Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) was opened in 1981. AIS Sports Star of the Year (later named AIS Athlete of the Year) was first established in 1983/84 with the first winner being swimmer Karen Phillips. In 1995, AIS Junior Athlete of the Year was established. Other major awards include AIS Team of The Year, AIS Coach of the Year and AIS Program of the Year. Other awards included: Sport Achievement Awards, Vocation Awards and Education Awards. There were several memorial scholarship awards that recognise the contribution of deceased AIS athletes, coaches and administrators - Brent Harding Memorial Award for Swimming, Nathan Meade Memorial Award for Diving, Gary Knoke Memorial Award for Athletics, Darren Smith Memorial Award for Road Cycling, Ben Mitchell Medal for AFL and Bob Staunton Memorial Award for Basketball.
The awards were broadened in 2013 to include Direct Athlete Assistance recipients as well as AIS scholarship holders as part of the AIS Winning Edge Strategy. The awards were renamed the AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs) in 2014 with several new awards - Sport Personality of the Year, Para Performance of the Year, Community Club Award and Volunteer/Administrator Award. In 2019, two awards - Sport Personality of the Year and Sporting Moment of the Year are decided by public vote. There were no awards in 2020 and 2021 due to impact of COVID-19.
AIS Best of the Best
In 2002 as part of the AIS 21st birthday celebrations, 21 athletes were inducted into the AIS 'Best of the Best' hall of Fame. In 2006, four athletes were added and in 2011 another five athletes.
YearAthletes2002Alisa Camplin (Freestyle skiing), Robert De Castella (Athletics), John Eales (Rugby Union), Simon Fairweather (Archery), Neil Fuller (Paralympic Athletics), Bridgette Gusterson (Water Polo), Rechelle Hawkes (Hockey), Shane Kelly (Cycling), Luc Longley (Basketball), Michelle Martin (Squash), Glenn McGrath (Cricket), Michael Klim (Swimming), Michael Milton (Paralympic Skiing), Clint Robinson (Canoeing), Louise Sauvage (Paralympic Athletics), Kate Slatter (Rowing), Zali Steggall (Alpine skiing), Petria Thomas (Swimming), Mark Viduka (Soccer), Vicki Wilson (Netball), Todd Woodbridge (Tennis)2006Kerry Saxby-Junna (Athletics), Lauren Jackson (Basketball), Chantelle Newbery (Diving)2011Jamie Dwyer (Hockey), Anna Meares (Cycling), Malcolm Page (Sailing), Ricky Ponting (Cricket) and Matthew Cowdrey (Paralympic Swimming) Stuart O'Grady was inducted in 2006 but this was indefinitely suspended on 31 July 2013 due to an admission of doping.
AIS Male Athlete of The Year YearAthlete 2015Jason Day (Golf)2016Kyle Chalmers (Swimming)2017Scotty James (Snowboarding)2018Rohan Dennis (Cycling)2019Scotty James (Snowboarding)2020-2021Not held2022Cameron Smith (Golf)2023Matthew Wearn (Sailing)2024Matthew Wearn (Sailing)
AIS Female Athlete of the Year YearAthlete 2015Emily Seebohm (Swimming)2016Kim Brennan (Rowing)2017Sally Pearson (Athletics)2018Jessica Fox (Slalom canoeing)2019Ash Barty (Tennis)2020-2021Not held2022Jessica Stenson (Athletics)2023Kaylee McKeown (Swimming)2024Kaylee McKeown (Swimming)
AIS Emerging Athlete of the Year This award recognises a talented junior athletes performances during the year. Previously AIS Junior Athlete of the Year. YearAthlete1995World Junior Men's Basketball Silver Medallists - Frank Drimic, Scott McGregor, Phil Doherty, Brad McKinnon1996 Victoria Roberts (Netball)1997Michael Rogers (Cycling)1998Lauren Jackson (Basketball)1999Lauren Jackson (Basketball) Ben Kersten (Track Cycling) Jobie Dajka (Track Cycling)2000Siobhan Paton (Paralympic Swimming)2001Luke Schenscher (Basketball)2002Todd Reid (Tennis)2003David Barnes (Archery)2004Tim Cuddihy (Archery)2005Renae Camino (Basketball)2006Robert Crowther (Athletics)2007Gemma Beadsworth (Water Polo)2008Evan O'Hanlon (Paralympic Athletics)2009Jack Bobridge (Track Cycling) Amy Steel (Netball)2010Lauren Mitchell (Gymnastics)2011Luke Durbridge (Track Cycling)2012Sam Willoughby (BMX Cycling)2013Dante Exum (Basketball)2014Amy Cure (Track cycling)2015Ben Simmons (Basketball)2016Curtis Luck (Golf)2017Kelland O'Brien (Cycling)2018Luke Plapp (Cycling)2019Amy Lawton (Hockey)2020-2021Not held2022Donnell Wallam (Netball)2023Alexa Leary (Swimming)2024 Arisa Trew (Skateboarding)
