Australian Human Rights Awards 2025

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Australian Human Rights Awards is an annual celebration of human rights achievements.

Join us and 600 guests from across the country to acknowledge, congratulate and share the important work of individuals and organisations making valuable contributions to advancing and protecting human rights in Australia.

At this year's event we will also feature the annual Human Rights Day oration.

This year, our finalists will be honoured across 5 categories:

• Human Rights Medal

• Young People’s Award

• Media and Creative Industries Award

• Community Award

• Law Award

The Awards night brings together people from across the human rights, humanitarian, legal, government and community sectors for a memorable celebration of human rights heroes.

Awards Ceremony

• Friday 12 December, 5:30pm – 9:30pm

• University of Technology Sydney Great Hall, UTS Building 1, 1/15 Broadway, Ultimo, Sydney, NSW

• The ceremony will also be livestreamed nationally via Zoom.

Guests will have the opportunity to mingle before and after the ceremony, enjoying delicious canapes as well as quality wines, beers and soft drinks.

About the Australian Human Rights Awards

The Awards were established by the Australian Human Rights Commission in 1987 to recognise the contributions of individuals across the nation who made it their life’s mission to champion human rights, social justice and equality for all.

Over three decades the Awards has evolved, with a range of different awards presented at various times to respond to relevant changes across our society and culture. The esteemed Human Rights Medal remains the only category from the inaugural Awards.

The first Human Rights Medal winner was Indigenous activist Rose Colless OAM, who was acknowledged for her tireless work in drug and alcohol rehabilitation initiatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In the following years, the Human Rights Medal was awarded to other individuals including Fred Hollows, Peter Greste, Dorothy Hoddinott AO, Ian Thorpe, Jonathan Thurston, The Hon Peter McClellan AM QC and Chrissie Foster AM, Rosemary Kayess and most recently, Juliana Nkrumah AM.
 

Enquires

For more information about the event or how to participate, please contact us at Awards@humanrights.gov.au