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SBS Australia
27-05-2025
- General
- SBS Australia
Would you consider nominating someone for an Order of Australia?
The Order of Australia recognises anyone who has made an extraordinary impact in the community. To receive an Order of Australia you must be nominated by someone. Every nomination goes through an in-depth, rigorous assessment. All aspects of the process remain highly confidential. The Order of Australia is part of our national honours system. It's the preeminent way to recognise and celebrate Australians who go above and beyond, and who make a fantastic contribution to the community. Nominations for the award are considered by the Council for the Order of Australia, an independent body that makes recommendations to the Governor-General. Rob Ayling, Director at the Governor-General's Office, says the Order of Australia is for all Australians, so the process really starts with a nomination from within the community. 'Some recipients are very well known, but the vast majority are unsung heroes—the sort of people that we all know in the community that give tirelessly of themselves, work selflessly and really make a difference. Some are volunteers, some achieve things in the community sector in industry, in sports, in the arts.' There's really no limit to who can be recognised, but everyone that is recognised has one thing in common—and that's that somebody else has taken the time to nominate them for recognition. Rob Ayling, Director at the Governor-General's Office The Council of the Order of Australia manages the process and determines who should be recognised, and at what level: AC, AO, AM and the most frequently received OAM, the Medal of the Order of Australia. What could prompt you to nominate someone? Michael Smith took the time to nomination someone he knows. 'The particular individual who I was part of nominating, to me, had been doing an outstanding service to the community over a period of time,' he says. 'I just felt that it was something that ought to be recognised. The sector that this person had been working in, and working in voluntarily I should add, I had not seen recognised in previous awards.' These people are not necessarily 'high-flyers', Mr Smith adds. They're everyday people. 'They're your neighbours, they're the people you work with, and what they do does make a difference and it is recognised.' Medal of the Order of Australia. Credit: Tim Thorpe What is the process? Once a nomination is submitted, a researcher from the Governor-General's Office validates the information that you've provided. On the form, nominators list referees who can comment on the nominee and their service. Researchers then contact additional referees who add their insights to create a complete picture of the nominee. It's a rigorous process that takes between 18 months and two years, Mr Ayling explains. 'The Council relies on having a very in-depth, thorough assessment of the nominee's service, what they've done, what that impact has been.' The Council then carefully considers the nomination and makes its recommendations to the Governor-General, who signs off on those recommendations. Honours lists are announced in January and June each year. Tim Thorpe receiving his OAM from former General Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau. Credit: Tim Thorpe OAM Confidentiality is key From beginning to end, every aspect of the process remains confidential, including the recipients themselves. Tim Thorpe received an OAM for his service to community radio. 'Around October I got an email telling me that I was being considered for this particular award and I was to either accept it or write a letter to not accept it, so I filled in the form—and I was sworn to secrecy,' he says. 'Then in December I received another email saying my award had been approved by the Governor-General, and once again to treat the matter with strict confidentiality.' If you nominate someone, you're also requested to keep the nomination secret from that person to avoid raising their expectations—nominations are not always successful. Referees too must maintain confidentiality. 'The Secretariat and the Council of the Order of Australia really rely on the candour and ability of referees to provide frank and honest feedback about the person that's been nominated,' Mr Ayling explains. 'Confidentiality is taken very, very seriously so that the person that is being nominated will never know what a referee has said about them.' What is it like to receive an Order of Australia? Tim Thorpe was not only surprised by the nomination, but also by how positively his award has been regarded by his peers. The common thing with anybody who gets these awards is they think, 'am I really worthy of this?' But I think that's up to others to judge rather than me. And I appreciate the fact that they thought I was worthy of an award. Tim Thorpe, OAM recipient 'But obviously you're having an effect on certain people's lives and that's nice to know. That's something that all of us need from time to time. We need that sort of affirmation. We need that encouragement. We need to know what we've been doing… is worthwhile.' OAM recipients receive a gold-coloured lapel pin, a medal and an invitation to attend a formal ceremony at Government House in their state capital. 'Those investiture ceremonies are just really beautiful, joyous occasions where the recipients, surrounded by their families and friends but also other recipients, really get to bask in the admiration, the recognition of banks of their fellow Australians,' Mr Ayling says. 