AIS Performance of the Year YearAthlete 2023Mollie O'Callaghan (Swimming)2024Lauren Parker (Para-cycling & Para-triathlon)
AIS Team of the Year
YearTeam2000Australian Women's Water Polo Team (Stingers)2001Women's Coxless Four (Rowing)- Victoria Roberts, Jane Robinson, Jo Lutz & Julia Wilson2002Darren Bundock & John Forbes (Sailing)2003Australian Women's Quad Scull (Rowing)- Amber Bradley, Dana Faletic, Kerry Hore, Jane Robinson2004Australian Men's Hockey Team (Kookaburras)2005Malcolm Page & Nathan Wilmot (Sailing)2006Australian Women's Water Polo Team (Stingers)2007Malcolm Page & Nathan Wilmot (Sailing)2008Nathan Wilmot & Malcolm Page (Sailing) Elise Rechichi & Tessa Parkinson (Sailing)2009Nathan Outteridge & Iain Jensen (Sailing)2010Australian Men's Hockey Team (Kookaburras)2011Women's Team Sprint Team - Anna Meares & Kaarle McCulloch2012Men's K4 1000 (Flatwater Canoeing) - Jacob Clear, David Smith, Tate Smith, Murray Stewart2013Mathew Belcher & Will Ryan (Sailing)2014Australian Men's Hockey Team (Kookaburras)2015Australian Diamonds (Netball) and Women's Team Pursuit (Cycling)2016Australian Women's Sevens Rugby2017Australian Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard (Winter Sport)2018Australian Men's Hockey Team (Kookaburras)2019Mathew Belcher & Will Ryan (Sailing)2020-2021Not held2022Australian Women's Sevens Rugby2023BC3 Pairs (Daniel Michel and Jamieson Leeson .Boccia Australia2024Men’s Team Pursuit at 2024 Parais Olympics Oliver Bleddyn, Sam Welsford, Conor Leahy, Kelland O'Brien
AIS Coach of the Year
Yearcoach2002Martin Barras (Track Cycling)2003Lyall McCarthy (Rowing)2004Martin Barras (Track Cycling)2005Lyall McCarthy (Rowing)2006Greg McFadden (Women's Water Polo)2007Craig Hilliard (Athletics)2008Victor Kovalenko (Sailing)2009Craig Walton (Triathlon)2010Richard Charlesworth (Hockey)2011Ben Wordsworth (Snowboarding)2012Australian Sailing Team Coaching Group2013Simon Cusack (Swimming)2014Lisa Alexander (Netball)2015Michael Bohl (Swimming)2016Michael Blackburn (Sailing)2017Alen Stajcic (Soccer)2018Myriam Fox-Jerusalmi (Slalom canoeing)2019Michael Blackburn (Sailing)2020-2021Not held2022Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey (Olympic Winter Institute of Australia)2023Rohan Taylor (Swimming)2024Dean Boxall (Swimming)
ABC Sport Personality of the Year Voted for by the general public. YearAthlete2014Kurt Fearnley (Paralympic athletics)2015David Pocock (Rugby union)2016Chloe Esposito (Modern Pentathlon)2017Sam Kerr (Soccer)2018Craig Lowndes (Motor sport)2019Ash Barty (Tennis)
Team of the Year Voted for by the general public. YearAthlete2015Australian Diamonds (Netball)2016Western Bulldogs (Australian rules football)2017Matildas (Soccer) No longer awarded
ABC Best Sporting Moment of The Year Voted for by the media. Previously called Sport Performance of the Year Award. YearAthlete2013Alex Pullin (Snowboarding)2014South Sydney Rabbitohs (Rugby league)2015Michelle Payne (Horse racing)2016Kyle Chalmers (Swimming)2017Jeff Horn (Boxing)2018Kurt Fearnley (Para athletics) and para-sport integration at 2018 Commonwealth Games2019Ash Barty (Tennis) winning 2019 French Open
AIS Para Performance of the Year
YearAthlete2014Australian Para Rugby Team (Steelers)2015Alistair Donohue (Cycling)2016Australian Steelers (Wheelchair rugby)2017Mitchell Gourley (Alpine skiing)2018Simon Patmore (Snowboarding) Discontinued and replaced by Male and Female Para-athlete of the Year
Male Para-athlete of the Year YearAthlete2019Curtis McGrath (Para-canoe)2020-2021Not held2022Ben Tudhope (Para-snowboarding)2023James Turner (Athletics)2024James Turner (Athletics)
