STUDENT CITIZENSHIP AWARDS – 2023

Announcement: 2023 Nominations are now Open

Nominations are now invited for the 2023 Student Citizenship Awards offered by the SA Branch of the Order of Australia Association.

Each school or college is entitled to nominate up to two students from Years 11 and/or 12 who satisfy the criteria for these prestigious awards.

The awards are intended to recognise those senior secondary students who actively engage with and contribute to school and/or local communities rather than for specific academic or sporting achievements. The Awards exemplify the Association’s objective:

To celebrate and promote outstanding Australian citizenship

All nominations are considered by an adjudication panel, and all students who are judged to meet the selection criteria will receive a medallion and certificate signed by Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia and Patron of the SA Branch of the Order of Australia Association. 

The ten students judged most worthy (‘With Distinction’) will be invited to receive their medallion mounted on a special plaque with personalised engraving at a reception to be hosted by Her Excellency at Government House. At this ceremony, the 2023 Student Citizen of the Year will be announced.

In keeping with the aim of the Association to raise awareness about the Order of Australia and Australian citizenship in general, each school/college will be encouraged to invite a member of the Association – an Australian Honours recipient – to attend a suitable school function, probably in term 4, to present the Student Citizenship Award certificate to the recipient student. Arrangements for the member’s attendance will be coordinated by the Convenor in conjunction with and subject to approval from the school/college.

The assessment for student nominations will be based on the criteria set out in the nomination form and brochure. Please note that the criteria differ slightly from previous years and therefore nomination forms from preceding years should NOT be used for 2023.

The closing date for nominations for the 2023 Student Citizenship Awards is 5 pm on Monday 31 July 2023. Late nominations will not be accepted.

Please note: Students nominated in past years are eligible to be renominated, but any of these students who have previously been received by the Governor will be ranked only on achievements since that recognition.

Please click here for the 2023 Student Citizenship Awards Brochure

Please click here for the 2023 Student Citizenship Awards Nomination Form

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:

The Convenor, Student Citizenship Awards
Mr Noel Hender OAM BEM
sca.sabranch@theorderofaustralia.asn.au

If you would like assistance in completing the nomination form, Association members may be available to assist in this process.

The SA Branch is very grateful for the ongoing patronage and support of Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia and Branch Patron. We thank all the participating schools for their strong support of this Branch initiative.

PLEASE NOTE              

The Student Citizenship Awards program of the Order of Australia Association SA Branch is separate from, but proudly presented in collaboration with, the Governor’s Civics Awards for Schools program: 

www.education.sa.gov.au/governors-civics-awards-schools

BACKGROUND

Callum Barrott-Walsh from Cardijn College and Jordan Norman from Urrbrae Agricultural High School are South Australia’s 2022 Student Citizens of the Year.

The Student Citizenship Awards program is the flagship endeavour of the SA Branch of the Order of Australia Association.

Since 2003, the Association, encouraged by school leaders, has successfully offered prestigious awards and certificates to year 11 and 12 students nominated by their respective schools and colleges, and selected by an adjudication panel as worthy of recognition for their contribution to citizenship in South Australia.

The awards – known as Student Citizenship Awards – are intended to recognise those young people who contribute broadly through voluntary service to school and/or general communities. They exemplify the Association’s objective: “To celebrate and promote outstanding Australian citizenship”.

For the 2022 awards, the ten students judged most worthy received an inscribed plaque and a ‘With Distinction’ certificate signed by the SA Branch Patron, Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia. These were presented by Her Excellency in an award ceremony held at Government House on Monday 14 November 2022 hosted by Her Excellency and Mr Rod Bunten.

Unable to be separated by the Selection Panel, two students were announced by Her Excellency as the 2022 Student Citizens of the Year. Both students have made impressive contributions to their respective schools and communities, as can be seen from their personal citations:

Callum Barrott-Walsh, Cardijn College

An excellent leader through several committees and roles, Callum has accomplished many significant achievements which have positively benefited the College and wider community. These include participating in the UN Youth (Australia) State Conference, addressing issues such as climate change, refugees and homelessness. He has volunteered for and assisted with several fundraising events and activities supporting Fred’s Van soup kitchen, St Vincent De Paul Christmas hamper appeal and the Hutt St Walk a Mile. He was successful in winning the Premier’s ANZAC Spirit School Prize Competition and the Muriel Matters Award, recognising self-initiative and valued citizenship qualities.

Jordan Norman, Urrbrae Agricultural High School

Throughout his secondary years Jordan has made an outstanding contribution to the Urrbrae and wider community. A caring and compassionate leader and mentor for the younger students, Jordan has been a trusted and highly valued School Captain in 2022. His talents have been widely recognised from his many school achievements and community service including SRC President and Governing Council representative, the Plant Club and Barn Market, the Environmental Focus Group, and many other conservation and landcare projects.  

The SA Branch Chairman Tony Metcalf OAM joins with all Order of Australia Association members in congratulating each of the worthy Student Citizenship Award recipients who were selected to be in the Top 10.

We thank Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia and Patron of the Order of Australia Association SA Branch, for hosting this awards ceremony to honour these outstanding young Australians.