Coast residents are being urged to nominate community-minded people doing extraordinary things for major regional awards.
The 2027 Sunshine Coast Australia Day Community Awards identify and acknowledge individuals and organisations making a difference across the region.
The awards are across seven categories: Citizen of the Year; Young Citizen of the Year; Senior Citizen of the Year; Community Group or Organisation; Arts and Culture; Healthy and Active; and Environment.
Sunshine Coast Council mayor Rosanna Natoli said the awards were granted to people who contributed to the community without seeking recognition.
“Often they are quiet achievers, selflessly giving their time, energy and talents to help others,” mayor Natoli said.
“These are the people who make our region a better place to live.”
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Dr Selina Tomasich, founder of global non-profit Hair Aid, was named the 2026 Sunshine Coast Citizen of the Year.
“It was a huge honour to win and provided a wonderful opportunity to share the work our organisation does to help families out of poverty,” Dr Tomasich said.
“From empowering people internationally to start hair businesses to offering free haircuts to those doing it tough in Australia, winning the award helped more people understand what we do and why.
“If you know an everyday person driving extraordinary change, recognising their work not only benefits them personally but also the organisation they started or support.”
Mayor Natoli encouraged residents to put forward someone whose contribution deserved recognition.
“Don’t assume someone else will do it,” she said.
“These awards are a special way of saying thank you to the people who help make the Sunshine Coast the vibrant, welcoming and thriving region we know and love.”
Award recipients will be announced at the Sunshine Coast Australia Day Community Awards ceremony on January 22, 2027.
Visit Sunshine Coast Council’s website to nominate until November 30.