Female Para-athlete of the Year YearAthlete2019Melissa Perrine (Para-skiing)2020-2021Not held2022Emily Petricola (Cycling)2023Lauren Parker (Cycling and triathlon)2024Lauren Parker (Cycling and triathlon)
High Performance Program of the Year
YearAthlete2018Australian Cycling Program2019Rowing Australia High Performance Program2020-2021Not held2022Athletics Australia2023The Dolphins, Swimming Australia2024Paddle Australia
AIS Leadership Award
YearPerson2013Geoff Lipshut Olympic Winter Institute of Australia2014Damien Marangon (Shooting) and Kate Palmer (Netball Australia)2015Mark Anderson (Swimming Australia)2016Kate McLoughlin (Australian Paralympic Committee)2017Susan Alberti (Australian rules football)2018Craig Phillips (Commonwealth Games Australia)2019Lynne Anderson (Paralympics Australia)2020-2021Not held2022Petria Thomas (Commonwealth Games Australia)2023Jessica Corones, Swimming Australia
Win Well Award YearPerson/Organisation2022Victorian Institute of Sport2023Archery Australia2024Bowls Australia
Sport Volunteer of the Year YearPerson/Organisation2022Nicole Williams (Cricket Australia)2023Elysa Oliveri, Cricket Australia2024Julie Keillor, Shepparton Canoe Club/Paddle Australia
Sport Australia Award Award highlighting integrity and sportsmanship in Australian sport. YearPerson2018Celia Sullohern, Madeline Hills, Eloise Wellings who waited at the finish to cheer on the last-placed athlete, Lineo Chaka in the 10000m at 2018 Commonwealth Games, Gold Coast, Queensland2019Hockeyroos in match against Belgium
Athlete Community Engagement Award YearPerson2019Jenna O'Hea involved in creating WNBL's “Lifeline Round”2020-2021Not held2022Kyle Vander-Kuyp2023Amy Parmenter, Netball Australia2024Serena Bonnell, Bowls Australia
AIS World's Best Award This award may not be awarded annually. YearPerson2014Ric Charlesworth, Australian Hockey Coach2016Gary West, Australian Track Cycling Coach
AIS Service Award This award may not be awarded annually. YearPerson2016Danielle Woodward (Canoeing)2017Glenn Tasker (Swimming/Paralympic sport)2018Dick Telford (Sports science / Athletics)2019Tim Oberg (parkrun Australia) and Robyn Smith (Sport Inclusion Australia)2024Phil Jones, Paddle Australia
Discontinued Awards
AIS Athlete of the Year Replaced in 2015 by Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
YearAthlete 1983/84Karen Phillips (Swimming) 1984/85Michele Pearson (Swimming) 1985/86James Galloway (Rowing) 1986/87Kerry Saxby (Athletics) 1988/89Kerry Saxby (Athletics)1989Kerry Saxby (Athletics) 1990Steve McGlede (Track Cycling) 1991Linley Frame (Swimming) 1992Clint Robinson (Flatwater Canoeing) 1993 World Junior Female Basketball Team Men's Track Cycling Pursuit Team1994 Australian Women's Hockey Team 1995Shane Kelly (Track cycling) 1996Megan Still & Kate Slatter (Rowing) 1997 Louise Sauvage (Paralympic Athletics) 1998Michael Klim (Swimming) 1999Michael Klim (Swimming)2000Simon Fairweather (Archery) 2001Petria Thomas (Swimming) & Philippe Rizzo (Gymnastics) 2002Petria Thomas (Swimming) 2003Nathan Baggaley (Canoeing)2004Petria Thomas (Swimming) & Ryan Bayley (Track Cycling) 2005Peter Robinson (Triathlon) & Robin Bell (Slalom Canoeing) 2006Philippe Rizzo (Gymnastics) 2007Nathan Deakes (Athletics) & Anna Meares (Track Cycling) 2008Ken Wallace (Flatwater canoeing) & Heath Francis (Paralympic Athletics) 2009Brenton Rickard (Swimming) & Emma Moffatt (Triathlon) 2010Lydia Lassila (Freestyle Skiing) 2011Anna Meares (Track cycling) 2012Alicia Coutts (Swimming) & Tom Slingsby (Sailing)2013Caroline Buchanan (Cycling) and Kim Crow (Rowing) 2014Jessica Fox (Slalom canoeing)
AIS Program of the Year Discontinued as AIS no longer operates sports scholarship programs. Yearcoach2003AIS Diving2004AIS Diving2005AIS Triathlon2006AIS/South Australia.com Men's U23 Road Cycling2007AIS Sailing2008 Australian/AIS Sailing Team2009AIS Under-23 Track Endurance/Road Cycling2010AIS Sailing2011AIS Track Cycling2012Australian Sailing Team Coaching Group
AIS Volunteer/Administrator Award
YearPerson2014Bridie Galea
AIS Community Club Award
YearPerson2014Wynyard Yacht Club