2024 UNSW Sports Awards Gala Dinner

We would like to formally invite you to attend the UNSW Sports Awards Gala Dinner for 2024. The Sports Awards Gala Dinner, hosted by Royal Randwick Racecourse, provides an opportunity to showcase the year that was, celebrating success at the individual and club level. With award categories such as the Alex Blackwell Award, Indigenous Sport Award, Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award and many more, this year promises to be bigger and better than last year!

The Sports Awards and Vice-Chancellors Blues Awards will be open for nominations for all sporting achievements from October 2023 to October 2024. Please note the Vice-Chancellors Blues Awards dinner will be a separate event held in March, 2025 (more info to come).

Award categories to be presented on the night:

Academic Excellence Award - Most outstanding academic achievement by a student athlete (student only)

Alex Blackwell Award - the UNSW Women in Sport Award, see criteria below (student or club member)

Arc Sport Student Life Award (formerly Community Sports Award) - Most outstanding contribution to student life through sport, recreation or physical activity (student or club/society)

Club of the Year - Most outstanding achievements by a club across the following areas (i) sporting performance (ii) student engagement (iii) inclusive club culture (iv) community engagement (UNSW and/or local) - must satisfy all criteria to be considered.

Coach of the Year - Most outstanding performance or contribution by a coach for a UNSW Club or Team (student or club member)

College Sports Award - Either for most outstanding (i) contribution to college sport at UNSW (ii) outstanding sporting performance through the Inter-college Sports Association competitions (student or college)

Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award - awarded to club volunteers with minimum five years service, see criteria below (student or club/society member)

Female Student Athlete of the Year - Most outstanding performance from a female student athlete at elite level (student only)

Indigenous Sport Award - One of the following: Most outstanding (i) sports performance (ii) contribution to sporting life at UNSW (iii) contribution to Indigenous community through sport (student or club member)

Male Student Athlete of the Year - Most outstanding performance from a male student athlete at elite level (student only)

MEDIBANK International Student Sport Award - One of the following: Most outstanding (i) sports performance (ii) contribution to sporting life at UNSW (iii) contribution to the International Student community through sport (student or club member)

Pride Award - A student or club/society who have shown great leadership to be inclusive of the LGBQTI+ community (individual or club/society)

Sports Disability Award - One of the following: Most outstanding (i) sports performance (ii) contribution to sporting life at UNSW 

Sport Initiative of the Year - The initiative which has made the most outstanding contribution to increasing opportunities or participation in physical activity, sport or recreation at UNSW (student or club/society only) 

Team of the Year - Most outstanding sporting performance or achievement by a team within the UNSW sporting community

UniSport Nationals Award - Most outstanding performance by a student athlete or team at UniSport Nationals.

Vice-Chancellors Blues Award - rewarding sporting excellence and commitment (student only). Criteria below. Note: The Vice-Chancellors Blues Awards will be awarded in March, 2025.

Volunteer of the Year (formerly Sports Administrator of the Year) - Most outstanding contribution to sporting life or a sports club by a volunteer (student or club member)

We look forward to seeing you on the night to celebrate the UNSW sporting communities successes!

Alex Blackwell Award - Criteria

The nominee upholds the values and vision of the UNSW Women in Sport and Active Recreation Strategy in one or more of the following ways:

• advocating for women and girls in sport and active recreation
• being a trailblazer for women in the leadership of a sporting club or organisation
• coaching or developing programs that have increased women’s participation in sport
• supporting or being a role model for girls and women who want to participate or be involved in sport.

Vice-Chancellor's Blues Award - Criteria

The UNSW Blue award recognises and celebrates UNSW students who have achieved the highest level of sporting excellence in their chosen sport, who are a person of outstanding character and values, and who have made a contribution to sport at UNSW.

• The nominee must be a current student enrolled in a degree or diploma at UNSW.
• The nominee shall be an outstanding performer and meet the individual and/or team standards in their sport, and be approved by the Blues Committee.
• The nominee shall for a minimum period of TWO competitive years have actively participated at the highest level of sport, or equivalent, for which the University competes in that specific sport, or equivalent.
• Nominees shall at all times demonstrate excellent sportsmanship and uphold the UNSW values throughout their sporting and academic career.
• Nominees are not required to have played for or represented UNSW, only to have participated at a level of competition that is equivalent to, or above, the highest level available at UNSW. In some cases, nominees may have competed for a different club or team, or individually against UNSW – this is not a valid reason for not receiving a Blues Award, providing they meet all criteria.

Doug Crawford Sports Recognition Award - Criteria

Sport Recognition Awards are awarded to sporting club members for continuous outstanding contributions to their club and sport.

• The nominee shall have actively supported the nominating club for a minimum period of five (5) years including the year of nomination, either by consistent participation in the club's sporting or recreational activity or by valuable service to the club's organisation and administration.