Seeking students for Citizenship Awards

Order of Australia is a national acknowledgement of people who’ve made a major contribution to their various activities and community.

Now the organisation responsible for bringing together local Order recipients is on the lookout for this year’s crop of Student Citizenship Awards nominees. It’s a bit like being part of the Order itself but aimed at the region’s young people.

John Burt is the chair of the Order of Australia Association, Central Highlands – Wimmera Group.

At this time of the year he and his group are requesting the 12 secondary schools in the Ballarat area nominate a student in Year 9 or 10, who have made an exceptional contribution to their school and wider community.

“We call it the Student Citizenship Awards, and the ceremony is to happen on the 12th of September,” he said.

“We’re very grateful to the City of Ballarat who host it at the Town Hall, and students, parents, representatives from the schools, and people who have received an Order of Australia come along to acknowledge these students and make them feel good.”

Mr Burt collects the nominations by early August, including a citation from each school about their chosen student.

This is then read publicly at the ceremony, and the students are presented with a formal Order of Australia Student Citizenship Award certificate.