Every day, emergency services personnel and volunteers in the Shoalhaven quietly live out the Rotary motto of Service Above Self. The Shoalhaven Emergency Services Community Awards (SESCA) give our community a way to recognise those exceptional efforts.
You can nominate a frontline responder, support staff member or volunteer who has made a real difference. Nominations are welcome from community members, colleagues, supervisors and agencies.
This page will guide you step by step so you can confidently submit a complete, compelling nomination.
Before you begin your nomination, please make sure your nominee and their service fit within the SESCA categories and general rules.
- Confirm that your nominee is a current member or volunteer of an eligible emergency service in the Shoalhaven region.
- Check which award category best fits their role and contribution.
- Ensure you are able to provide accurate contact details and supporting information.
Full details are available on the Categories & Eligibility page. If you are unsure, it is better to submit a nomination and let the organisers guide you than not to nominate at all.
- Read the Categories & Eligibility. Decide which award category best suits your nominee and confirm they meet the criteria.
- Gather your information. Collect the nominee’s details, examples of their service.
- Draft your nomination text. Write a short summary of the nominee and several specific examples that show how they demonstrate Service Above Self..
- Complete the nomination form online. Carefully transfer your draft answers into the form, checking spelling and accuracy as you go.
- Review and submit. Double-check all details, especially contact information and your examples of service, then submit the form before the closing date.
Having the right information ready will make completing the nomination form much easier. You may wish to draft your responses in a separate document before you start the online form.
- Your details – your name, relationship to the nominee, phone number and email address.
- Nominee details – full name, role or position (for example, volunteer firefighter, SES unit controller), and the name of their service or agency.
- Service details – station, unit or team name, and (if known) their supervisor or contact person.
- Contact information – best phone number and email address for the nominee or their service.
- Summary of nomination – a short overview of why you believe this person or team deserves recognition.
- Examples of Service Above Self – two or three clear examples that describe what they did, when it occurred and the impact on others.
- Community outcomes – how their actions strengthened safety, resilience, wellbeing or community connections.
- Supporting material (optional) – brief references to commendations, media articles or other recognition (do not upload confidential or sensitive information).
Nominations are accepted during the advertised nomination period each year.
Once you have gathered your information and drafted your responses, follow the instructions on the online nomination system.
Exact dates vary from year to year. Please check the Event Details page for the current year’s schedule. As a guide, the SESCA timeline typically follows this pattern:
| Stage | What Happens | What You Need To Do |
|---|---|---|
| Nominations open | Nomination guidelines are published on the website. | Review categories and start preparing your nomination. |
| Nominations close | Nominations must be received by the deadline. | Submit your completed nomination before the cut-off time. |
| Assessment period | Eligible nominations are reviewed against the criteria by the judging panel. | Judges may contact you or your referee if further information is required. |
| Finalists notified | Finalists are advised and invited to the awards event. | Finalists will be advised using the contact details you provided. |
| Awards event | Recipients are announced and recognised at the Shoalhaven Emergency Services Community Awards ceremony. | Attend the event if you are able and celebrate our emergency services community. |
Judges are looking for clear evidence of the Rotary value of Service Above Self and the positive impact your nominee has made in the Shoalhaven community.
- Be specific. Describe particular incidents, projects or periods of service rather than general statements.
- Focus on impact. Explain who benefited, how things changed and why it mattered.
- Show Service Above Self. Highlight times when the nominee went beyond what was expected, showed leadership or made a sustained contribution.
- Use plain language. Avoid jargon and acronyms where possible, or briefly explain them.
- Include different perspectives. If you can, reflect comments or feedback from community members, colleagues or recipients of assistance.
- Keep it truthful and respectful. Do not include confidential information or material that may put people at risk.
- Check against the criteria. Compare your examples with the criteria listed on the Categories & Eligibility page.
If you are unsure about eligibility, which category to choose or how to describe your nominee’s contribution, the SESCA organising team is here to help.
You can:
- Visit the About SESCA page to learn more about the awards.
- Review detailed criteria on the Categories & Eligibility page.
- Get in touch via the Contact page if you have questions before submitting.
We encourage nominations from across the community and are happy to provide guidance so you can put forward the strongest possible nomination.
Prefer to contact us directly?
You can also reach the organising team using the details on the Contact page.
If you are calling or emailing, please mention that your enquiry relates to a SESCA nomination so we can assist you quickly.