
2025 award winners
- Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award: Peter Harris
- Young Achiever Award: Loga Gandhi
- Personal Achievement Award: Dakota Thorne
- Environment and Sustainability Award: Rebecca Price
- Arts and Multimedia Award: Alice Groenhout
- Group Achievement Award: Canberra High School Period Products Pilot
Young Canberra Citizen of the Year 2025
'Being nominated for the Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Award is an honour that reflects the spirit of my community that is built on strength, hope and self-determination. This recognition is not just for me, but for every voice that has fought to make our communities stronger, more connected, and grounded in culture,' Peter says.
Hear from our Young Canberra Citizen of the Year 2025 Peter Harris.
Past winners
Find all past winners of Young Canberra Citizen of the Year Awards.