The City of Greater Geelong and Women in Community Life Advisory Committee bring you the Women in Community Life Awards as part of our International Women’s Day celebrations.

The theme for our International Women’s day celebration in 2023 is ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future’. The awards acknowledge the contribution women have made to the Greater Geelong community and in particular the impact they have made to promote and advocate for the advancement of gender equality.

Nominations for the awards open on Monday 10 October and close on Friday 25 November. 

The seven categories are:

1. Innovation for a Gender Equal Future
2. First Nations Woman
3. Disability Rights
4. Leadership in Women’s Health
5. Climate Action
6. Human Rights
7. Education

Award details

The Women in Community Life Awards will be presented at the City of Greater Geelong’s 2023 International Women’s Day event on 8 March. As well as the accolades and recognition the award winners will receive a Wathaurong Glass artwork and $500.

They will also have the opportunity for a ‘mutual mentoring’ session with a leader from the organisation that has sponsored their award category.

Key selection criteria

Nominations will be assessed on the following key criteria:

• Impact on the Greater Geelong community
• Contribution to gender equality women’s participation representation and leadership
• Leader and role model for women and girls
• Contribution related to the award category (see details below).

Eligibility and nomination

1. To be eligible for an award the nominee must live work or study in the Greater Geelong region.
2. The nominee can be anyone who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person.
3. Previous winners of an award category are not eligible for nomination in the same category.
4. Nominators can nominate one woman in up to three different award categories.
5. Nominations should be kept confidential – i.e. nominators should not tell the woman that they are nominating them. If the nomination is successful the City will contact the nominee to confirm that they are happy to accept the award. They will have the option to decline the award.
6. Nominees must be at least 15 years old to be nominated. 
7. Self-nominations are not accepted.
8. Current City of Greater Geelong staff members are not eligible to be nominated.

Need to know more...

For further information or assistance in completing the nomination form please contact Georgina Allen Health Promotion Officer on 03 5272 4493 or by emailing georgina.allen@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.

1. Women in Community Life Award for Innovation for a Gender Equal Future

Sponsored by Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West

This award acknowledges achievement that contributes to the UN Women Global Theme for International Women’s Day 2023 of ‘Cracking the Code: Innovation for a Gender Equal Future’.

The nomination must clearly demonstrate how the nominee has shown leadership skills and capacity within the Greater Geelong region. Examples may include:

• Initiation of bold transformative ideas and projects to accelerate gender equality
• Demonstrating innovation in combating discrimination and marginalisation
• Leadership in the fields of science technology engineering and mathematics (STEM)
• Increasing access to digital technologies and promoting digital equity for women and marginalised groups.

Eligibility

• To be eligible for this award the nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.

2. Women in Community Life Award for a First Nations Woman

This award acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living and/or working in Geelong whose leadership and advocacy have improved the lives of people from their community.

The nomination must clearly demonstrate how the nominee has contributed to the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in the Greater Geelong region. Examples might include:

• Cultural activities
• Advocating for human rights and self determination
• Promoting health and education
• Campaigning and advocacy
• Leadership
• Youth work
• Community development

Eligibility

• The nominee must identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region

3. Women in Community Life Award for Disability Rights

Sponsored by Barwon Health

 This award acknowledges the achievements and contribution of Geelong women living with a disability. The nomination must clearly demonstrate how the nominee has addressed barriers and raised the profile of women and girls living with a disability within the Greater Geelong region. Examples might include:

• Advocating for women living with disabilities within the Greater Geelong region
• Advancing the participation representation or leadership of women with disabilities
• Demonstrating leadership in increasing inclusive practices for all people with a disability
• Acting as a role model by leading through lived experience of disability such as mentoring and team leadership.

Eligibility

• The nominee must identify as having a lived experience of disability.
• The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.

4. Women in Community Life Award for Climate Action

Sponsored by Committee for Geelong

This award acknowledges women’s roles in supporting climate action disaster responses and women’s resilience. The nomination must show how the nominee has played a role in leadership advocacy and influencing outcomes in relation to the theme.

Examples may include:

• Demonstrating leadership in advocating for climate action
• Starting or increasing environmental sustainability projects in the City of Greater Geelong
• Leading local environmental sustainability groups
• Raising local awareness of the gendered impacts of climate change on women around the world.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.

5. Women in Community Life Award for Leadership in Women’s Health

Sponsored by GMHBA

This award acknowledges the achievements and leadership of women in advancing women’s health outcomes.

The nomination must clearly demonstrate how the nominee has shown leadership skills and capacity within the Greater Geelong region.

Examples may include:

• Leading health promotion activities that have led to stronger health outcomes for women
• Raising awareness of key women’s health issues including mental health and sexual and reproductive health
• Increasing gender equity in sports and increasing participation of women and girls in physical activity
• Supporting women who are survivors of domestic and family violence and advocating for the prevention of violence against women and girls.

Eligibility

The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.

6. Women in Community Life Award for Human Rights

Sponsored by Zonta Club of Geelong

This award acknowledges the achievements of women in the promotion advancement and demonstration of advocacy for human rights.

The nomination must clearly show how the nominee has worked or volunteered in the area of human rights within the Greater Geelong region.

Examples may include:

• Actions to address and call out discrimination
• Encouraging greater social harmony within the community in areas such as race relations gender equality and the treatment of children and young people
• Increasing awareness of injustice or discrimination
• Advancing the position for women and girls in relation to clever and creative opportunities including mentorship digital platforms social enterprise and community activism
• Promotion and inclusion of women’s participation in public life through advancing equal representation on boards government bodies and educational institutions.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.
• The nominee will be expected to present to the Zonta Club Geelong on their work.

7. Women in Community Life Award for Education

Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Geelong

This award acknowledges the achievements of women in delivering participating in and achieving educational outcomes.

The nomination must clearly show how the nominee has worked or volunteered in the area of education within the Greater Geelong region.

Examples may include:

• Tutoring for women who have English as a second language
• An inspirational teacher that has shown commitment and resilience to students
• Assisting a woman or girl to continue with her education through formal or informal support
• Working towards advancing equality in our schools TAFEs or universities
• Challenging stereotypes and gender roles in educational settings.

Eligibility

• The nominee must be a person who identifies as a woman or gender non-binary person who lives works or studies in the Greater Geelong region.
• The nominee will be expected to present to present to Soroptimists International Geelong on their work.

Need to know more...

For further information or for assistance in completing the nomination form please contact Georgina Allen Health Promotion Officer on 03 5272 4493 or by emailing georgina.allen@geelongcity.vic.gov.au.