Awards and recognition
First Nations sportspeople have been recognised over the years through various honours and awards for their contribution to sport and society.
Awards and honours help define, encourage, and reinforce excellence. Australia has a system of honours and awards to recognise excellence, achievement, or meritorious service.
Australia’s honours system was established in 1975 with the creation of the Order of Australia, replacing the previous Imperial system of British honours that were phased out by the 1980's. 1
Order of Australia
The Australian honours system has been uniquely designed to ensure anyone can nominate, opens in a new tab a member of the sporting community for an award in the Order of Australia. Search for previous Order of Australia recipients The easiest way to find someone that has been recognised with an award is to search the Prime Minister and Cabinet database, opens in a new tab.
Australian of the Year awards
A number of elite Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes have been recognised for their service to sport and the community through Australian of the Year award, opens in a new tab recognition. These include:
Australian of the Year Award recipients:
- 1968 - Lionel Rose, opens in a new tab (Boxing)
- 1971 - Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, opens in a new tab (Tennis)
- 1998 - Cathy Freeman, opens in a new tab (Athletics)
- 2014 - Adam Goodes, opens in a new tab (Australian Football)
Young Australian of the Year Award recipients:
- 1982 - Mark Ella, opens in a new tab (Rugby Union)
- 1990 - Cathy Freeman, opens in a new tab (Athletics)
- 1997 - Nova Peris, opens in a new tab (Hockey)
- 2020 - Ash Barty, opens in a new tab, (Tennis)
NAIDOC awards
The annual NAIDOC Awards, opens in a new tab, presented at the end of NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee) week, recognise the outstanding contributions made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals to improve the lives of people in their communities and beyond, to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues in the wider community, and demonstrated excellence shown in their chosen field.
The awards recognise both a Person of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year as well as various other categories.
Person of the Year
- 2000 - Anthony Mundine (Boxing)
- 2012 - David Wirrpanda (AFL)
- 2017 - Patty Mills (Basketball)
- 2022 - Ashley Barty (Tennis)
Sportsperson of the Year
- 1985 - Kyle Vander Kuyp (Athletics)
- 1986 - Phynea Clarke (Hockey)
- 1986 - Warren Lawton (Goalball)
- 1987 - Catherine Hillard
- 1988 - Tony Currie (Football)
- 1992 - Robert Peden (Boxing)
- 1994 - Kyle Vander Kuyp (Athletics)
- 1995 - Rohan Best
- 1997 - Kasey Wehrman (American football)
- 1998 - Ali Drummond (Lawn Bowls)
- 2000 - Anthony Mundine (Boxing)
- 2001 - Warren Lawton (Goalball)
- 2009 - Andrew McLeod (Australian football)
- 2010 - Rohanee Cox (Basketball)
- 2011 - Preston Campbell (Rugby league)
- 2013 - Jonathan Thurston (Rugby league)
- 2014 - Jesse Williams (American football)
- 2015 - Ryan Morich (Wheelchair basketball)
- 2016 - Jade North (Football)
- 2017 - Amanda Reid (Para-cycling)
- 2018 - Jack Peris (Athletics/AFL)
- 2019 - Shantelle Thompson (Brazilian jiu-jitsu)
- 2021 - Clarence 'CJ' McCarthy-Grogan (Wheelchair basketball)
- 2022 - Buddy Franklin (Australian football)
- 2023 - Donnell Wallam (Netball)
- 2024 - Alex Winwood (Boxing)
- 2025 - Danielle Ponter (Australian football)
Sport Australia Hall of Fame
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab (SAHOF) has a number of award categories. Although awards are not gender specific Australian sportswomen are under-represented compared to their male cohort.
- Athlete Members, opens in a new tab have achieved the highest honours at the peak level of competition.
- General Members, opens in a new tab are people who have shown excellence and had outstanding achievements in roles supportive to participants (i.e. administration, coaching, training, sports media, history, sports science, technology).
Legends of Australian Sport
In 1993 the SAHOF introduced the 'Legends of Australian Sport', opens in a new tab category for Members who have distinguished themselves at the absolute highest level and whose achievements are considered part of Australian folklore. A Member must be 15 years retired before being considered for elevation to the category.
- Evonne Goolagong-Cawley AC, MBE (Tennis)
- Cathy Freeman OAM (Athletics)
- Mark Ella AM (Rugby Union)
The Don Award
In 1998 the SAHOF introduced the Don Award, opens in a new tab, named after Sir Donald Bradman. The Award honours a current Australian athlete who, by their achievements and example over the previous 12 months, are considered to have had the capacity to most inspire the nation. Athletes can be awarded the 'Don Award' multiple times, and there may be more than one winner in a year.
- 2000 - Cathy Freeman (Athletics)
- 2019 - Ashleigh Barty (Tennis)
- 2021 - Patrick Mills (Basketball)
The Dawn Award
In 2021 the Dawn Award, opens in a new tab, named after Dawn Fraser AC MBE, was introduced. The Award honours an individual, team, or organisation – from this or a previous generation – who are courageous, brave, and have changed sport for the better.
- 2021 - Evonne Goolagong-Cawley (Tennis)
Team Sport Australia Award
The Team Sport Australia Award, opens in a new tab is not intended to be given annually but to be granted, at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Board’s discretion, to an Australian sporting team whose results have significantly contributed to Australia’s sporting heritage.
- First cricket team to tour England - 1868 (2002). The team consisted of 13 Aboriginal men from the Western District of Victoria. The Jardwadjali, Gunditjmara and Wotjobaluk men were coached and captained by an ex all-England cricketer, Charles Lawrence. The team played 47 matches against intermediate-level English amateur teams between May and October 1868, winning 14 and drawing 19. The tour made headlines in England and Australia and continues to be a significant moment in Australia’s cricketing history, racial relations, and national identity.
Other awards and recognition programs
- National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards, opens in a new tab [1986-2003; 2023-]. These Awards recognised the sporting achievements of Indigenous and Islander athletes. [source: Wikipedia]
- In 2023, the National Indigenous Sports Foundation (NISF), opens in a new tab re-established the awards as an annual event.
- Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab. Established in 1994 to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people that have achieved at the highest level of their chosen sport. There is no permanent home for the Hall of Fame but there have been several photographic exhibitions and books published. [source: Wikipedia]
- Black pearls : the Aboriginal and Islander sports hall of fame, opens in a new tab, Colin and Paul Tatz, Aboriginal Studies Press, (2018).
- Black gold : the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame, opens in a new tab, Colin Tatz, Canberra Aboriginal Studies Press, (2000).
- Black diamonds : the Aboriginal and Islander sports hall of fame, opens in a new tab, Colin and Paul Tatz, Allen and Unwin, (1996).
- National Dreamtime Awards, opens in a new tab [2017-2020]. The National Dreamtime Awards, known simply as the Dreamtime Awards, were an annual celebration of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in sport, arts, academic and community. [source: Wikipedia]
REFERENCES
- The Order of Australia, opens in a new tab, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, (accessed 27 March 2023).
See more on this topic:
- Overview
- Benefits of Sport
- Factors influencing participation
- Equity
- Policies, programs, and supporting structures
- Awards and recognition
Is this information complete? The Clearinghouse for Sport is a sector-wide knowledge sharing initiative, and as such your contributions are encouraged and appreciated. If you would like to suggest a resource, submit a publication, or provide feedback on this topic, please contact us.