Do you know an older person who volunteers their skills, time and energy to make a difference?
Nominate them today for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.
Whether it’s daily hands-on support or leading an organisation, there are many ways older people make a positive impact in our local communities.
There are 6 award categories:
- Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year
- Council on the Ageing (COTA) Victoria Senior Achiever Awards
- Emerging Impact Award
- Positive Ageing Award
- Promotion of Multiculturalism Award
- Veteran Community Award.
People in Victoria who are 60 years or over, and First Nations people who are 50 years or over, are eligible to be nominated for these awards. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominations close Sunday 1 June 2025.
You can submit a nomination online.
Unsure about the process? Start preparing your nomination with the help of our simple how-to guide.
The guide is available in 16 languages and easy-read English, ensuring more Victorians have the opportunity to be recognised.
Learn more and submit a nomination on Seniors Online.
About the awards
For more than 30 years, the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards have celebrated older Victorians who contribute to the community through volunteering.
The awards ceremony in October is a highlight of the annual Victorian Seniors Festival. The month-long celebration features free and low-cost events for older Victorians.
Be inspired by outstanding senior Victorians. Hear from some of the 2024 award recipients.
Prof. Manjula Datta O’Connor: We are at the Government House today and I have been honoured to receive the Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year 2024. My achievements are related to prevention and early intervention of family violence.
Jack Cooper: I've built two ski clubs, helped start a tennis club at Beaumaris, I've been in Rotary for sixty years. I had a lot of sports that I was involved with: tennis, golf, squash, skiing. And it helps you generally. I've made a lot of friends in all sorts of areas.
Virginia Mack: I'm a retired social worker. So when I came to Warrnambool and didn't know very many people, I thought, what will I do? I'll join everything. So I've been working the past few years with people coming out of prison and working with them to reconnect with their community, keep them out of prison, reach some goals.
Prof. Manjula Datta O’Connor: I started the campaign to change the legislation of Victoria to include the dowry abuse in the Family Violence Protection Act in 2019. Victoria became the first state to enact that legislation.
Virginia Mack: Just because someone is ageing, it doesn't mean that they haven't got any ambition. Life doesn't stop then. In fact, that's when it can really kick in and get going. So I'd like people to understand that, you know, it's just a number.
[End of transcript]
Prof. Manjula Datta O’Connor: We are at the Government House today and I have been honoured to receive the Premier's Award for Victorian Senior of the Year 2024. My achievements are related to prevention and early intervention of family violence.
Jack Cooper: I've built two ski clubs, helped start a tennis club at Beaumaris, I've been in Rotary for sixty years. I had a lot of sports that I was involved with: tennis, golf, squash, skiing. And it helps you generally. I've made a lot of friends in all sorts of areas.
Virginia Mack: I'm a retired social worker. So when I came to Warrnambool and didn't know very many people, I thought, what will I do? I'll join everything. So I've been working the past few years with people coming out of prison and working with them to reconnect with their community, keep them out of prison, reach some goals.
Prof. Manjula Datta O’Connor: I started the campaign to change the legislation of Victoria to include the dowry abuse in the Family Violence Protection Act in 2019. Victoria became the first state to enact that legislation.
Virginia Mack: Just because someone is ageing, it doesn't mean that they haven't got any ambition. Life doesn't stop then. In fact, that's when it can really kick in and get going. So I'd like people to understand that, you know, it's just a number.
[End of transcript]