The People’s Choice Awards by Euphoria Social is a community-led celebration recognising LGBTQIAPN+ people across Victoria who hold our communities together.

Founded in 2024, this initiative exists to honour the people who do the work — often quietly, often without recognition. Volunteers. Grassroots organisers. Artists and storytellers. Advocates. Community builders. Inclusive organisations.

This is not just an awards night. It is a space of recognition, visibility, and care — where people who are often unseen are publicly acknowledged and celebrated by their community.

At its heart, this is about contribution, connection, and collective care.

So many people give their time, energy, creativity, and care without thanks — often at personal cost.

The People’s Choice Awards exists to pause and recognise that labour, and to remind people that what they do matters.

When people feel seen and valued, it strengthens our communities. It helps people:

• stay connected

• continue contributing

• avoid burnout

• step into leadership

• remain part of community life

This is not just recognition. It is community care, wellbeing, and sustainability.

This initiative centres people who are often excluded from mainstream Pride spaces and traditional awards nights, including:

• trans and gender-diverse people

• First Nations LGBTQIAPN+ people

• LGBTQIAPN+ people of colour, migrants, and people from refugee backgrounds

• people with disability and neurodivergence

• people living in regional or outer-metro areas

• volunteers, grassroots organisers, and quiet contributors

• people without institutional power or public platforms

These communities are not an add-on.
They are the reason this awards exists.

The People’s Choice Awards by Euphoria Social is delivered by unwaged volunteers of Euphoria Social Group Incorporated.

Everyone involved contributes their time, energy, and care because they believe in community recognition, dignity, and connection.

We are 100% volunteer-run, grassroots, and self-funded.

Our goal is to continue building an awards process that is open, community-driven, and truly reflective of the people who make a difference.

This awards exists because our community deserves more than survival — we deserve to take up space in joy.

We:

• centre those who are often overlooked

• honour lived experience

• trust community voice in recognition

• celebrate contribution in all its forms

Because you are not too much.
You are exactly enough.
And you belong here.

The People’s Choice Award is entirely community-led.

It is nominated and voted on by the community, and exists to recognise individuals, groups, and organisations whose impact is deeply felt — even when it doesn’t fit neatly into formal categories.

Sometimes the most important work doesn’t come with a title.

This award makes space for that.

Being nominated does not automatically make someone a finalist.

All nominations are carefully reviewed against the values and criteria of each category, including demonstrated impact, community contribution, and alignment with the purpose of the award.

Shortlisting is a separate process designed to ensure the finalists reflect meaningful contribution, community care, and the intent of each category.

We receive many nominations each cycle, and while every submission is appreciated, only a selected group will be named as finalists.

This process exists to keep recognition fair, considered, and grounded in genuine community impact.

All nominations and selections are guided by a values-based approach, including:

• demonstrated impact

• consistency and contribution

• alignment with community care and inclusion

• relevance to category criteria

Sponsorship, donations, public profile, or personal relationships do not influence outcomes.

We are committed to fairness, transparency, and community wellbeing in every part of this process.

The People’s Choice Awards is not a commercial event.

It is a community effort — built on care, connection, and collective contribution.

We exist to recognise the people who hold our communities together, and to ensure that their work is seen, valued, and sustained.