The South Australian Italian Association launches the 2024 SAIA Excellence Awards nominations.

Tuesday 16 July 2024

The South Australian Italian Association (SAIA) serves as a strong voice for the Italian community in South Australia. In the last 75 years, SAIA has played a crucial role among the South Australian Italian Community in maintaining Italian cultural roots and identity while promoting a sense of togetherness.

Inspiring work is undertaken by Italians in all sectors including economic, culture, R&D and innovation, community, sport, business, food and wine and our up-and-coming young achievers. SAIA intends to create added value, intending to stimulate young Italo-Australian generations to follow suit.

The SAIA Excellence Awards will be celebrated during a gala night on Saturday 9 November 2024 at the National Wine Centre.

These biennial awards aim to promote and perpetuate the strong Italian-South Australian heritage and acknowledges the impact of Italian immigrants towards the construction of the fascinating multicultural Australian mosaic.

The SAIA Excellence Awards will recognise and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of individuals and/or organisations who have distinguished themselves in our South Australian community and in the community at large.

 The SAIA Excellence Awards 2024 will celebrate Italian individuals and/or organisations, who have shown excellence in their contributions to the following six sectors:

• Community Award – recognition of individuals who have made a significant contribution to support a stronger and more connected community.
• Culture and Art Award – includes education, music, language, sport, cuisine, etc.
• Research & Development, and Innovation Award – includes higher education, research, start-ups, innovative entrepreneurs, etc.
• Small Business Award – includes businesses of up to 20 employees.
• Business Award – includes Primary Sector, Secondary Sector, and Tertiary Sectors.
• Young Achiever Award – includes young people under the age of 35 who have achieved excellence in their field of work or study; achieved a noteworthy personal accomplishment or have developed a creative or innovative project/initiative.

Today we have officially launched the award application form (hyperlink) on the SAIA website, enabling the South Australian Community to cast their nominations for a distinguished member of the community in each category. Nominations open on Monday 15 July 2024, before closing on Thursday 15^th September 2024.

Nominations will be assessed by an independent Awards Committee of prominent South Australians, with the six awards to be announced at the Gala, hosted on 9 November 2024 at the National Wine Centre. Members of this Committee have been selected based on their expertise and prominence in the six sectors of the awards. For further information on this committee see the application form (hyperlink).

If further information or comment is required, please call:

• Phillip Donato OAM Chairman of SAIA Board
• 0416 229 885
• saia.com.au
• president@saia.com.au