Selection Criteria
There has also been a significant shift in the criteria for the Australian of the Year award in fifty years. Initially the focus was on awarding the person who had ‘brought the greatest honour to Australia.’ This emphasis on international acclaim was gradually relaxed and Australian-based achievement was recognised more often from the 1970s onwards. The official criteria have usually been suitably broad in their scope, so changes in approach are largely attributable to the membership of the NADC board and the political climate of the time. In the mid-1980s there was a notable shift towards high profile winners, while in the 1990s some of those honoured reflected the prominent political issues of republicanism and reconciliation. Currently, the selection committees refer to three main criteria when considering nominees:
- Demonstrated excellence in their field;
- Significant contribution to the Australian community and nation; and
- An inspirational role model for the Australian community.
The third of these criteria supports the NADC’s key goal of encouraging good citizenship.
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