The Don Banks Music Award was established in 1984 to publicly honour a senior artist of high distinction who has made an outstanding and sustained contribution to music in Australia.
[1] It is awarded by Creative Australia (formerly the Australia Council) in honour of Don Banks, Australian composer, performer and the first chair of its music board.
[1] Nominations for music artists, including performers and composers from all areas of music, are invited.
The award is considered the nation's most valuable individual music prize.
[1] Prize recipients receive $25,000 AU as a reward for their contribution towards Australian music.