The Inaugural

Clean Up Australia

Community Awards!

To help celebrate the upcoming 35th Anniversary, Clean Up Australia is launching its Inaugural Community Awards to recognise the amazing contributions made by the environmental champions from different groups who have been and are actively involved in Clean Up activities and make a huge difference to protect and conserve our environment. 


The awards are designed to celebrate you, our volunteers and community! We recognise your hard work and want to share your stories with the Clean Up Australia community. Participating in these awards is a chance to showcase the change-makers in your organisation and recognise your teams' efforts.


After judging concludes, winners will be notified and invited to the official launch of Clean Up Australia Day 2025 where the award winners will be announced. Category winners will receive an invitation to the awards ceremony including one return airfare and a night's accommodation. There will be one overall winner and two highly commended for each of the four award categories, with only one overall winner for the Ian Kiernan Impact Award.  Each will receive an award, a gift, and the bragging rights of being an inaugural Clean Up Australia Community Award winner.

Entry Guidelines


Nominations for the Clean Up Australia Community Awards open on 1 August 2024 and close midnight 30 September 2024 AEST.  Judging will take place from 14 October 2024 and conclude on or before 29 November 2024 with the judging panel made up of three 'friends' of Clean Up Australia who will judge all nominations in line with the award criteria. 


The Award winners will be announced at the 2025 Clean Up Australia Day launch event with the date to be announced. 


There are four award categories with the eligibility criteria below. Submissions might refer to Clean Up Australia Day and/or Every Day Clean Ups. 


See here for the full Conditions of Entry. 


Individual Community Champion Award


This award recognises Individual Community Champions and takes into consideration the volunteer's longevity of service, the number of Clean Ups they have done and how they have created excitement about a Clean Up event in their community to achieve a "wow factor". Nominations can be made on behalf of someone or be self-nominated.


Submit your nomination here: Individual Community Champion Award 

Group Community Champion Award


This award recognises Community Groups and Community-based organisations who are Champions and takes into consideration the group's or organisation's longevity of service, number of Clean Ups organised and participated in, ad how excitement about a Clean Up event has been created to achieve a "wow" factor. Community groups and community-based organisations of all sizes can nominate for this category.


Submit your nomination here:  Group Community Champion Award 

Schools Sustained Environmental Award


This award recognises Education Champions for how they have implemented and sustained environmental change within their School or Educational Institution. Schools and Educational Institutions of all sizes can nominate for this category. 


Submit your nomination here:  Schools Sustained Environmental Award 

Outstanding Council Award


This award recognises outstanding Councils for their commitment, support and longevity of their relationship with Clean Up Australia. Councils of all types and sizes can nominate for this category.


Submit your nomination here: Outstanding Council Award 

The Ian Kiernan Impact Award - for making a positive impact to our environment


This can be an individual or group award with the winner selected from all award nominations received. This is a discretionary award with the final decision made by Pip Kiernan, Chair of Clean Up Australia. 

Handy Hints for Completing Your Submission 


For long form questions, responses can be up to 400 words, however, we recommend keeping your answers concise and to the point. We have left a question at the end asking if there is anything else you would like to add, just in case you forgot to include something. 


Submissions should include photos, images or other documentation that support the award nomination. 


  • Can attach up to 5 files 
  • Files can be up to 10mb each 
  • File types can include .pdf, image, video and audio 


Questions? 


If you have any questions about the Award program, please email cleanup@cleanup.com.au with “Clean Up Australia Community Awards” in the subject heading and don’t forget to include your name and contact details. 


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