Being recognised as a Young Hero Awards winner provides a range of benefits, including:

• Building brand awareness
• Positive brand exposure and media coverage
• Potential for new business opportunities with business leaders and attendees
• Opportunities to network and connect with other entrepreneurs
• Generate pride and morale within your organisation
• Becoming part of an exclusive entrepreneurial alumni

To be eligible for the program, an entrepreneur must:

• Must be between the ages of 16 – 35 at the time you apply
• Be a company founder, owner or executive of a private or public company or organisation who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of the company or organisation, and an active member of senior management
• The company must be registered in Australia 
• The business cannot be a franchisee
• For the individual category; you must reside in Australia full-time
• Have a significant equity stake in the business
• Have a company that has been in existence for at least 1-year at the close of applications
• Previous category finalists and entrants may resubmit to be considered for the 2025 program. Past winners may not re-apply to the same category.

Nominations

• Nominations open: TBC
• Nominations close: TBC

Judging

• Shortlisting: TBC
• Finalists announced: TBC
• Judging: TBC

Event

• Winners announced at Awards Dinner event.

You are more than welcome to self-nominate.

No. Nominating and entering the CommBank Young Hero Awards is completely free. 

Yes, you can enter in up to 2 categories. Applications that apply for more than two awards may be disqualified. 

Stage one

The form will be assessed by a a team of business journalists and Australia Business Forum staff. If you are a potential finalist, we may be in contact with you about your company and potentially clarify elements of your nomination.

Stage two

From there, we will let you know via email and phone if your nomination was successful. Finalists will be required to provide a short video clip (approx. 2 mins) introduce themselves and their business to be shown at the awards dinner.

Stage three

Finalists will then be offered the opportunity to attend the Young Hero Awards Dinner

You will receive an email confirming your nomination including a nominee badge which can be shared with your organisation, your community and on social media. 

All information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence and will only be viewed by the judging panel. We have strict confidential and non-disclosure agreements internally and with our judges, to ensure all information is treated in complete confidence. Information for marketing collateral for the Awards and articles for Small Business Connections news site will be requested separately and therefore agreed by you.