National Australia Day Council

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National Australia Day Council
AbbreviationNADC
PredecessorNational Australia Day Committee
Formation25 October 1990 (1990-10-25) (incorporated)
Type Social enterprise
Headquarters Old Parliament House, Canberra
Location Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Region served
Australia
Services
Owner Australian Government
Chair
 Melissa Doyle
CEO
Carrie-Ann Leeson
Parent organisation
 Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
AffiliationsAustralia Day National Network
ExpensesA$18,363,174 (2025)
Staff13 (2025)
Website australiaday.org.au/about/nadc/

The National Australia Day Council (NADC) is a non-profit social enterprise owned by the Australian Government. It is the national coordinating body for the Australian of the Year awards and Australia Day. The National Australia Day Council was established in 1979 and incorporated as a government-owned business in 1990.

Contents

History

The Australian Natives' Association was one of the chief promoters of Australia Day as a national holiday, and in 1946 formed an Australia Day Celebrations Committee in Melbourne to formalise its efforts. [3] The first celebration on 26 January 1948, a luncheon, was held by the Australia Day Council (Victoria) at the Melbourne Town Hall. Over the following five years, other states formed various Australia Day councils, committees, and associations. The Victorian body selected its first Australian of the Year in 1960. [4]

The Federal Australia Day Council (FADC) was formed to coordinate the state bodies' efforts. In 1979, with the FADC's agreement, the organisation was replaced by a government-sponsored National Australia Day Committee. [3] The committee was initially headed by former Olympian Herb Elliott. [5]

In 1985, it was renamed the National Australia Day Council, with former tennis player John Newcombe as president. [6]

The organisation became an incorporated public company in 1990. [3]

Description and activities

The National Australia Day Council (NADC) heads a network of state and territory Australia Day affiliate organisations and local Australia Day committees. It assists celebrations of Australia Day and of "being Australian", as well as recognising outstanding Australians through its awards. [7] It serves as the national coordinating body for the Australian of the Year awards and Australia Day celebrations. In 2025, the NADC supported major events in capital cities, as well as more than 700 community events across across Australia. [8]

According to its 2024-2025 Annual Report, NADC's mission is "to unite all Australians through celebration and reflection." [8] Its focus areas, as stated on the NADC website in 2026, are: [7]

The NADC is housed at Old Parliament House, Canberra. [8]

Governance

The NADC is a non-profit social enterprise owned by the Australian Government, accountable to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. [8] [7] The company's operations are governed by a board of directors appointed by the Prime Minister of Australia. [7]

As of November 2026, the chair of the NADC is Melissa Doyle, while Carrie-Ann Leeson is CEO. there are 13 members of staff. [9] In the 2024-2025 financial year, A$15,873,974 in funding was provided by the government, while sponsors provided a total of A$1,885,581. Expenses totalled A$18,363,174. [8]

State and territory affiliations

The Australia Day National Network is an affiliate group of state and territory organisations. [7]

Awards

The NADC is responsible for running the Australian of the Year awards, the culmination of a number of award processes undertaken by selection panels in each state and territory of Australia. As well as Australian of the Year, three other categories are selected: Senior Australian of the Year; Young Australian of the Year; and Local Hero. [8]

Chairs since 1990

Chairs of the National Australia Day Council
Chair nameTerm
John Newcombe 1990–1992
Phillip Adams 1992–1996
Kevan Gosper 1996–2000
Lisa Curry-Kenny 2000–2008
Adam Gilchrist 2008–2014
Ben Roberts-Smith 2014–2017
Danielle Roche 2017–2023
John Foreman 2023–2026
Melissa Doyle 2026-present

References

  1. ↑ Foreman, John (19 April 2023). "Annual Report 2022–2023" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  2. ↑ Roche, Danni (30 June 2020). "Annual Report 2019–2020" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Kwan, Elizabeth (2007). "Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2017.
  4. 1 2 "History". Australia Day Council Victoria. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  5. ↑ "Herb Elliott 'not sacked'". The Canberra Times. 28 August 1981.
  6. ↑ "Newcombe to head new council". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1985.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "National Australia Day Council". Australia Day. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Annual Report 2024-2025" (PDF). NADC. 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  9. ↑ "National Australia Day Council". Australia Day. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 5 October 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  10. ↑ "Australia Day Council of NSW". Australia Day. Archived from the original on 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "Homepage". Australia Day Council South Australia. 2 November 2026. Retrieved 2 November 2026.
  12. ↑ "Australia Day Council of Western Australia". Auspire - Australia Day Council of Western Australia. 30 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2026.


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