Entry rules and Conditions

Nomination Information:

• Each nomination:
  • must include a written submission submitted via the online nomination form. If a written nomination is not possible, the nomination may be accepted if a reasonable alternative is provided (e.g. verbal). Please contact the awards team to discuss these options.
  • Must address the specific assessment criteria for the category being entered (minimum of 300 words and maximum of 500 words). If insufficient information is provided, the nominator may be asked to provide more information. If unable to do so, the nomination will not proceed to judging and be removed from the awards program. The nominator will receive notification of this by Council.
  • Must have a nominator and minimum of one referee - no self-nominations.
  • Can be accepted for more than one category; however an online nomination must be submitted for each entry, that specifically addresses the respective assessment criteria.
• A nomination is deemed eligible if:
  • the nominee clearly demonstrates one or more of the relevant assessment criteria for the relevant category.
  • The individual nominee resides within the Sunshine Coast Council local government area and has done so for more than 12 months, at the time of nomination.
  • The group/organisation nominated operate, or predominately service, the Sunshine Coast Council local government area (above 90% of total operation or service).
  • The nominee maintains high standards of personal and professional conduct that uphold the integrity of both Council and the awards program.
• A nomination will be deemed ineligible if:
  • the submission does not sufficiently address the assessment criteria.
  • It is a self-nomination.
  • Council or the judging panel feels the nominee, or nomination, may discredit the integrity of Council and/or the awards program.
  • The nominee has been a previous recipient of an award in the same category, within the past 5 years of the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards (2024-2025) and/or Sunshine Coast Australia Day Awards programs (2021-2023).
  • Nomination was received after 5pm on Sunday 30 November 2025.
  • The nominee is/are employees, or immediate family members, of council employees, sitting government members or category sponsors of that category.

Judging:

• Nomination Review
  • All nominations are reviewed by Council prior to judging, to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements and align with the award criteria.
  • Incomplete or ineligible nominations will not proceed to judging, as outlined above, and the nominee and nominator will be notified by Council.
  • In the event no nominations are received in any of the categories, Council reserves the right to grant the award to a group, event or citizens of its choice, or revoke the award category for that year.
  • Posthumous nominations will be considered at the discretion of the panel and where the passing of the nominee occurred between 2 October 2024 and 1 October 2025. 
• Judging
  • A diverse panel will be selected by Council to be on the judging panel.
  • Judges will independently assess and score each nomination out of 10, based on their submission and ability to address the relevant assessment criteria. All judging is conducted confidentially.
  • Conflicts of interest must be declared, and affected judges will abstain from scoring relevant nominations.
• Final Deliberation
  • The panel’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
  • In the case of a tie, the panel may decide to award joint recipients.

Awards Ceremony and Recipients:

• Recipients of the awards will be announced live at Sunshine Coast Council's Sunshine Coast Australia Day Community Awards ceremony Friday 23 January 2026.
• All details of the award recipients remain embargoed until this date.
• All nominees will go up on stage and receive a certificate, with the Recipient for each category being awarded a trophy. These cannot be exchanged for cash or other services.
• Recipients contact details will be sent to the media, when requested, after the ceremony.
• Recipients are expected to actively support and promote the awards via community pride, connection and engagement throughout the 2026 period.

General:

• The promoter is Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Locked Bag 72, Sunshine Coast Mail Centre, QLD, 4560.
• Council reserves the right to accept, reject or refuse any nomination at any time.
• Council does not accept responsibility for lost, late or misdirected nominations.
• Council may vary the terms and conditions of this competition at any time at its absolute discretion.
• If any circumstance arises that prevents or significantly impacts Council’s ability to conduct the awards program or to present the award to the recipient, Council reserves the right to cancel the program and, at its discretion, either reschedule it under the same terms or select an alternative award recipient.
• All nominations are the property of Council and will not be returned to entrants.

Privacy Statement

Council will use any personal information provided on this form for the purposes of the Sunshine Coast Biosphere Community Awards program and for remaining in contact with you. Council is authorised to collect this information in accordance with the Local Government Act 2009 and other local government Acts. Your personal information will be used when determining, announcing and promoting the awards program. Your information will not be given to any other person or agency, unless you have given us permission to do so, or we are required by law. Your personal information is dealt with in accordance with Council's Information Privacy Policy, available on Council's website.