CONGRATULATIONS to the 680 Australians recognised in the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours list, which we the Council of the Order of Australia, recommended to the Governor-General.
This represents the highest number since Australia Day 2024.
The recipients come from all parts of the country and their service, achievements and impact are remarkable.
All are deserving of recognition through our nation’s honours system for their service to the Australian community.
It is particularly pleasing to note the significant number of people being recognised with the highest meritorious award in the system, the Companion of the Order of Australia – and on this occasion an equal representation between women and men.
However, the gender balance of this year’s honours list more broadly is both a cause for concern and, the Council hopes, a prompt for community action.
Honours in the Order of Australia are a result of nominations – anyone can nominate a worthy Australian for recognition.
In previous years the Council has considered an even gender balance of nominations, however, over time, this has led to a significantly larger pool of nominations for men left to be considered.
Many more nominations are still being received for men than women and the Council must consider the nominations for Australians that are in the system.
There is no doubt there are as many outstanding women contributing to our communities as there are men – the fact an equal number of women and men have been appointed Companions of the Order in this list underlines that.
The Council would like to see this balance reflected across all nominations and, therefore, outcomes at all levels of award.
We need Australians nominating outstanding women for recognition.
Nominating is simple – the form is online and help is available.
Nominators need to provide information about the person they are nominating and three referees who can attest to the person’s service and impact.
We encourage all Australians to look around their community, their workplaces, and the whole of our society, identify the women, as well as the men, who make a difference and whose impact is profound and nominate them so they can be celebrated through the Order of Australia.
On behalf of the Council of the Order of Australia
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