The National Awards for Local Government is an annual celebration of Australian local government achievements.

The National Awards, now in their 39th year, have been updated to better reflect the changing economic, social and environmental issues facing Australia today. In 2025 there are 13 award categories including a new Affordable Housing category and the expansion of the Waste Management category, now called Environmental Sustainability which encompasses all environmental sustainability projects.

The 2025 National Awards will recognise local councils across a total of 13 award categories:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People's Recognition
• Addressing Violence Against Women
• Affordable Housing (new for 2025)
• Arts and Culture
• Cohesive Communities
• Disaster Readiness and Recovery
• Outstanding Rural and Remote Council (new for 2025)
• Environmental Sustainability
• Productivity Through Infrastructure
• Regional Growth
• Road Safety
• Women in Local Government
• Workforce and Skills

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES:

All elected local government organisations (councils, shires and other recognised organisations that provide direct services to Australian communities) are eligible to enter. If developed with other organisations, the local government entity must be the lead applicant.

INELIGIBLE ENTITIES:

Local governments that are under administration for any reason other than amalgamation are ineligible to apply.

PRIMARY ENTITY:

Each entry must have one local government organisation as the lead entity responsible for the entry. This includes collaborations with other councils or organisations. Acknowledgment and reference to the collaborative entities can be made in the entry submission

FUNDING PARTNERS:

Councils that receive funding from other bodies (including Australian Government) may enter, but one local government entity must be the leading entity for the entry.

• Phone: 02 6274 6922
• Email: awards@infrastructure.gov.au