Nominations Open For 2026 JSP Women’s Awards As Storytelling Season Begins

Nominations are now officially open for the 2026 JSP Women’s Awards, with The Just Saying Project inviting the Greater Whitsunday community to celebrate the women whose stories bring joy, strength and purpose to the region.

Held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the MECC, the annual awards will feature acclaimed Australian author Belinda Alexandra as keynote speaker — a storyteller whose work embodies resilience, creativity and feminine strength, aligning deeply with JSP’s mission.

The opening of nominations also marks the beginning of the JSP Storytelling Season, a dedicated period where The Just Saying Project shares and uplifts women’s lived experiences across the region. This season will continue throughout the lead-up to the awards and beyond, shining a light on the stories that shape the cultural identity of the Greater Whitsundays.

The Just Saying Project (JSP) Founder Fallon Drewett said the storytelling element of the awards is what makes the event so powerful year after year.

“A story doesn’t have to change thousands of lives — sometimes it only needs to change one,” Ms Drewett said.

“When you nominate a woman, you’re not just filling out a form. You’re saying, ‘I see you. Your story matters. What you do matters.’ So many women feel invisible or unsure if their experiences count.

“This is our opportunity as a community to show them that they do.”

Now in its fifth year, the JSP Women’s Awards have become a hallmark event for the region, celebrating women across categories including The Resilient Rebel, Magic Muse, Health and Wellbeing Warrior, Rising Star, Mother of All Mothers, Woman Who Breaks the Mould and The Equaliser — which recognises male allies who champion women.

To help community members feel confident in writing strong and meaningful nominations, JSP will host a Nomination Writing Workshop on Saturday, January 10 at Ninety-Five, Victoria Street from 10am–3pm.

The workshop is open to everyone — women and men — and will guide participants in capturing the heart of someone’s story with clarity and care. Ms Drewett said the workshop is designed to remove the intimidation many people feel when nominating.

“Most people say, ‘I don’t know how to put it into words.’ But you don’t need perfect words — you just need honest ones,” she said.

“Every woman has a story,” she said.

“Some have lived through adversity. Some lead through love. Some create change in their workplace or community, and some spark joy through art or kindness. We want to honour them all. And we need the community’s help to do it.”

Nominations are now open and can be submitted via The Just Saying Project website: https://www.thejustsayingproject.com/nominate

EVENT DETAILS
2025 JSP Women’s Awards
Saturday, March 14, 2026
MECC – Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre
Featuring keynote speaker Belinda Alexandra

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Nominations have opened for the 2026 JSP Women’s Awards, inviting the Greater Whitsunday community to honour the women whose stories shape, strengthen and inspire the region. Photos supplied

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