Future unclear for International Women’s Day awards program

A long-running award program recognising women advancing gender equality across Greater Geelong will not name any new recipients this year.

The Women in Community Life Awards have formed the centrepiece of the City of Greater Geelong’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebrations for a decade.

Historically, seven awards have been presented annually.

In 2025, the program was reduced to four categories, following concerns the program featured too many awards to maintain strong nominations.

Only three awards were ultimately presented, after the nominees in the First Nations category withdrew.

The withdrawal followed the council’s decision in February last year to reinstate Australia Day celebrations on 26 January and end its advocacy to change the date, a move that drew strong criticism from First Nations groups.

When this year’s IWD event is held on 11 March at Geelong Arts Centre, no new awards will be presented. It marks the first break in the program since it began in 2015.

The event will instead acknowledge the award program’s 52 past recipients and more than 200 nominees.

Cr Emma Sinclair, the deputy chair of the city’s women and community life portfolio, said the event would focus on reflecting the program’s impact.

“Due to several reasons, including the upcoming appointment of the Women in Community Life advisory committee and resourcing, we’ve decided to instead pause, reflect and celebrate the women who have made Greater Geelong what it is today,” she said.

She said the committee, which was to be appointed in February, will advise the council on “the best way to recognise women leaders in the future”.

“While there are no awards as part of the 2026 event, there will be an exciting opportunity announced at our celebration for women in our community to advance their leadership skills,” Cr Sinclair said.

Whether the awards will resume next year, or be replaced with a different model of recognition, has not been confirmed.