National Australia Day Council

This article is about the non-profit organisation that supports Australia Day events and runs the Australian of the Year awards. For Australia Day itself, see Australia Day. For the awards, see Australian of the Year.

National Australia Day Council
AbbreviationNADC
PredecessorNational Australia Day Committee
Formation25 October 1990 (1990-10-25) (incorporated)
TypeSocial enterprise
HeadquartersOld Parliament House, Canberra
Location
Region
Australia
Services
OwnerAustralian Government[1]
Chair
John Foreman (musician)[3]
CEO
Mark Fraser AO CVO[3]
Parent organisation
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet[1]
AffiliationsAustralia Day National Network
Budget (2020)
A$16.84 million[1]
Revenue (2020)
A$2.18 million[1]
ExpensesA$16.71 million[1]
Staff12[1] (in 2020)
Websiteaustraliaday.org.au/about/nadc/

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

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. Similar bodies emerged in other states, and a Federal Australia Day Council (FADC) was formed to coordinate their efforts. In 1979, with the FADC's agreement, the organisation was replaced by a government-sponsored National Australia Day Committee.[4] 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.[4]

Structure and aims

The NADC heads a network of state and territory Australia Day affiliate organisations and local Australia Day committees and is designed to inspire national pride and spirit, and to enrich the life of all Australians. It aims to promote the meaning of Australia Day through activity, education, reflection, discussion and debate and to promote good citizenship, values and achievement by recognising excellence and service to the nation.[7]

Headquarters

The NADC is housed at Old Parliament House, Canberra. The current chair is John Foreman (musician), and the chief executive officer is Mark Fraser AO CVO.[8]

Chair of the National Australia Day Council

The following individuals have served as Chair of the National Australia Day Council:

Chairs of the National Australia Day Council
Chair name Term
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 (musician)[9] 2023–present

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Roche, Danni (30 June 2020). "Annual Report 2019–2020" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ Foreman, John (19 April 2023). "Annual Report 2022–2023" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b NADC. "Annual Report 2022-2023". National Association of Digital Content, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Kwan, Elizabeth (2007). "Celebrating Australia: A History of Australia Day" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 March 2017.
  5. ^ "Herb Elliott 'not sacked'". The Canberra Times. 28 August 1981.
  6. ^ "Newcombe to head new council". The Canberra Times. 26 January 1985.
  7. ^ "Annual Report" (PDF). National Australia Day Council. 2013.
  8. ^ "Mark Fraser AO CVO - Australia Day". NADC. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  9. ^ NADC