Being the recipient of an Australian of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed on an individual. In such a great country, you have been selected as an individual who is making Australia even greater.

But what happens after your name is called and you give your speech thanking all those people who helped you get to where you are? What are the next 12 months of your life like with the title of ‘Australian of the Year’ next to your name?

Well, the first thing that happens is media attention, and lots of it. Journalists are fascinated with who’s received the honour for the year and want to know more about their story and their passions. And it’s not just the overall recipient, but also the Young Australian of the Year, the Senior Australian of the Year and the Local Hero. The public wants to know what makes them all tick.

While the initial wave of media does die down, the spotlight remains for the next 12 months. You’re up for a number of speaking engagements, and your opinion on a range of issues now holds sway in the community.

How do you deal with all the newfound attention? Well, there’s certainly no manual for how to be Australian of the Year, but Commonwealth Bank, as the major sponsor of the awards, is here to lend a hand. Not only will you receive a financial donation from the bank, but being Australian of the Year means you’ll also have access to the bank’s network and internal resources to help you through the uncharted waters you’re now facing.

But probably the biggest thing to happen is that causes or issues close to your heart gain far more exposure. Many of the recipients are advocates in different areas of the community, and the attention that receiving the award brings can’t be underestimated.

Take Catherine Keenan for example. She was the recipient of last year’s Local Hero award for her role as the co-founder of Sydney Story Factory, a not-for-profit creative writing centre for young people in Redfern, NSW. After receiving last year’s award, Catherine has seen Sydney Story Factory go from strength to strength. With no marketing budget, the company has enjoyed a huge boon from the exposure. They even received a donation of $30,000 from a generous West Australian just one day after the award.

Commonwealth Bank congratulates all of the remarkable Australians nominated for the 2017 Australian of the Year Awards. We look forward to a new set of worthy causes receiving the benefits and public awareness these awards bring.