Nominations are now open for the 2027 Community Services Excellence Awards, celebrating the organisations and individuals making a difference across Western Australia’s community services sector.
The Awards are a longstanding partnership between WACOSS and the Department of Communities, supported by Lotterywest. In 2027, WACOSS is also partnering with the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia (CASWA) across two award categories.
For peer support groups and organisations across WA, the Awards are an opportunity to recognise the people, programs, partnerships and community-led work creating positive change.
Nine award categories
The 2027 Awards include seven categories for organisations and two for individuals, covering organisations of different sizes as well as regional work, community-led collaboration, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations and partnerships.
The individual categories recognise outstanding contribution and leadership within the community services sector.
Award categories include:
- Trailblazing Small Organisation: Catalysts of Community Innovation
- Standout Medium Organisation: Engines of Progress and Creativity
- Impactful Large Organisation: Powerhouses of Positive Change
- Remarkable Regional Organisation: Champions of Rural and Remote Innovation
- Visionary Community-Led Collaboration: Crafting Better Futures Together
- Dr Millie Penny AM Award: Outstanding Exceptional Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation
- Inspiring Partnership between an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation and a Community Services Organisation
- Outstanding Contribution: Going Above and Beyond
- Leadership Excellence: Inspiring Change and Innovation
Each category winner will receive $1,000 in prize money.
Making a nomination
Organisations and individuals must agree and consent to being nominated.
Nominations need to address the relevant selection criteria in 750 words or less, with the option to include supporting information such as photographs, testimonials or articles.
Organisations will also need to provide an income and expenditure statement as at 30 June 2026 and have their nomination approved by their Chairperson, President or an authorised delegate.
Before getting started, prospective nominators should review the eligibility requirements and selection criteria for their chosen category on the Community Services Excellence Awards website.
Nominations close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 November 2026.
Celebrating WA’s community services sector
Finalists and winners will be recognised at the Community Services Excellence Awards ceremony on Monday 3 May 2027 at Optus Stadium, held in conjunction with the biennial WACOSS Conference, Future Ready: People and Communities.
The Awards provide an opportunity to recognise the contribution of people and organisations working across WA communities and celebrate the work happening throughout the community services sector.
Learn more about the awards 2027 Community Services Excellence Awards.