'They're just a beautiful moment in time where these people, who are almost humble by default, are celebrated.' Hilkat Ozgun OAM Can an Order of Australia change your life? The award can motivate recipients to contribute even further to their communities, but it also prompts them to nominate other people who are worthy of a similar honour. Hilkat Ozgun received an OAM for her service to the Turkish community. 'I've nominated many people from the Turkish community and also from the other communities living in Australia for the different kind of awards,' Ms Ozgun says. She continues to help recognise and celebrate outstanding members of the community by acting as a referee for other nominees. Would you like to nominate someone? Head to the Governor General's website . Don't let any uncertainty around filling in the form prevent you from nominating someone, Mr Ayling says. The Office is happy to help you. 'We all want the Order of Australia to reflect the true diversity and strength of our country. And the only way for that to happen is for all Australians to take an active part in it, to look around their community, identify people that they think are extraordinary and have a great impact, whatever their work is, whatever their background is, and consider nominating them for the Order of Australia.' Subscribe or follow the Australia Explained podcast for more valuable information and tips about settling into your new life in Australia. Do you have any questions or topic ideas? Send us an email to australiaexplained@
Malay Mail
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Quiet upgrades — Nahrizul Adib Kadri
MAY 8 — There's a peculiar thing about self-improvement in today's world: everyone seems to be doing it loudly. Scroll through your feed and you'll see declarations of 5am workouts, new diets, study plans, detoxes, resolutions, resets. Some even announce they're 'going offline to focus on themselves' — and then proceed to post about it. But here's a question worth asking: Who are we really doing it for? True growth, I believe, happens in silence. It isn't broadcasted with hashtags or filtered selfies. It happens on those ordinary days when no one is watching, and yet, we still choose to show up — for ourselves. Take Keanu Reeves, for example. One of Hollywood's most recognisable faces, yet possibly also one of its quietest. After the success of The Matrix franchise, Reeves gave away a significant portion of his earnings — some reports say up to US$70 million (RM300 million today) — to the behind-the-scenes crew: the makeup artists, the costume designers, the unsung talents who helped shape the cinematic magic. He didn't hold a press conference. He didn't tell the world to 'stay humble.' He just did it. Silently. Sincerely. According to the author, real growth doesn't need an audience. It unfolds quietly — in the everyday moments, when no one's watching, and we still choose to keep going, just for us. — Unsplash pic And perhaps that's the point. Real self-improvement doesn't seek applause. It doesn't begin with a public pledge or a viral post. It begins with intention — and grows through consistency. In Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom recounts a conversation with his former professor, Morrie Schwartz. 'Don't let go too soon,' Morrie advises, 'but don't hang on too long.' In the context of change, this is profound. It's a reminder that becoming better — emotionally, mentally, spiritually — isn't about extreme pivots or sudden reinventions. It's about knowing what to keep, what to release, and doing both with grace. And then there's Rumi — whose verses, though centuries old, still pulse with modern relevance. He wrote: 'Don't you know yet? It is your Light that lights the worlds.' What a stunning thought. That our quiet work — the healing we do in private, the restraint we practice in anger, the effort we put into becoming kinder, calmer, wiser — sends ripples beyond what we can see. You don't need to declare it. Your light will show. But I get it. In a world that rewards visibility, silence can feel like insignificance. We're conditioned to think that if no one notices our progress, it somehow doesn't count. That's a dangerous illusion. Because often, the most powerful transformations are the ones no one claps for. When a tree grows, it doesn't shout, 'Look at me!' It simply stretches upward, season by season. Its roots deepen silently. Its fruit and shade speak for it. Likewise, your growth doesn't need to be explained. It will show in how you carry yourself. In your choices. In your discipline when no one's watching. In the way you respond to challenges that once overwhelmed you. And if no one sees it? That's okay too. Because the goal was never applause. The goal was growth. So, if you're on that quiet journey — fixing your habits, setting boundaries, seeking peace, becoming softer in some places and stronger in others — keep going. Let it be your secret project, nurtured in silence and tended with care. You don't need a witness. You don't need permission. You'll know you're changing not by what others say, but by what no longer rattles you. You'll notice it in the pause you now take before reacting, the space you make for stillness, the clarity that rises in moments of solitude. There's no announcement for this kind of growth. Only small, steady proof in the way you move through the world. And one day, perhaps without even realising it, your presence will shift the room. Your calm will be louder than your words. Your steadiness will be noticed without explanation. Your light, as Rumi promised, will light the worlds. * Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is a professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, and the Principal of Ibnu Sina Residential College, Universiti Malaya. He may be reached at [email protected] ** This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
