Awards and Recognition

The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement.

There are four levels of award: ²

• Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
• Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) - for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) - for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
• Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) - awarded for service worthy of particular recognition.

Nomination

The Australian honours system has been uniquely designed to ensure anyone can nominate a member of the sporting community for an award in the Order of Australia.

Advancing Women: women and the Order of Australia, Women’s Leadership Institute Australia (2011). Since the Australian honours system was introduced in 1975, a great number of deserving Australians have been recognised and rewarded for their contribution to society, yet women remain under-represented in the number of nominations and this flows through to the number of people receiving honours.

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.

A number of elite female athletes have been recognised for their service to sport and the community through Australian of the Year award recognition. These include:

Australian of the Year Award recipients:

• 1964 - Dawn Fraser (Swimming)
• 1971 - Evonne Goolagong-Cawley (Tennis)
• 1972 - Shane Gould (Swimming)
• 1988 - Kay Cottee (Sailing)
• 1998 - Cathy Freeman (Athletics)

Young Australian of the Year Award recipients:

• 1985 - Deahnne McIntyre (Athletics)
• 1990 - Cathy Freeman (Athletics)
• 1997 - Nova Peris (Hockey)
• 2011 - Jessica Watson (Sailing)
• 2014 - Jacqueline Freney (Swimming)
• 2018 - Samantha Kerr (Football)
• 2020 - Ash Barty (Tennis)
• 2024 - Emma McKeon (Swimming)

AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs). The AIS Sport Performance Awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of athletes, teams, coaches, volunteers, and leaders in Australian sport.

• Female Athlete of the Year - for outstanding achievements by a female athlete in sport and beyond sporting performances
• Female Para-Athlete of the Year - for outstanding achievements by a female para-athlete in sport and beyond sporting performances

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame (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 have achieved the highest honours at the peak level of competition.
• General Members 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).

In 1993 the SAHOF introduced the 'Legends of Australian Sport' 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.

• Dawn Fraser AC, MBE (Swimming)
• Betty Cuthbert AC, MBE (Athletics)
• Evonne Goolagong-Cawley AC, MBE (Tennis)
• Shirley de la Hunty (nee Strickland) AO, MBE (Athletics)
• Marjorie Nelson (nee Jackson) AC, CVO, MBE (Athletics)
• Shane Gould AM, MBE (Swimming)
• Margaret Court AC, MBE (Tennis)
• Heather McKay AO, MBE (Squash)
• Cathy Freeman OAM (Athletics)
• Susan O'Neill AM (Swimming)
• Anne Sargeant OAM (Netball)
• Raelene Boyle AM, MBE (Athletics)
• Louise Sauvage OAM (Athletics)
• Layne Beachley AO (Surfing)

In 1998 the SAHOF introduced the Don Award, 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.

• 1998 - Heather Turland (Athletics)
• 2000 - Cathy Freeman (Athletics)
• 2002 - Alisa Camplin (Freestyle Skiing)
• 2004 - Petria Thomas (Swimming)
• 2006 - Kerryn McCann (Athletics)
• 2010 - Lydia Lassila (Freestyle Skiing)
• 2012 - Sally Pearson (Athletics)
• 2014 - Sally Pearson (Athletics)
• 2019 - Ashleigh Barty (Tennis)
• 2022 - Ashleigh Barty (Tennis)
• 2023 - Matilda's (Football)

In 2021 the Dawn Award, 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)
• 2023 - Sydney 2000 Olympic Women's Water Polo Team (Water Polo)

In 2019 Women Sport Australia launched the Women in Sport Photo Action Awards (WISPAA) to generate greater recognition and respect for the skill, strength and athleticism of Australian women actively participating in sport. The inaugural winning image was of AFLW player Tayla Harris shot by Michael Wilson. An exhibition of the 30 finalist images was held in Melbourne.

• 2022 #WISPAA winners announced, Women Sport Australia, (2022).

CBR Sport Awards, ACT Government. Celebrating the individuals and teams who have excelled with sporting achievements throughout the past 12 months.

ACT Hall of Fame, ACT Government. The ACT Sport Hall of Fame began in 1995 and has enabled athletes, officials, coaches and administrators from our region to be recognised for excellence in their field and their contribution to our sporting community.

Her Sport Her Way Awards, NSW Office of Sport. Recognising and celebrating the achievements of leaders in women’s sport through awards and storytelling shines a light on gender equity across the sector.

