2026 Curtin Sport Award Nominations

Nominations can be lodged by Curtin University students, staff, affiliate clubs and members, State Sporting Associations, the Representative Sport Coordinator, and Coaches or Team Captains for Curtin representative sport teams.

Nominations will open 8.00am, Tuesday 1 September and close 11.59pm, Monday 30 November. 

First, please fill out your details as the nominator

Please ensure you address the judging criteria when providing information. This allows the selection panel to properly understand why your nominee is the most deserving for the nominated category. 

Excellence can be in any area of sport including outstanding achievement in sports administration or officiating.

Curtin recognises there are many gender identities. The Sports Star of the Year Award has binary categories - female and male. We encourage and welcome nominations for all gender identities. Please nominate to the category that the nominee feels most aligned to.

Eligibility:

The nominee must: 

1. Be an enrolled student of Curtin for 2026 academic year.
2. Be endorsed from the national, state or professional team organisation.
3. Be competing at the highest possible level for their chosen sport.
4. Meets the eligibility criteria of the Curtin University Blue or Half-Blue award.
   
   

 Judging 

Criteria 

• The level of performance of the nominee relative to standings and rankings.
• The level of competition (i.e. regional, national, international).
• The sport's restriction at an international level (i.e. AFL).
• Coach, state or national sporting organisation endorsement.
• The level the athlete impacted team success, if competing in a team sport (i.e. performance or leadership positions held).

Excellence can be in any area of sporting endeavour including outstanding achievement in sports administration or officiating.

Curtin recognises there are many gender idendities. The Sports Star of the Year Award has binary categories - female and male. We encourage and welcome nominations for all gender identities, please nominate to the category that the nominee feels most aligned to.

Eligibility:

The nominee must: 

1. Be an enrolled student of Curtin for 2026 academic year.
2. Be endorsed from the national, state or professional team organisation.
3. Be competing at the highest possible level for their chosen sport.
4. Be a recipient of a Curtin University Blue or Half-Blue.
   
   

 Judging 

Criteria 

• The level of performance of the nominee relative to standings and rankings.
• The level of competition (i.e. regional, national, international).
• The sport's restriction at an international level (i.e. AFL).
• Coach, state or national sporting organisation endorsement.
• The level the athlete impacted team success, if competing in a team sport (i.e. performance or leadership positions held).

Individuals who achieve Curtin Colours are of outstanding character and reflect Curtin's values (integrity, respect, courage and excellence) and have contributed to Curtin's club or representative sport at Curtin University.

Eligibility:

An nominee must:

1. Be a Curtin student, staff or alumni. 
2. Have been in their position for a minimum of three years. 
3. Represented or coached a Curtin University affiliate sport club or intervarsity team at the highest possible level (i.e. Premier Grade, UBL, UniSport Nationals), or selected to officiate at the highest level.
4. Has had a significant contribution to the Curtin club or sport team. 
5. Has endorsement from Curtin's Coordinator, Representative Sport, or Curtin Affiliated Club President. 

Eligibility:

Clubs must be:

1. Curtin Affiliate Sport Club
2. Clearly demonstrate three of the Judging Criteria

Judging Criteria:

• Engagement in and contribution to student experience and student engagement.
• Demonstrated evidence of professional and sound club governance and management practices.
• Actively participate in key Curtin Sport and Recreation activities and events.
• Demonstrated effective recruitment and training of volunteers, coaches and players.
• Actively fostered participation and enjoyment at all levels of sport. 
• Improvement in performance from the previous year in external fixtured competition/s and/or the success of their respective sport at UniSport Nationals events.
• Acted as a role model in and positive influence for other clubs and the Curtin University community.
• Showed innovation in participation opportunities available to Curtin University Students.
• Provided opportunities for a diverse range of participants, including equity groups such as Women+ and/or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. 

