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2026 Nominations - Open
Victorian Disability Sport & Recreation Awards
Guidelines
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Nominations must pertain to achievements, initiatives, programs, activities, or developments that occurred between 1 July 2025 and 30 June 2026.
This eligibility period does not apply to the Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Please note: Same or similar nomination submissions will not be considered for more than one award category or stream. The nominator must select the most relevant award category/stream for their submission/s.
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Previous winners, finalists and nominees are eligible to re-nominate in any category.
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Individuals, teams or organisations have the option to nominate themselves.
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Nominations will only be accepted if all required criteria has been addressed.
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A separate online nomination form must be submitted for each nominee.
Key dates
Nominations open
Monday 25 May
Nominations close
30 June
Judging
July
Awards ceremony
Tuesday 25 August
Judging Process
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All nominations will be reviewed to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.
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If a person, team, or organisation is nominated without their knowledge, the organisers will contact them to confirm their acceptance of the nomination.
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The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation Awards judging panel, comprising of independent industry experts, will assess and score each nomination based on the information provided for each criterion.
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The judging panel will decide the winners of each award category based on the nominations with the highest combined scores.
Image Requirements
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A high-resolution headshot or image of the nominee, initiative, or facility is required for each nomination. The preferred format for the image is JPG or PNG.
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After submitting your nomination, you will receive an automatic email from awards@dsr.org.au requesting the image by return email.
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By providing the image, it is assumed that you have the necessary permission to share the image with the organisers of the awards.
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The information provided as part of the nomination process will be used solely for the purpose of carrying out the awards. However, the organisers reserve the right to use the information for promotional purposes related to the awards.
How to Nominate
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Select a Category
Review the award categories below and choose the one that best reflects the achievements of the individual, team, program, or organisation you wish to nominate.
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Click the ‘Nominate Now’ Button
Once you have selected the appropriate category, click the ‘Nominate Now’ button located beneath the category description.
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Complete the Nomination Form
You will be directed to a Microsoft Form. Please complete all required fields and provide detailed responses that clearly demonstrate the nominee’s impact and achievements.
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Ensure Your Nomination Is Well-Written
Strong nominations are clear, concise, and compelling. Use specific examples, measurable outcomes, and relevant details to support your submission.
The nomination form cannot be edited, consider using Microsoft Word, or similar, for drafting more lengthy responses (up to 250 words) to paste into the relevant fields in your submission. To download a word version of the nomination questions please click here.
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Submit Your Nomination
After reviewing your responses, click ‘Submit’ to finalise your nomination. You will receive a confirmation once your form has been successfully submitted.
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Send us a photo of Your Nominee!
Make sure to email us a photo of the nominee or team at awards@dsr.org.au
Award Nominations Close COB Tuesday June 30, 2026
2026 Award Categories
The Victorian Disability Sport and Recreation award categories for 2026 are:
Kevin Coombs Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognises an individual who has made exceptional and enduring contributions to the disability sport and recreation sector in Victoria across a significant period of their professional career or life.
This award represents the highest level of recognition by DSR.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must have made substantial and enduring contributions to the disability sport and recreation community in Victoria across a significant period of their professional career or life.
Selection criteria
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The level of exceptional dedication by the nominee to advocating for the rights, inclusion and participation of people with disabilities in Victoria.
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The level of impact of the nominee's contributions throughout their career or life, focusing on their chosen discipline, sport, recreation, club or association in the disability sport and recreation sector in Victoria.
Volunteer of the Year
The award acknowledges the remarkable contribution made by a volunteer to the disability sport and recreation community.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must be recognised by a state or national sporting body, club or other community organisation as a volunteer in the disability sport and recreation sector in Victoria.
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Nominees must not have received payment for their work as a volunteer. Please note: reimbursement of volunteering-related expenses does not constitute payment.
Selection criteria
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The level of impact of the nominee's exceptional dedication to their chosen discipline, sport, recreation, club or association, as exhibited through their volunteer work.
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The level of impact of the nominee's significant contribution to the sport and recreation sector, advancing participation for people with disability in Victoria.
Community Member of the Year
The award recognises a significant contribution made by a paid individual to promoting safe, fair and inclusive sport and recreation in Victoria.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must work in a paid capacity within the disability sport and recreation sector. This may include but is not limited to administrators, program coordinators, sport development officers, inclusion officers, club managers or other paid professionals working within the sector.
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Nominees must be residents of Victoria.
Selection criteria
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The level of impact of the nominee's work using sport and recreation as a vehicle to drive positive change, or their dedication to prioritising diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the disability sport and recreation sector. This includes their work on initiatives, programs and/or projects promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their community.
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The level of positive impact the nominee has had on the lives of individuals with disability through their work in the disability sport and recreation sector.
Team of the Year
The award recognises a Victorian sports team comprised of people with disability that has performed exceptionally, as evidenced by its sporting accomplishments.
Eligibility criteria
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The team must be officially recognised by their state sporting association as a Victorian state team.
Selection criteria
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Sporting Achievements – The team's level of success, including its achievements, records, rankings, and other notable accomplishments within its respective sport.
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Teamwork & Cohesion – The team's cohesion, collaboration, and ability to work effectively together to achieve its goals and deliver outstanding results.
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Inspiration & Impact – The extent to which the team has inspired or positively impacted the lives of other people with a disability, whether through their sporting achievements, visibility, or community involvement.
Coach or Fitness Leader of the Year
The award recognises a Victorian coach or fitness leader in the disability sport and recreation community who has made a significant contribution or achieved outstanding coaching performance.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must be accredited as a coach (employee or volunteer) under a recognised national or state sporting body.
Selection criteria
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The nominee's level of impact on their club, organisation, local community and/or school, as evidenced by both their achievements and those of their teams or individual athletes.
