Award Categories

Nominations for the 2025 Australian Disability Services Awards will open on Monday, 9 June 2025. Nominations will be open for four weeks, with all nominations due by Friday, 4 July. No late nominations will be accepted.

A high-level overview of the Award Categories are listed below and are based on the 2024 Awards. These are currently under review with our Awards Panel and are subject to change. Any updates or changes will be added here when finalised.

Allied Health Excellence in Practice

Sponsored by Metanoia Rays

The Allied Health Excellence in Practice Award recognises an organisation that works collaboratively with a Participant’s support network to deliver maximum outcomes, whilst also supporting the industry. Nominees may be single or multi-disciplinary organisations


Best Employment Pathway Program

We want to find the Best Employment Pathway Program that utilises people's ‬unique skills, builds new skills and/or career pathways, to support the achievement of meaningful‬ employment outcomes with award wages. This could include pathway programs where a partnership with an employer has been formed to deliver a number of open employment outcomes.


Best Inclusive Workplace

The‬ Best Inclusive Workplace is for NDIS recognised service providers who are an exemplar organisation incorporating talented people with disability throughout their organisation structure. The organisation supports employment of people with disability across the organisation and implements innovative disability recruitment and retention strategies for systemic change, demonstrating a truly inclusive approach across your entire workplace.


Best Program for Young Voices & Futures

The Best Program for Young Voices & Futures Award recognises an innovative and inclusive program that focuses on the voices of children and young people with disability, and supports them to thrive, socially, emotionally, academically, culturally, and developmentally. We’re seeking programs that walk alongside young people, foster belonging, and build foundations for meaningful futures.


Best Sector Impact

Sponsored by i'ara Specialist Support Coordination

The Best Sector Impact Award recognises an individual whose contributions have created lasting, positive change in the disability ecosystem. This changemaker consistently centres people with disability in their work, disrupts systemic barriers, and drives bold improvements in practice, policy, inclusion, or lived experience outcomes. Their influence is felt across teams, communities, and often the broader sector, lifting others as they lead.


Excellence in Place-Based Impact for Regional & Remote Communities

This award is to recognise service delivery supporting regional and remote communities. The service delivery method may be face to face, digital or a combination of both. We’d love to see how the service shows innovation and results by contributing to improved health and wellbeing of its Participants and/or community.


Most Effective Community Inclusion Program

Sponsored by My Integra

This award is to celebrate community programs that break down barriers and provide inclusive opportunities to participate in the community. These programs can be held in collaboration with mainstream activities, with the objective of increasing inclusion of people with disability or, they can be traditional, community activities offered for people with disability. Key to the program’s objective should be inclusion, collaboration and community.


Most Impactful Assistive Technology Solution

We want to reward an Assistive Technology Solution that is not only innovative, but has an emphasis on real-world outcomes or life-changing potential.


Most Innovative Home & Living Solutions

Sponsored by Tania Gomez Consulting

This award is focused on the innovation in care provision in supported independent living for people with disability. We’re looking for an accommodation provider who promotes a life of independence while also providing a home. Show us how the provider meets the unique needs of every individual in the home, ensures outcomes are achieved and delivers innovative support to participants.


Most Visionary Leader (CEO/Director)

The Most Visionary Leader Award recognises a transformational leader who is at the forefront of change. Leading a disability related organisation, they demonstrate courage, strategic insight, and a values-driven approach to achieving real-world impact. This individual leads with integrity, cultivates inclusive culture, and places people and communities at the heart of everything they do. They are a changemaker shaping the future of the sector through innovation, advocacy, outcomes, and unwavering commitment to human rights and social justice.


Outstanding Support Coordination Provider

This award celebrates the Outstanding Support Coordination Provider who, for their Participants, actively build capacity; champion choice and control; and continually strive to connect and build a resilient network of supports to achieve great outcomes for their Participants. The intent of this award is to recognise support coordination which is clear, measurable and grounded in what matters to the Participant – not just compliance.


Person-Led Practice in Action Support Worker

Our Person-Led Practice in Action Support Worker Award recognises those whose approach focuses on practice that responds to the Participant’s needs, goals and choices, thus empowering Participant’s choice and control to live their best life.


Rising Changemaker - New Business Innovation

New Business Innovation Award celebrates emerging businesses under two years old that demonstrate bold innovation, values-driven leadership, and a commitment to disrupting traditional service delivery in the disability sector. We're looking for new businesses that are shaking up the status quo, bringing fresh perspectives, strategic thinking, and a genuine impact in the lives of people with disability.