Each year, we honour local people who make a difference to the community with our Yarra Community Awards. These awards are presented to individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to Yarra in the past year or over a number of years.

Nominations for Contribution to the Arts and all other categories are now open. In 2019, the award categories are Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year, Community Initiative of the Year, Contributions to Arts, Contributions to Sport, Contributions to Heritage, Contributions to Diversity and Inclusion.

In 2018, Mama Alto was the recipient of the 'Contribution to the Arts' award, for delivering high quality arts experiences to audiences across Yarra and using her talent as a platform to drive social change.

Mama Alto identifies as transgender, a person of colour, a queer person and a person living with disability. Her artistic practice focuses strongly on social inclusion, empowering the marginalised, championing diversity and combatting oppression.

She is a long-time performer at Hares & Hyenas in Fitzroy, The Melba Spiegeltent in Collingwood and she is involved with our annual Leaps and Bounds Music Festival. She has a large following of LGBTIQA+, culturally diverse and mainstream communities in Yarra. She pours copious amount of emotional energy, care and time into her practise, which celebrates inclusion, diversity, visibility and belonging. 

Many of her performances in Yarra have been fundraisers for charitable causes including raising over $6,000 for marriage equality. She supports other local emerging artists to pursue their work.

What are the prizes?

A monetary prize of $500 will be awarded to each winner of Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Community Initiative of the Year.

A monetary prize of $250 will be awarded to the winners in each “Contributions to” category.

How do I nominate?

Nominations are open from Monday 5 August until Friday 18 October 2019. 

You can nominate an individual or group by filling in one of the nomination forms. You can do this online, or print out a hard copy and fill it in. 

You will need some contact details to complete you nomination, so make sure you have these ready. The form asks for contact details for yourself, your nominee and a referee who is familiar with the achievements of your nominee. 

Take a look at the hard copy nomination forms to get an idea of what questions you will be asked before you begin the online form. 

Make a nomination

Please read the terms and conditions before you begin your nomination. 

There are two options for nominating: 

Fill in one of the four online forms:

• Citizen and of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Community Initiative of the Year
• Contributions to: Arts, Sport, Heritage or Diversity and Inclusion

Or download hard copies of the forms:

• Citizen and of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Community Initiative of the Year
• Contributions to: Arts, Sport, Heritage or Diversity and Inclusion

You can also request a hard copy of the nomination forms at one of our Customer Service Centres or by calling 9205 5555. 

These can be sent to communications@yarracity.vic.gov.au (Subject line: Community Awards nomination) or via post to Yarra City Council, 333 Bridge Road Richmond 3121 (attn: Communications) 

What are the judging criteria?

Citizen of the Year

• Aged 26 years or older (at 1 July 2019)
• Has made a significant contribution to the Yarra community during the current year and/or over a number of years.
• Shows leadership and is a positive role model for others
• Supports community values, including:
  • Cultural harmony
  • Equality and equity
  • Concern for sustainability and the environment
  • Improve community health and wellbeing
• Contributions made by the nominee are on a voluntary basis or exceed the normal requirements of their paid work
• Must be a current Yarra resident. 

Young Citizen of the Year

• Aged between 12 and 25 years (at 1 July 2019)
• Has made a significant contribution and/or given outstanding service to the Yarra community during the current year and/or over a number of years.
• Shows leadership and is a positive role model to other young people in the community
• Supports community values, including:
  
  • Cultural harmony
  • Equality and equity
  • Concern for sustainability and the environment
  • Improve community health and wellbeing
• Must be a current Yarra resident. 

Community Initiative of the Year

• Can be presented to an individual, group of people, event, campaign or movement
• Initiative has made an outstanding contribution to the Yarra community during the current year and/or over a number of years
• Demonstrates service to the community with measured benefits
• Significant volunteer involvement or exceeds the normal requirements of paid work.
• Encourages ongoing change within the community

Contributions to Arts

Contributions to Sport

Contributions to Heritage

Contributions to Diversity and Inclusion

• Can be presented to an individual or group
• Recipient has made a significant contribution to one of the listed categories in the Yarra community during the current year or and/or over a number of years.
• Demonstrates service to the community in their chosen field.
• Significant volunteer involvement or exceeds the normal requirements of paid work.

Glossary 

What does Contributions to Arts mean?

The category of Arts recognises contributions to the thriving and evolving creative experience in Yarra. Yarra is home to a range of vibrant arts communities, be it visual art, performance art, music or another creative discipline. We are proud of the dynamic arts activities occurring in Yarra all year round that our residents and visitors enjoy and embrace.

What does Contributions to Sport mean?

The category of Sport recognises contributions to organised sport and encouraging physical activity in Yarra. Being active is an important part of Yarra life. We encourage physical activity as a part of everyday life for people of all ages and abilities. We have a number of local sporting clubs, activities and community groups creating opportunities on the sports field and beyond.

What does Contributions to Heritage mean?

The category of Heritage recognises contributions to the protection and enhancement of Yarra's history. Yarra has a rich history and is home to a large number of historical buildings and sites that are of interest and value to the community. Heritage can relate to  tangible features such as buildings, precincts, landscapes, streetscapes, archaeological sites, objects, collections and records, or to intangible elements such as cultural practices, stories, traditions, folklore and other knowledge that is inherited over generations. 

We have a number of local community members, groups, societies and professionals who are involved in heritage conservation. There are also examples of owners, designers or developers who have produced outstanding examples of heritage adaption on buildings by going above and beyond to protect and enhance heritage during development. 

What does Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion mean?

The category of Diversity and Inclusion recognises contributions to reduce barriers so that all people can participate in the community and Yarra life. We value our diversity, where people of all ages, genders, sexualities, abilities, incomes, educations, languages, cultures and backgrounds feel welcome and connected.

Who chooses the winners?

Our councillors on the Community Awards Committee are responsible for judging the nominations and awarding winners in each category.

For more information call Yarra City Council on 9205 5555 or email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au