Eligibility:

To receive this award clubs must: 

1. Have a minimum of 50% team members as students enrolled at Curtin in 2026.
2. Represented Curtin University or a Curtin Affiliate Sport Club as a registered team in a sanctioned competition across the nomination period. 
3. Demonstrated positive sportsmanship whilst upholding University values. 
4. Achieved outstanding results at in competition over the nomination period.

Judging Criteria: 

• The level of performance the team achieved relative to standings and rankings. 
• The level of competition (i.e. regional, national, international).
• Improvement or sustained success from the previous year in fixtured competitions. 
• Actively fostered participation and enjoyment at all levels of sport. 
• Engagement in and contribution to student experience and student engagement.

Eligibility: 

The nominee must: 

1. Be a member of a Curtin University Affiliate Sport Club or Curtin Sport program across the nomination period.
2. Actively contributed to the vision and purpose of their Club, and/or aligned to Curtin Sport and Recreation vision in a volunteer capacity for a minimum period of two years.
3. Played an active role in assisting with the delivery of competitions, programs or services that encourage student participation. 
4. Exceeded expectations and acted as a role model for others.
5. Contributed significantly to the betterment of sport as a whole at Curtin University. 
6. Employees are ineligible unless they have contributed significantly outside their position description. 

Judging Criteria: 

• The nominee's long-term involvement in and commitment to their sport at a variety of levels (how many years have they spent in each role).
• The level of contribution to the club or University sport in the calendar year (ie. what the roles and projects have been).
• The nominee's involvement has positively impacted their respective club and/or team (i.e. outcomes of their roles/projects). 
• The proven record of achievement and/or performance in officiating, administration and/or coaching (i.e. historic volunteer roles/projects).

Eligibility:

To receive this award, the nominiated coach must be:

• Coaching a Curtin University or Curtin Affiliate Sport team or athlete over the nomination period.

Judging Crieria:

• Demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities through dedication, innovation, and administration.
• Created a safe and inclusive environment for all members affiliated with the team (e.g. players, coaches, officials, spectators).
• Supported the playing groups holistic development while supporting the individual needs of each competitior.
• Achieved strong competitive results in the associated competition.
• Demonstrated improvement, player development and achievement relative to previous competitions.

Eligibility:

The nominee must: 

1. Be n enrolled student of Curtin University during the 2026 academic year.
2. Represented Curtin University or Australia during the nomination period at a UniSport or FISU sanctioned event. 
3. Have endorsement from Curtin's Coordinator, Representative Sport. 

Judging Criteria:

• The level of performance of the student relative to standards and rankings (i.e. standard of competitors of events). 
• The level of competition the student attended (i.e. regional, national, international).
• The level the student impacted the team success, if competing in a team sport (i.e. performance or leadership positions held).
• Demonstrated and upheld Curtin's values (i.e. integrity, respect, courage, excellence).
• Support from their peers. 

The award recognises alumni whose achievements, leadership, service and impact have enhanced the reputation of Curtin University and inspired future generations of students and athletes. Recipients embdy Curtin's values of integrity, respect, courage, impact, and excellence, while demonstrating a lifelong commitment to sport through competition, coaching, officiating, administration, research, advocacy, or community leadership. 

The award serves as a permanent induction into the Curtin Sport Alumni Honour Roll, celebrating individuals whose accomplishments and influence have left enduring legacy within their sport, community and the University. 

Elibility: 

The nominee must be:

• A Curtin University Alumni
• Have a demonstratble connection to Curtin University, Curtin Sport and Recreation, Curtin Affiliate Sport Clubs or Intervarsity Sport. 
• Have a sustained achievement and/or impact for five or more years 

Judging Criteria:

• The level of contribution to sport at an elite, professional or community level via competing, administration, coaching, officiating or leadership since graduation. 
• The level of leadership, integrity, and positive influence the nominee has embodied. 
• Endorsement by a Curtin affiliate sport club, Curtin Sport and Recreation, Curtin Alumni, or a recognised sporting organisation.