Australia Day Ambassador Program
This tool provides information and background to the Australia Day Ambassador Program.
Ambassadors are ‘ordinary people’ with exceptional skills. The program has proven a great success with communities.
This program is administered by state and territory Australia Day councils/committees. There are variations in organisation, so check with your state or territory.
This tool includes:
Why use this tool?
Participation of an Australia Day Ambassador in community events is regularly cited as one of the highlights of community celebrations.
The benefits of having an Australia Day Ambassador at your Australia Day celebrations include:
- the opportunity for your local community to meet and listen to Australians who have distinguished themselves by their contribution to their country
- are a drawcard for regional celebrations
- the chance to hear stories of the Ambassador’s achievements which illustrate the many opportunities Australia offers
- the opportunity to reinforce the diversity of achievers in Australia.
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Australia Day Ambassador to Wakefield Regional Council (SA), Pat Rix (far right), sings with local school students at Australia day celebrations
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Australia Day Ambassador Tonia Todman is presented with the 2009 Australia Day Ambassador pin at Raglan's (VIC) Australia Day celebrations by Woolworths representative Peter Reeves. |
RESOURCE ONE—Commonly asked questions
- What is the Australia Day Ambassador Program?
The Australia Day Ambassador Program is an initiative that sees high achieving and proud Australians attend local Australia Day celebrations in across the nation. In cities, regional areas and in the country, Australia Day Ambassadors volunteer their time and energy to inspire pride and celebration in hundreds of local communities.
- How many Australia Day Ambassadors are there?
In 2009, the Australia Day Ambassador Program became truly national for the first time. Around 377 local communities around the country—from Hobart to the Torres Strait, and Jabiru to Esperance—hosted 347 Australia Day Ambassadors on 26 January.
- What does an Australia Day Ambassador do?
The activities of Australia Day Ambassadors on Australia Day are as diverse as the communities which host them. Ambassadors may officiate in judging competitions (such as a pie eating contest) present Australia Day community awards, help cook a barbeque, or present certificates at Citizenship Ceremonies.
Ambassadors are also asked to give an address that captures the spirit of being Australian. Ambassadors will meet local members of the community, get a flavour of life in a different part of their state or territory, and be inspired by the enthusiasm of communities large and small for celebrating what’s great about Australia.
- How long has the Australia Day Ambassador program been running?
The Australia Day Ambassador Program began in 1990 in New South Wales with nine Ambassadors. From there it grew steadily, and in 1996 was introduced into Victoria. In 2003, the Australia Day Ambassador Program expanded into Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, and the first Ambassadors took part in Queensland celebrations in 2005.
Australia Day, 26 January 2008, saw the program go fully national with Ambassadors also participating in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.
The Australia Day Ambassador Program continues to be one of the most successful initiatives on 26 January each year, thanks to the support and enthusiasm of our Ambassadors, who volunteer their time and energy to bring an extra element of celebration to Australia Day events, as well as to their host communities.
- Who sponsors the Australia Day Ambassador Program?
The Australia Day Ambassador Program and its growth to all Australian states and territories would not be possible without the support of the program sponsor, Woolworths. Woolworths has generously sponsored the Australia Day Ambassador program since 2001. Through its ongoing support local communities are able to enhance their celebrations by hosting an Ambassador. In 2009, more than 230 Woolworths local store managers took part in welcoming Ambassadors to their community celebrations.
- How does my community get involved?
The Australia Day Ambassador Program is administered by state and territory Australia Day councils/committees. Each state and territory maintains a register of its Ambassadors, and asks local councils and community Australia Day committees to express interest in the program in the lead up to Australia Day each year.
RESOURCE TWO—Profile of Australia Day Ambassadors
Australia Day Ambassadors are:
- high-achieving and inspirational Australians
- have made a positive and significant contribution to the community in areas such as sport, business, media and the arts
- can be any age
- must undertake to travel around the community they are allocated to on Australia Day
- share the common traits of achievement through hard work, talent, and a strong sense of patriotism
- all act in an honorary capacity, giving freely of their time to help celebrate our national day.
RESOURCE THREE—Applying for your Ambassador
- Your state or territory local Australia Day Council or Committee seeks expressions of interest in hosting an Australia Day Ambassador between May and July each year.
- State and territory Australia Day councils/committees coordinate the program. This means the local Australia Day organisers are the on-the-ground organisers once the Ambassador accepts the invitation to be an Ambassador.
- State and territory Australia Day council's and committee's approach the Australia Day Ambassadors and generally assign each to a town or region, though the guidelines for expressing interest in specific ambassadors vary from state to state.
- You are advised to apply for ambassadors, making clear both your areas of interest and interest in specific Ambassadors.
- Ambassadors freely give their time and are some have specific requests about their commitment. These requests are respected as they are volunteering their time. For example, Ambassadors might select how far they are prepared to travel and/or have a preference for where they would like to go. Their availability might also be limited by time and your committee might request a time that the Ambassador can’t accommodate. For these reasons you may not get the Ambassador your committee originally wanted.
RESOURCE FOUR—Acknowledging your Ambassador’s contribution
- The states and territories vary in their welcome and briefing to ambassadors and vary in the ways they express acknowledgement of Ambassador’s contributions.
- Sponsors also acknowledge the contributions of Ambassadors through a presentation often by the Ambassador program sponsor, Woolworths, through a local Woolworth’s Store Manager.
- At the local level you could consider an expression of thanks such as letter of thanks, a small gift, or a framed photograph of the Ambassador at work ‘in the field’.
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