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The nominee's level of contribution to the coaching community in their sport, such as sharing knowledge, mentoring or actively participating in coaching development programs.
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The nominee's positive impact on the lives of individuals with disability through their coaching or fitness leadership.
Marg Angel Junior Sportsperson of the Year
The award recognises a Victorian junior athlete with a disability who has performed exceptionally, as evidenced by their sporting accomplishments.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must be under 21 years of age as of July 31, 2025.
Selection criteria
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The nominee's level of success, considering their achievements, records, rankings and any other notable accomplishments within their respective sport.
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The nominee’s level of skills progress and development, reflecting their commitment to their sport.
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The nominee’s potential for future sporting success, giving consideration to their age, skill level and commitment to their sport.
Masters Sportsperson of the Year
The award recognises a Victorian masters athlete with a disability who has demonstrated exceptional sporting performance and embodies the spirit of masters competition.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must have competed at masters-level competitions in their respective sport between 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026.
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Nominees must adhere to the classification standards for masters-level competition, as specified by the relevant sport governing body.
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Masters-level eligibility is typically for athletes aged 35 and over, though this may vary by sport and governing body.
Selection criteria
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The nominee's level of success, considering their achievements, records, rankings and any other notable accomplishments within their respective sport, giving consideration to the age group and category in which they compete.
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The nominee's contribution to their sport, including inspiring others, mentoring or promoting participation among athletes with a disability.
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The nominee's demonstration of overcoming adversity, acknowledging the challenges faced and the perseverance shown throughout their sporting journey.
Elite Sportsperson of the Year
This award recognises a Victorian individual athlete with a disability who has demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement through competitive results at a national and/or international level.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must be a current Victorian resident or registered with a Victorian sporting body.
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Nominees must have competed at national and/or international events during the relevant award period (1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026).
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Nominees must hold a current classification or disability registration within their sport.
Selection criteria
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The nominee's level of success, considering their achievements, records, rankings, length and breadth of involvement, and any other notable accomplishments within their respective sport, and the calibre of competition at which those results were achieved.
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The nominee's demonstration of sportsmanship, integrity and ethical conduct throughout their participation in sport.
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The nominee's impact as a role model — including their contribution to raising the profile of para-sport in Victoria and inspiring other athletes with a disability.
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The nominee's demonstrated progression, skill development and commitment to achieving success at a national and/or international level.
Inclusive Infrastructure Award
The award recognises the transformative effect that modifications to shared spaces can have on an individual's ability to participate in sport and recreation activities. By creating truly inclusive and accessible environments, these projects have the power to break down barriers and enable people with disability to engage fully in sport, recreation and open space activities across Victoria.
Eligibility criteria
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Nominees must have undertaken minor or major developments or upgrades in the field of inclusive sport, recreation or open space infrastructure.
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The nominee's project must be within the domain of sport, recreation or open space infrastructure, such as sports facilities, playgrounds, parks, trails or other related areas.
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The nominee's project must have either been completed or substantially progressed between 1 July 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Selection criteria
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The extent to which the project demonstrates a strong commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that the sport, recreation or open space infrastructure is accessible and accommodating for individuals with disabilities, promoting equal participation and enjoyment for all.
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The extent to which the infrastructure project has had a significant positive impact on the community, contributing to increased participation and engagement in sport, recreation or open space activities for individuals with disabilities.
Regional Initiative of the Year
This award recognises an organisation, individual, or partnership that has delivered an innovative, place-based initiative, program, or event in regional Victoria that has meaningfully increased the participation of people with disability in sport and active recreation.
The award celebrates initiatives that strengthen inclusion by responding to local needs, building community capability, and creating lasting opportunities for people with disability to participate, contribute, and lead in regional sporting environments.
Eligibility Criteria
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The award is open to initiatives and programs operating in regional Victoria, including rural and remote communities.
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The nominated initiative or program must demonstrate evidence of implementation and impact, not concept only.
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The nominated initiative or program must demonstrate sustainability, with evidence of ongoing or planned future delivery.
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Collaborative approaches involving local stakeholders such as clubs, councils, local sporting associations, community organisations and people with disability are strongly encouraged.
Selection Criteria
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The extent to which the initiative has positively impacted regional communities, increasing participation, access, and inclusion for people with disability in sport and active recreation.
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The extent to which the initiative demonstrates a strong place-based and inclusive approach, responding to local needs and involving people with disability and lived experience in its design and delivery.
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The extent to which the initiative’s strategies and practices effectively address regional barriers through innovative, adaptable, and creative solutions.
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The extent to which the initiative creates lasting positive outcomes for people with disability, including continued participation, increased confidence and capability, and a stronger sense of inclusion and connection to community.
Active Recreation and Leisure Initiative of
the Year
The award recognises an organisation, individual or group that has established a sustainable initiative, program or event aimed at facilitating the participation of Victorians with disabilities in sport and active recreation activities across metropolitan Melbourne or on a state-wide level.
Stream 1 — Sport Initiative, Program or Event
Eligibility criteria
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The nominated initiative, program or event must be primarily sport-based, involving structured sporting activities with defined rules, skills or disciplines.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must operate on a metropolitan Melbourne or state-wide level in Victoria.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must demonstrate evidence of implementation and impact, not concept only.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must demonstrate sustainability, with evidence of ongoing or planned future delivery.
Stream 2 — Active Recreation & Leisure Initiative, Program or Event
Eligibility criteria
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The nominated initiative, program or event must be primarily focused on active recreation or leisure activities aimed at enjoyment, social connection and wellbeing.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must operate on a metropolitan Melbourne or state-wide level in Victoria.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must demonstrate evidence of implementation and impact, not concept only.
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The nominated initiative, program or event must demonstrate sustainability, with evidence of ongoing or planned future delivery.