Nominations have just closed for this year’s Melbourne Awards
Which will feature two new categories
Recognising the achievements of young Melburnians and those working to promote diversity and inclusion. 3KND Yarns with Stacie NichoPiper from Djirri Djirri Cultural Services to ask what it meant to win a Melbourne Award in 2022 and what Djirri Djirri Cultural Services have been up to since.
The awards are the City of Melbourne’s highest accolade – celebrating the inspirational work of those shaping the city for the better.
The 2023 Melbourne Awards will celebrate individuals and organisations across eight categories:
• Aboriginal Melbourne – ganbu guljin – celebrating efforts to support and promote
Melbourne’s First Nations community.
• Access and Inclusion – promoting initiatives that improve and celebrate the lives of those living with a disability.
• Arts and Events – highlighting work to drive visitation and boost Melbourne’s reputation
as Australia’s cultural capital.
• City Design – showcasing the work of organisations in shaping the city’s skyline through innovative design.
• Community – recognising projects and activities that enhance community wellbeing.
• Knowledge and Innovation – supporting thinkers and innovators shaping our city’s bright future.
• LGBTIQA+ – acknowledging the work of those supporting and promoting diversity and
inclusivity.
• Sustainability – focusing on projects and programs creating a more sustainable city
through innovation and design.
Previous Melbourne Award winners include not-for-profit streetwear brand, HoMie, Wurundjeri female-led dance and cultural services group, Djirri Djirri, and Australia’s largest photography event, Photo 2022.
The Melbourne Awards also include the prestigious Melburnian of the Year Award, which celebrates a role model who has made an outstanding contribution in their field and to the city.
For the first time, the City of Melbourne will also recognise a Young Melburnian of the Year –
acknowledging the achievements of a young person, aged 18 to 30, who is making the city a better place for its residents and visitors.
Applications for the 2023 Melbourne Awards and nominations for the Melburnian and Young Melburnian of the Year are open from Monday 22 May to Friday 23 June. For more information or to nominate someone, visit Melbourne Awards.
Winners will be announced at the Melbourne Awards Gala on Saturday 11 November.
The City of Melbourne thanks its partners Epicure, Ernst and Young, Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 3AW, Naomi Milgrom Foundation and Mitchelton.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
"Melbourne is full of innovators and creative minds, who are leading the charge to shape our city for the better. The central district is home to more than 500 start-ups, and our city is on the way to becoming the fourth fastest-growing start-up ecosystem in the world.”
“Our Melbourne Awards shine a light on the extraordinary work of those who are going above and beyond in their field – improving community wellbeing, driving innovation and creating a more sustainable city.”
“I’m thrilled to announce our two new categories this year – Young Melburnian of the Year and Access and Inclusion – recognising that everyone contributes to making Melbourne the nation’s most liveable city.”
Djirri Djirri is the only Wurundjeri female dance group and are Traditional Custodians of Narrm (Melbourne) and surrounds.
Djirri Djirri means Willy Wagtail in Woiwurrung, the Mother Tongue. The Willy Wagtail is the Spirit's Messenger and giver of dance.
The Djirri Djirri dancers are all connected by blood through one woman, Borate, Berak's (William Barak's) sister. They are cousins, nieces, aunties, mothers and daughters, all dancing together to honour Liwik (Ancestors), Kerr-up-non (Family), Biik (Country) and animals.