Australia Day in Cardinia Shire

Observing Australia Day in Cardinia Shire

Local events

• A number of community-run events are held across Cardinia Shire for the community to enjoy. Community members can find events near them online at the National Australia Day website's Victorian Events Calendar.
• Council is proud to support community events, such as eligible Australia Day events, with grant funding through its Festivals and Events Grants program each year.

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.
• In 2025, 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 events to the Cardinia Shire community.
• Nominees and winners represent what it is to be an Australian and through their actions, promote tolerance, democracy, equity and equality of opportunity.

More about our Australia Day Awards

Award categories

The award categories are:

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

Nominations for Cardinia Shire's Australia Day Awards

• Nominations for the 2026 Australia Day Awards are now open!
• Nominations will close on Wednesday 5 November 2025.
• You can nominate for an award online through the SmartyGrants 2026 Australia Day Awards application form.
• You can also 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 will announce and celebrate the awards nominees and winners at a special presentation 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.