NSW Champions of Sport, Sport NSW. The entire NSW sporting family comes together on one night, to celebrate the year’s achievements of NSW athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and organisations, alongside the states greatest athletes as they join the NSW sporting hall of fame.

NSW Community Sports Awards, Sport NSW. Recognising outstanding achievements and contributions to community sport in NSW – largely carried out by a volunteer workforce.

NSWIS Awards, NSW Institute of Sport. Awards are given to recognise NSWIS’ top athletes, coaches, and programs across a range of categories.

NSW Hall of Champions, Sydney Olympic Park. A sports museum and hall of fame, paying tribute to NSW's greatest athletes.

NT Sports Awards, Northern Territory Government. The Northern Territory (NT) Sports Awards recognise the achievements of athletes, coaches, sporting officials and volunteers.

Queensland Sport Awards, QSport. The Annual Queensland Sport Awards have been running since 1995, and serve to celebrate the achievements of athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and organisations on an annual basis.

Queensland Sport Hall of Fame, QSport. Distinguished individuals who excel in top-tier competition, making notable contributions to sport in Queensland. This includes high-level achievements through personal effort or innovative initiatives that contribute to athlete performances and elevate the status of sport in the region.

South Australian Sport Awards, Sport SA. Each year, as one of the most prominent events on the SA sporting calendar, the South Australian Sport Awards honours those making outstanding contributions to sport in South Australia, as individual or team athletes, coaches, administrators and volunteers from both metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia and recognises our state’s great events.

South Australian Sport Hall of Fame, Sport SA. Membership of the South Australian Hall of Fame represents the highest level of recognition. The Hall of Fame recognises and promotes the outstanding achievements of this State's greatest athletes and general members who have made significant contributions to South Australia.

South Australian Sports Institute Awards, South Australian Sports Institute. Awards are given to recognise SASI’s top athletes, staff and coaches across a range of categories, acknowledging their outstanding contributions and achievements over the past 12 months.

Tasmanian Athlete of the Year, Tasmanian Government. The Tasmanian Athlete of the Year recognises outstanding performance based on the athlete’s performance at international level, their contribution to their sport and to the Tasmanian sporting community.

Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame, Tasmanian Government, Active Tasmania. Honouring outstanding Tasmanians who have represented their State and nation with distinction and ensures their sporting achievements receive recognition.

Victorian Sport Awards, VicSport. Each year, the Victorian Sport Awards honours those who have made an outstanding contribution to sport in Victoria as an individual or team athletes, coaches, administrators, and volunteers from both metropolitan and regional areas in Victoria.

Award of Excellence, Victorian Institute of Sport. The prestigious Award of Excellence is presented to a VIS athlete who has achieved outstanding sporting results during the year, while adopting a planned approach to sporting excellence and contributing to the promotion and development of their sport.

WA Sport Awards, SportWest. The WA Sport Awards enable the West Australian community to recognise excellence in sport and celebrate the achievements of WA sportspeople. The most prestigious sporting Award that a West Australian athlete can win is The West Australian RAC SportWest Awards. Many of Western Australia’s outstanding sportspeople have won this Award since it was first presented to Morna Pearce in 1956.

WAIS Excellence Awards, Western Australian Institute of Sport. The WAIS Athlete of the Year award has been annually presented since 1985.

Western Australia Hall of Champions, Western Australian Institute of Sport / Curtin University of Technology. Since 1985 the Western Australian Hall of Champions honours Western Australia’s sporting greats.

The IOC established a 'Women in Sport Working Group' in 1995 that soon evolved into the IOC Women in Sport Commission. The Commission advises the IOC on policy matters and is tasked with the responsibility of encouraging greater female participation in the Olympic Games and sport in general.

The Women and Sport Awards were introduced in 2000 to recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of those who promote gender equality in sport. Each National Olympic Committee, International Federation, and Continental Association is invited to nominate a person or association active in promoting gender equality and the presence of women in their sport or country.

• Women in the Olympic Movement: IOC Factsheet, (updated December 2021). The IOC Charter states that one of its roles is to encourage and support women in sport at all levels. This factsheet lists the year women were included in various Olympic Games sports and discusses the role of the IOC Women in Sport Commission.

The IPC Women in Sport Committee works to increase the number of women in leadership positions across the Paralympic Movement. The International Women's Day Recognition awards are a celebration of those who are breaking down barriers and opening up new opportunities for athletes, coaches, administrators and executives in Para sport.