Australia Day in Cardinia Shire

About

We observe Australia Day in a number of ways and celebrate the Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards program annually.

On this page, you can find out more about:

  • local events and relevant community grants for community events
  • our Australia Day citizenship ceremony
  • Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards program, and
  • other awards programs celebrated on Australia Day.

Observing Australia Day in Cardinia Shire

Local events

Citizenship ceremony

  • Council hosts its first citizenship ceremony of the year in Pakenham on Australia Day each year. In 2025, we welcomed 100 new Australian Citizens to Cardinia Shire on Sunday 26 January.
  • For more information about our local citizenship ceremonies visit our Citizenship Ceremonies webpage.

Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards presentation ceremony

  • We celebrate the Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards each year at a special ceremony. This year, we celebrated with award nominees and winners on Thursday 23 January at the Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham.
  • For all information about the Awards program, visit our Australia Day Awards webpage.

Australia Day Awards

Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards

  • The Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions made by citizens and local community organisations to the Cardinia Shire community.
  • The award nominees and winners share the aspirations of all Australians in respect of tolerance, democracy, equity and equality of opportunity.

Australia Day Awards

Award categories

Our Australia Day Awards recognise outstanding contributions by individuals and community groups across the following categories:

  • Citizen of the Year
  • Senior Citizen of the Year
  • Young Citizen of the Year
  • Event of the Year

Nominations for Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards

  • Nominations for the Australia Day Awards usually open from around September to November each year.
  • Nominations for our Australia Day Awards are currently closed.
  • You can find out more information about nominating for an Australia Day Award on our Nominate for an Australia Day Award page.

Celebrating nominees and winners

  • Council announces and celebrates the awards nominees and winners at a special awards ceremony in the week of Australia Day.
  • We also promote the nominees, winners and the opening of nominations on our website, social media platforms and in our publications.
  • Find out more online at News, Publications and Media.

Other Awards programs celebrated on Australia Day

  • The Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards are specific to the Cardinia Shire community and recognise local contributions.
  • National awards programs including the Australian of the Year Awards and the Australian Honours and Awards system are broader recognition of the contributions made by Australian citizens at a national level.
  • Nominations for Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards do not carry over to other programs, and nominations for other Awards and recognition programs do not carry over to the Cardinia Shire Australia Day Awards program.

National Australian of the Year Awards

  • The Australian of the Year Awards are a national celebration on Australia Day recognising outstanding achievements by Australians.
  • To find out more about the Australian of the Year Awards and make a nomination, visit the Australian of the Year Awards website.

Australian Honours and Awards

The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia administers the Australian Honours and Awards system, which includes the awarding of:

  • The Order of Australia;
  • Meritorious Awards;
  • Military Awards (Gallantry Decorations, Distinguished Service Decorations, Conspicuous Service Decorations); and
  • Australian Bravery Decorations.

To find out more about these awards and honours, visit the Governor-General's Australian Honours and Awards webpage.

Related pages