About the Awards

Each year, Barnardos Australia recognises and rewards the importance of excellent parenting through the Barnardos Australia’s Mother of the Year Awards. Launched in 1996, the Awards recognise the enormous contribution that mums make in shaping Australia’s future through their role in the nurture of children.

The aim of the Awards is to publicly acknowledge the vital role mums play in society and to raise public awareness of the nurturing role Barnardos plays in many children's lives. As one of Australia's largest children's charities, Barnardos has parental responsibility for the abused and neglected children who are placed in our care each year. Many of these children have been robbed of the foundation of life - their childhood - and so Barnardos holds these Awards every year to highlight just how important mums are in giving kids a good start in life.

Now in their 17th year, the Barnardos Australia’s Mother of the Year Awards searches for our country’s quintessential mum, giving well-deserved recognition to ordinary Australians who have achieved extraordinary things - achievements that all too often go unheralded.

Nominations are invited from any Australian who knows an exceptional mum. It could be their own mum - biological, foster, step or adoptive - a relative, friend or member of the community. A judging panel, comprising ambassadors and sponsor representatives will gather in Sydney in February to assess the top 100 nominations, from which three finalists will be selected for each Australian state and territory. 

During March and April 2012, a morning tea ceremony will be held in each state and territory capital city to celebrate the achievements of these amazing women and to announce which woman will go on to represent her state or territory at the national final. Each of these colourful events attract wide coverage from state and regional media.

As part of the ultimate Mother’s Day celebration, all eight state and territory winners and their nominators are flown to Sydney for the announcement of the Barnardos Australia’s Mother of the Year at a prestigious, high profile event that will be held in Sydney on Thursday, 10 May 2012.