Start with one person and one clear reason
Begin with the person you are nominating and the reason they stand out in their community. Keep the focus on everyday action, not big claims. A cleaner nomination names the person, explains what they did, and shows who it helped in practical terms.
Think in plain scenes. A neighbour who checks on elderly residents during heavy rain. A teacher who stays after school to help learners catch up. A nurse, carer, volunteer or first responder who steps in when things are tense and noisy. The strongest short nominations stay close to real actions and avoid padding.
- Use the nominee’s full name if you know it.
- Say where they live or work, if that is relevant.
- Explain what they did, not just what they are like.
- Describe who benefited and how.
A tight story beats a long list
A short story works best when it follows one clear line. Start with the person, then the action, then the outcome. If you try to cover too many events at once, the main point gets buried. Pick the one example that best shows their community value.
Use enough detail for a reviewer to understand the context. If the person helped after flooding, mention the area and the kind of support given. If they organise food parcels, explain how often and for whom. Keep it factual, and let the action carry the nomination.
- One example is often stronger than four loose examples.
- Dates help if you know them, but they are not essential.
- Local detail can help, such as the ward, suburb or town.
- Leave out dramatic language that does not add meaning.
What to include with the nomination
Useful evidence does not need to be fancy. A short note, photo, message, letter or community reference can help, as long as it is relevant. The point is to support the story, not to flood the form with files. If you have several items, choose the ones that show action and impact most clearly.
Evidence should match the nomination. If you say the nominee coaches children after school, include something that supports that point. If you mention caregiving, a short statement from someone who has seen that work can help. Keep copies for your own records in case you need to update the nomination later.
- Choose clear, readable files.
- Match each file to a specific part of the story.
- Do not include extra material that distracts from the main point.
- Only share what you are comfortable making part of the review.
Consent matters before you submit
Before you send a nomination, make sure the nominee knows they are being put forward and agrees to it. That is especially important if the nomination includes personal details, photos or sensitive circumstances. Consent protects the nominee and keeps the process fair.
If the person is not easy to contact, think carefully about what you share. You can still describe the work in general terms without exposing private information. When the nomination involves a child, a patient, a vulnerable adult or a family matter, be extra careful and keep the details limited to what is necessary.
- Ask for permission to use names and images.
- Check whether any information should be left out.
- Avoid medical, legal or family details unless they are essential.
- Use the smallest amount of personal information needed.
How reviewers usually read a short nomination
Reviewers look for clarity, relevance and fairness. They want to see whether the nominee fits the purpose of the awards programme and whether the nomination is supported by enough detail. A strong entry is easy to read, sticks to the facts and gives a clean picture of community contribution.
In plain terms, the nomination should answer three questions. What did the person do? Who did it help? Why does it matter in the community? If those three points are easy to find, the nomination is in good shape. If they are hidden in a long paragraph, trim the extra wording and bring the core facts forward.
- Clear role or action.
- Real community benefit.
- Support that matches the story.
- No exaggeration or guesswork.
Privacy choices for public nominations
Public nominations still need careful handling of private details. Keep the story focused on the contribution and avoid including full home addresses, identity numbers, medical records or anything else that is not needed. If a detail is not useful to the review, leave it out.
It also helps to think about who might read the nomination later. A short, respectful account protects the nominee and the people around them. Where a sensitive issue is part of the story, describe it in broad terms and keep the wording measured. Our contact form can be used for questions about updating a nomination or dealing with sensitive information.
- Share only what supports the nomination.
- Keep contact details out of the story unless requested.
- Use respectful wording for difficult situations.
- Review the text once for privacy before submitting.
A final check before you send it in
Read the nomination once from start to finish and ask whether it still makes sense without any extra explanation. If it does, you are close. If not, cut the loose lines and keep the strongest example. A short nomination should feel neat, specific and easy to verify.
Useful last checks include spelling, names, location, consent and whether the evidence lines up with the story. If you need to update the nomination later, keep a copy of what you sent so the details stay consistent. Clear wording saves time for everyone reading it.
- Is the nominee clearly named?
- Does the story show real community help?
- Is consent sorted?
- Have you removed private details that are not needed?
