alert City of Parramatta will soon no longer support this version of IE. Consider upgrading your browser now. Link

Civic Program and Citizenship

Citizen of the Year Awards

Help us find your local heroes!

Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for the Parramatta community? Nominate them now for the 2024 Citizen of the Year Awards. Nominations close 5pm, Wednesday 15 November.

We’re also looking for volunteer members for the judging panel, to help review, assess, and select award recipients. Express your interest by 5pm, Monday 16 October.

Nominate now!

 

 

City of Parramatta Citizen of the Year Awards

The City of Parramatta Citizen of the Year Awards recognise and honour the outstanding achievement and excellence in the local community and highlight the importance of service to the Australian nation. These awards are part of Council’s Australia Day program, and provide a great opportunity to celebrate local heroes for the contribution they deliver to our community. 

Being nominated for a Citizen of the Year Award is a great honour and it is an opportunity for the community to pay tribute to neighbours, friends or colleagues who make them proud to be an Australian.

There are many reasons to nominate an individual or group to receive an award, including achievement in education, sports, environmental care, community engagement, business, welfare, arts and culture, leadership, civic responsibility, volunteering, offering acts of kindness, or a noteworthy contribution to the Parramatta community.

The Award categories are as follows: 
 

Citizen of the Year:

A person who has made a noteworthy contribution to the City of Parramatta in any of the below age groups

  • Young Citizen of the Year in honour of David Shakespeare OAM: 16-30 years
  • Citizen of the Year: 31-64 years
  • Senior Citizen of the Year: 65 years and over

Note: the age of the nominee must fall into the applicable category as of 26 January 2024. Selection of Citizen of the Year Award recipients will take into consideration activities in the year prior to January 2024, in addition to past and future activities.

Community Group Award:

A local group or organisation, which has provided an outstanding contribution to the City of Parramatta community. This includes projects and events.

Note: The Community Group Award must be for a group, project or activity which has contributed to the City of Parramatta in the 24 months prior to January 2024.

Award recipients will be announced in January 2024 as part of City of Parramatta’s Australia Day program.

How to Nominate

(Back to top)

You are invited to nominate a member of the community or a local community group, whose exemplary contribution is deserving of recognition. This could be a friend, family member, workmate, local group or organisation, or someone you know who serves the community. You only need to be nominated once to be considered for an award.

Please ensure that you have read the Eligibility Criteria, Conditions of Entry and Assessment Criteria

Then register via our online platform to start your nomination. It’s easy! Make sure to complete your nomination by 5pm, Wednesday 15 November 2023.

Nomination Platform FAQS
  • 1. Click on the button above to be taken to the site.

    2. Register your email.

    3. Choose a password with at least 12 characters. Passwords must include a number, a special character, an upper-case and a lower-case letter.

    4. You will receive an email to verify your details.

    5. Login with your email and password each time.

  • 1. Login with your email and password each time.

    2. Please ensure that you have read the Eligibility Criteria, Conditions of Entry and Assessment Criteria before submitting a nomination.

    3. Start your nomination – you can save it in-progress and complete it at any time until 5pm, Wednesday 15 November 2023.

    4. Submit your nomination for consideration.

  • Yes, the entry date and time is final. Late applications and material cannot be accepted, and nominators will be provided the opportunity to reapply in the following year.

  • If you’re not familiar with the nomination form, you may wish to download a blank entry PDF to view before you begin your nomination. You can do this in the Nominee information section of the form, once you have selected an Award category.

Join our judging panel

(Back to top)

Are you interested in reviewing all the wonderful stories from our local heroes who have been nominated for a Citizen of the Year Award?

We are currently looking for members in our community to join our volunteer judging panel to help review and select the 2024 award recipients. Express your interest by 5pm, Monday 16 October.

 

Citizen of the Year Awards 2023 recipients (Back to top)

Citizen of the Year Awards 2023 recipients
  • Zyntaurus Donna-Aroon

    Zyntaurus has been a member of the Baludarri Wetland Bushcare Group since 2011. He first joined the City of Parramatta Bushcare Volunteer Program as a Scout, and since 2020 has taken on the role as Convenor of the group. Zyntaurus has gone above and beyond removing weeds, planting native local plants, and removing rubbish to transform a defunct landfill site into a viable salt marsh.

    He inspires younger volunteers like himself to join environmental fields and Bushcare programs to ensure lands and waterways are protected for years to come. He is also involved with the Parramatta River Catchment Group; assisted with the successful running of the Refugee Alternatives Conference; and in 2022 won the Youth Award for Bushcare. Through his efforts, Zyntaurus has positively benefitted both the local community and environment, showing what can be done to help protect and promote bushlands.

  • Julia (Julz) Strykowski

    Julz is a Parramatta local that has been an active volunteer within the community for more than 10 years. She is a passionate environmental educator involved with many community groups that she has founded, leads, organises and campaigns for. She is the founder of the Boomerang Bags Parramatta group, empowering local communities to tackle plastic pollution at its source. Julz is a co-founder of the Friends of Toongabbie Creek group, where locals can adopt and care for Toongabbie Creek. Julz also runs a waste-to-art program called PluckFastic, and her work has been featured at regional art shows and galleries in Sydney and won numerous awards and prizes. Julz is an extremely dedicated local with her volunteering efforts extending to the Parramatta Women’s Shed, Greener Gatherings, and Plastic Free Parramatta.

  • Jocelyn Dodd

    Jocelyn has been volunteering with the City of Parramatta Community Care services for almost 10 years. Jocelyn has volunteered in several roles with fervour and shown an exemplary commitment to enriching the lives of the vulnerable people she supports. As a Community Connector with the Social Inclusion services, Jocelyn took on the role of supporting people with disability and teaching them life and digital skills. Jocelyn also volunteers her time with the Over 55's Leisure and Learning service, making herself available for any enquiries ensuring that new participants feel welcome, while also teaching computer skills at the Seniors Computer kiosk. She also offered her support at the Social Lunch program with the Meals on Wheels service, where she was matched with a participant who was in the early phase of Alzheimer’s disease, delivering meals and providing support.

  • Parramatta State Emergency Service (SES)

    The Parramatta State Emergency Service (SES) is a group of volunteers selflessly serving the community. Day and night, weekdays and weekends, 365 days a year, the crew at Parramatta assist in all emergency events within the Local Government Area. This passionate group volunteer outside of their work and family commitments to make the community a safe place to live and work. Sydney had some significant weather events in 2022, and the SES served the community tirelessly during this time saving lives and protecting property. The SES volunteers are everyday members of the community with jobs, families, hobbies, and interests. In undertaking their service to the community, they often put their own wants and needs second to those that they serve. The Parramatta SES deliver an outstanding service and are a highly regarded crew.

Previous Awards Recipients

Contact Us

(Back to top)

For more information, please feel free to contact our Citizen of the Year Awards team at citizenoftheyear@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or by calling 02 9806 5000.

Upcoming events