Meet your community award winners for 2026
This year's winners have been announced! Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees.
The Casey Community Awards recognise and honour outstanding people in the Casey community. These people consistently go above and beyond in their contributions to the Casey community as volunteers, professionals, or community members.
All nominee finalists are invited to the prestigious gala celebration at Bunjil Place where category winners and Casey's Citizens of the Year are announced.
Nominations can be made for individuals or community groups for their contribution to the Casey community in either a professional or volunteer capacity. This could be in any field, for example, sport, the arts, the humanities, or community service.
Award categories
Community Awards will be given under the following categories.
- Individual
Casey Citizen of the Year: Recognises an outstanding individual aged 25 years and over who, in their profession or as a volunteer, demonstrates exceptional leadership and commitment in their field through service, advocacy, innovation or community participation. Nominees demonstrate a sustained commitment to creating positive change, strengthening community connection and inspiring others through their actions.
Casey Young Citizen of the Year: Recognises exceptional young people under the age of 25 years who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, initiative or service to the Casey community. Nominees may have made a positive impact through volunteering, advocacy, creativity, community action, sport, culture, education or other activities that contribute to community wellbeing and participation.
Casey Senior of the Year: Recognises individuals over the age of 60 who, through volunteering, advocacy, creativity, community action, sport, culture, education or other activities, have made a lasting change in improving the Casey community and making it a better place to live.
Casey Woman of the Year: Recognises a woman who has made a significant positive impact on the Casey community through leadership, advocacy, innovation, resilience or service, inspiring and empowering others while creating meaningful change.
- Community groups
Casey Community Group of the Year: Recognises a Casey community group, sports club, or not-for-profit organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the Casey community through programs, services, events, advocacy, fundraising or community initiatives that improve the lives of local residents.
- Community groups or individuals
Casey Equity and Inclusion Award: Recognises an individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to creating a more inclusive, equitable and connected community through advancing the rights and interests of people from multicultural backgrounds, people with disabilities, LGBTIQA+ communities or First Nations people.
Lindsay King Art Award: Recognises an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to the Arts in the City of Casey. This may include visual arts, music, theatre, dance, literature, poetry, performance, cultural expression or creative community development.
Casey Environment and Sustainability Champion(s) Award: Recognises outstanding contributions towards protecting and enhancing Casey’s natural environment, promoting sustainable living, increasing community awareness or advocating for climate action.
Make a nomination for 2027
All nominations must be made using the online form.
- Nominations open from Monday, 5 October 2026.
- Nominations close on Monday, 16 November 2026 at 5 pm.
- Read the nomination tips
THE DO’S AND DONT’S THE PANELS’ TIPS - Do share how your nominee has made a
- positive impact to the lives of those in Casey.
- Don’t give one sentence answers.
- Do include examples and stories.
- Don’t forget to talk about the impact this
has on the community. - Do be honest and transparent.
- Don’t hold back - share proudly what
makes this individual or group exceptional! - Do contact a council officer if you need
assistance writing your nomination. - Don’t be afraid to reach out to others who
know the nominee to ask for more
information and stories
- Stay within the word limit but include as
much detail as possible. - Include examples of what your nominee
or group has done that makes them
outstanding in the Casey community. - Speak with other people who might be
able to offer support or advice on what
else you could include in the nomination. - Avoid generalities (such as ‘they are a
great community member’) give clear
examples of why and how they are great
community members.
Eligibility
Understand who can and cannot be nominated.
For more information, read the full 2027 Guidelines document.
- Read the eligibility information
Individual nominations
Individuals being nominated must:
- be a resident of Casey
- have made an exceptional contribution to the Casey community
- be of outstanding character and show respect in their dealings with others
- be under 25 years of age as at 21 March 2027 if nominated for Casey Young Citizen of the Year
- be over 60 years of age as at 21 March 2027 if nominated for Casey Senior of the Year
- identify as a woman to be nominated for Casey Woman of the Year.
Community group nominations
A community group refers to a not-for-profit organisation, sports club or community group.
Community Groups must:
- be based in the City of Casey
- provide the majority of their services or activities for the Casey community
- have made an exceptional contribution to the Casey community.
Ineligibility – what will not be accepted?
- Previous winners are excluded for a period of five years from the year of receiving their award.
- Self-nominations in individual categories (groups can nominate themselves).
- Individual nominations for current and past City of Casey staff (within five years of employment).
- Individual nominations for current or past City of Casey Councillors (within five years of serving as a Councillor).
- Nominations for groups that have current or past City of Casey staff holding executive roles (within five years of employment).
- Nominations for groups that have current or past City of Casey Councillors holding executive roles (within five years of serving as a Councillor).
- Incomplete nomination forms.
- Nominations received after the specified closing date.
- School-led volunteer groups are ineligible. Individual students or staff can be nominated, however groups of pupils/staff in school-based programs cannot.
