Danny and Elouise Massa, parents of toddler Joe Massa, who successfully campaigned for Joe’s Rule and Joe’s Law after their son died at Northern Beaches Hospital last year after waiting for treatment, are among early nominees for the 2025 Sydney Awards.

The annual Sydney Awards, delivered in partnership by the Committee for Sydney and The Daily Telegraph, with partner Macquarie Business School, recognise the people who make our city special.

The Massas have been nominated for their advocacy on reforms to ban public-private partnerships at hospitals that provide acute care and their work to improve awareness about patient rights for escalation and a second opinion at hospitals.

Elouise Massa said: “Knowing your rights is the first step in confidently advocating for your child, yourself or a loved one.”

“We are honoured by this nomination, we hope this will be another platform for our advocacy for widespread changes not only at Northern Beaches Hospital but across the state’s healthcare system. We won’t let Joe’s death define his story; his story will be one of hope and change. We have made a commitment to not stop talking about Joe,” Ms Massa said.

Another finalist for Sydneysider of the Year is the founder of Colombo Social and Plate it Forward, Shaun Christie-David. The social enterprise leader from south-western Sydney has successfully used his Sri Lankan soul food enterprise to provide jobs for asylum seekers and feed the vulnerable.

Shaun Christie-David said: “I think Sydney is the greatest city in the world — the vibrancy, people, and incredible diversity of food make it so special.”

“Being able to give back to the city I love in a deep, meaningful way, and help make social change easy for everyone to be a part of — whether it’s through a meal, a story, or a shared moment — is a great honour,” Mr Christie-David said.

Among those vying for the Unsung Hero Award is Kevin Cheng. The 36-year-old co-founded Chinatown’s first comedy club as part of the non-profit group Soul of Chinatown, supporting hundreds of disadvantaged Chinese-Australians and activation projects for Chinatown.

Kevin Cheng said:” They say laughter is the best medicine and I wanted to provide a platform for up-and-coming Asian Australians on the comedy circuit, while also reinventing Chinatown as a go-to entertainment and dining precinct.”

The Daily Telegraph Editor Ben English said:  “We love Sydney, and the Sydney Awards give us all a chance to recognise and shine a light on the people who make a difference in this city. We’re proud to tell the stories of the nominees for these fantastic awards, and we’re calling on our readers to nominate someone in their life who makes the Harbour City a better place.” 

Committee for Sydney CEO Eamon Waterford said the calibre of nominees this year was outstanding.

“Our nominees don’t need or expect an award, but don’t underestimate the power of a thank you. We spend a lot of time talking about complex problems, like cost-of-living pressures, housing affordability, resilience, job security and equality of access to health and education, so amongst all the hard stuff, this is a chance to celebrate those working on the solutions to make Sydney a better place.”

“We are proud to partner with The Daily Telegraph, which has been such a powerful advocate for the 5.5 million people that call Sydney home. The Sydney Awards is about recognising those who go above and beyond to improve our lives and experiences in this incredible city. So we’re putting the call out to all Sydneysiders: make someone’s day, nominate a colleague, friend, someone who’s inspired you or a brilliant project before voting closes on 16 June,” Mr Waterford said.

The Sydney Award categories include:

• Sydneysider of the Year: Celebrating someone who has made an extraordinary contribution over the past year to making Sydney the best city in the world. 
• Young Sydneysider of the Year: Celebrating an up-and-coming Sydney leader aged 16-30 who is already making a significant impact on our city.
• Unsung Hero: Celebrating an individual who goes under the radar yet plays an essential role in making Sydney the best city in the world.  
• Project of the Year: A transformative project that shifts how Sydney functions at scale – across transport, housing, technology, sustainability, culture, equity, or systems of governance. These projects shape the future of the city and its people, often impacting multiple suburbs, regions, or sectors.
• Local Project of the Year: A community-driven project that improves everyday life at the neighbourhood, precinct, or suburb level. These projects are rooted in local identity and respond directly to the needs, values, and voices of the people who live there.
• People’s Choice Award (partner Coles):  Voted on by The Daily Telegraph readers.

Nominations can be made here:   https://sydney.org.au/c/sydney-awards/categories/

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Liberal Leader Mark Speakman will be among the city’s leaders judging the 2025 Sydney Awards. The winners will be announced at a gala dinner on Wednesday 24 September at Crown Sydney.