Nominations open for 2025 Autism Queensland Recognition Awards
20 Aug 2025
Do you know a person, school, early childhood centre or business making a difference for autistic people. This is your chance to make sure they are recognised.
Autism Queensland’s annual search for outstanding achievers within the State’s autism community has begun. Nominate today and help us celebrate these Queensland champions!
Junior Achievement Award
This award recognises the exceptional achievements of an autistic Queenslander under 18. These achievements can include but are not limited to:
- Sporting excellence
- Artistic contributions
- Academic accomplishments
- Advocacy efforts
- Overcoming adversity to reach personal goals
Note: Nominations are encouraged from family members, friends, colleagues, schools and other service providers. Self-nominations are welcome.
Individual Achievement Award
This award celebrates the outstanding achievements of an autistic Queenslander aged 18 and over. Achievements can be diverse, including, but not limited to:
- Professional excellence
- Research contributions
- Personal achievements in sports, academics, or family life
- Advocacy efforts.
Note: Nominations are encouraged from family members, friends, colleagues, schools and other service providers. Self-nominations are welcome.
Parent/Carer Community Champion Award
This award acknowledges Queensland parents and carers who, through their lived experience, have become powerful voices and change makers, demonstrating leadership, compassion and vision in supporting their autistic family member and the broader community through awareness, education or systemic change.
Note: Nominations are encouraged from family members and service providers. Self-nominations are NOT accepted for this category.
School/Early Childhood Education Award
This award acknowledges the exceptional efforts of a Queensland school, early childhood education centre or kindergarten. It focuses on:
- Understanding the unique needs of autistic students or young children
- Providing holistic and inclusive support
- Ensuring maximum outcomes for students or young children in their care.
Note: Anyone can nominate a school/early childhood education centre/kindergarten for this award.
Autism Queensland may NOT be nominated for this award.
Community Inclusion Award
This award recognises a community group, organisation, or initiative that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to creating inclusive environments, programs, and practices that empower and support autistic people. It focuses on leadership in fostering understanding, accessibility, and meaningful participation for autistic people within their broader communities including:
- Inclusive Practices: Policies, programs, or services.
- Community Impact: Demonstrated outcomes and measurable benefits to the autistic community (e.g. improved access, increased participation, enhanced awareness).
- Innovation: Creative or unique approaches to inclusion.
- Collaboration: Partnerships with autistic individuals, advocacy groups, or other stakeholders to prioritise autistic voice in business.
- Sustainability: Ongoing commitment to inclusion beyond a single event or short-term initiative.
Nominations close 11:30pm, Monday, 29 September 2025.
Finalists will be notified in October. Award winners will be announced at an invitation only event hosted by Autism Queensland Patron, Her Excellency The Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, on Tuesday 2 December 2025.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Award Recipients:
- An Award winner will be selected for each category.
- The judging panel may award any number of special commendations
- Award Recipient(s) and Special Commendations will be acknowledged on the Autism Queensland website.
- Autism Queensland will also present a Patronage Award to recognise a business or individual who has made a major contribution to the organisation and/or its mission.
How to submit:
All nominations must be made on the official Nomination Form.
- Carefully read the criteria for the different awards and choose the category that best suits the person/school/organisation etc you are nominating. You may nominate a person in more than one category, however each nomination must be completed on a separate form.
- Ensure you have permission to share the nominee’s personal details with Autism Queensland. You are welcome to include supporting information (eg Resume, brochures, essays, media articles, web links, copies of art work) etc.
What the judging panel will look for:
- Nominations that best fit the Award Category and criteria.
- Clear and concise reasons for the nomination.
- Clear description of the nominee’s involvement and achievements in the field of autism relating to the award category, and if possible backed by supporting information.
Additional Guidelines:
- If you are nominating someone for an Award you MUST notify them, or in the case of a school/early childhood education provider/business, their key contact, before submitting the nomination. They should also be aware, that, if selected as a finalist, their details may be used in the promotion of these and future Awards.
- Autism Queensland reserves the right to use the material submitted for promotion of the Awards as well as those that are held into the future.
- Autism Queensland will not accept any responsibility for lost or misdirected nominations.
Please note: All finalists will be notified in October to confirm their attendance at the Awards presentation at Government House. Attendance is not compulsory and will in no way affect the outcome of the Awards.
Enquiries: [email protected].