- Group category nominations must be for not-for-profit organisations, sporting clubs and community groups. Nominations for businesses can be made through the Casey Business Awards.
- Additional nomination information
- Nominations must be submitted via the online form. Emailed nominations will not be accepted.
- The nomination form should include all relevant information about the nominee in detail.
- Nominations are assessed on the information contained in the form only. Please include as much detail as possible as this is what will be assessed by a community assessment panel to decide the winners of each category. Ensure you include how the nominee individual/ group fits with the category criteria you are nominating them for.
- The panel’s decision regarding a nominations category and relevant winners is final.
- A minimum number of five nominations per category are required. If minimum requirements are not met, the panel will allocate nominations to the most relevant alternative category. The panel’s decision regarding a nominations category and relevant winners is final.
- Council staff can help complete a nomination if required. If you would like to speak to a council officer about completing a nomination, please contact us on 9705 5200 or caseysadawards@casey.vic.gov.au
- All nominees will be notified of their nomination after the closing date. At this time, they will receive a copy of their official nomination form, including the name of their nominator.
- Interpreter services are available.
Need more information?
You can read the FAQ document for more information.
Council staff members can also be contacted using the following options:
- Email: caseysawards@casey.vic.gov.au
- Ph: Community Volunteering & Leadership Team on 9705 5200
Previous award recipients
The City of Casey recognises individuals and groups that have contributed to the quality of life within Casey and delivered benefits that ensure community members are included, supported and stay connected.
Read about the 2026 award recipients.
- 2021 Casey Australia Day Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year Sumandip Kaur Casey Senior Citizen of the Year Ajantha Weerakkody Casey Young Citizen of the Year Livinia Walden Casey Local Hero of the Year Subhashini Singhal Casey Community Group of the Year Multicultural Youth Support Services Highly Commended - Casey Citizen of the Year Jawed Niazi Highly Commended - Casey Community Group of the Year Lions Club of Cranbourne
- 2022 Casey Australia Day Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year Kanu Aggarwal Casey Senior Citizen of the Year John Hardie Casey Young Citizen of the Year Flynn Collier Casey Local Hero of the Year Kay Taranto Casey Community Group of the Year Palliative Care South East
Victoria SES Narre Warren Unit
The Casey Australia Day Awards were rebranded from 2022-23 to the Casey Community Awards to broaden its scope and acknowledge and celebrate all Casey residents. Additionally, the annual Environment and Sustainability Champion(s) and the Lindsay King Art Awards were included, and the new Casey Woman of the Year award category was introduced.
- 2023 Casey Community Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year Jo Ann Fitzgerald Casey Senior of the Year Peter Cahill Casey Young Citizen of Year Tanisha Dooley Casey Woman of the Year Liesel Kippen Casey Community Group of the Year Food Pantry (Berwick Church of Christ) Casey Environment and Sustainability Champion Melanie Bramble Highly Commended - Environment and Sustainability Champion The Friends of Wilson Botanical Park Casey Equity and Inclusion Award Afghan Australian Philanthropic Association (AAPA) Highly Commended - Casey Equity and Inclusion Award Maggie Ma Lindsay King Art Award Bandok Tati
- 2024 Casey Community Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year Shane Keen Casey Senior of the Year Lucille Boothey (Aunty Lucy) Casey Young Citizen of the Year Maya Pinn Casey Woman of the Year Jodie Hollis Casey Community Group of the Year Wild Days Wildlife Shelter Casey Environment and Sustainability Champion Fiona Spargo Casey Equity and Inclusion Award Ray Adcock Lindsay King Art Award John McMahon
- 2025 Casey Community Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year (joint award) Anthony Hanna
Antonia Arfaras
Casey Senior of the Year Joseph Anthony Swindle Casey Young Citizen of the Year Matthew James Young Casey Woman of the Year Chanchal Kumavat Casey Community Group of the Year Peninsula Community Legal Centre Inc. Casey Environment and Sustainability Champion Fiona Smale Casey Equity and Inclusion Award Ren Tumath Lindsay King Art Award Bridie Clark Highly Commended Community Group of the Year Award Transit Soup Kitchen and Food Support
- 2026 Casey Community Awards
Category Name Casey Citizen of the Year (joint award) Corina Dutlow
Dr Patrick Halton
Casey Senior of the Year Graham Lovett Casey Young Citizen of the Year Mr Bailey C.O Casey Woman of the Year Cynthia Zeena Fernandes Casey Community Group of the Year Australian-Filipino Community Services Inc
Contact person - Gerardo OcampoCasey Environment and Sustainability Champion Uniting Church Hampton Park
Contact person - Bruce McBainCasey Equity and Inclusion Award The Bridge Inc.
Contact person - Alyssa KaziLindsay King Art Award Bats Theatre Company
Contact person - Debbie Jenkins