The prestigious Melbourne Awards are now open for nominations, including the Aboriginal Melbourne - ganbu guljin award which celebrates Naarm's (Melbourne) First Nations Community.

The award celebrates the inspirational work of those working to shape the city for the better.

Previous Aboriginal Melbourne Award winners include Wurundjeri female-led dance and cultural services group, Djirri Djirri and arts and cultural support organisation, The Torch.

This year, the Melbourne Awards will celebrate individuals and organisations across eight categories: Access and Inclusion, Arts and Events, City Design, Community, Knowledge and Innovation, LGBTIQA+, Sustainability and the Aboriginal Melbourne - ganbu guljin award.

To top off the awards, one role model will be presented with the Melburnian of the Year Award. This achievement celebrates a role model who has made an outstanding contribution in their field and to the city.

2022 saw Kuku Yalanji woman Antoinette Braybrook AM become the first Aboriginal woman to win the award for her extensive advocacy and service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the last two decades.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said Naarm is a city is bustling with innovators and creative minds who are shaping the city for the better.

"The central district is home to more than 500 start-ups, and our city is on the way to becoming the fourth fastest-growing start-up ecosystem in the world," she said.

"Our Melbourne Awards shine a light on the extraordinary work of those who are going above and beyond in their field – improving community wellbeing, driving innovation and creating a more sustainable city."

Councillor Capp also said this was the first time the City of Melbourne will recognise a new category of Young Melburnian of the Year, acknowledging the achievements of an individual aged 18 to 30.

"I'm thrilled to announce our two new categories this year – Young Melburnian of the Year and Access and Inclusion – recognising that everyone contributes to making Melbourne the nation's most liveable city," she said.

"If you know an inspirational Melburnian making a positive contribution to our city, nominate them for a Melbourne Award today."

Applications for the 2023 Melbourne Awards and nominations for the Melburnian and Young Melburnian of the Year are open from Monday 22 May to Friday 23 June.

For more information or to nominate someone, visit Melbourne Awards.

Winners will be announced at the Melbourne Awards Gala later this year on Saturday, November 11.

The content was sponsored by the City of Melbourne.