Nominations close on Monday, August 3.

There are four award categories in which to nominate someone you admire: Australian of the Year; Senior Australian of the Year (65 years and over); Young Australian of the Year (16­-30 years) and; Australia’s Local Hero.

Nominations for the 2016 Australian of the Year Awards can be made online at australianoftheyear.org.au or call 1300 655 193 for more information.

More than 1600 individuals have already been nominated by members of the public. 

“This is your opportunity to tell us who you think is worthy of consideration for our nation’s most respected public awards,” National Australia Day Council chief executive Jeremy Lasek said.

“It could be someone in a rural town whose contributions are the heart of the community; it could be someone in your industry whose achievements have changed the world around us; it could be your next door neighbour who has spent a lifetime giving to others or it could be someone you’ve never met but whose extraordinary efforts make you proud to be Australian.

“There are thousands of Australians worthy of recognition, but someone needs to submit a nomination for them before we can honour them in the Australian of the Year awards.” 

State and territory finalists in each of the four award categories will be named in October and November. The Australian of the Year awards are announced in January. 

Fairfax Media is a media partner of the 2016 Australian of the Year awards.