Local businesses have been given another chance to put themselves forward for one of the region’s biggest nights of recognition, with nominations for the 2026 Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards extended by a week.

The Ballina Chamber of Commerce has confirmed entries will now close at 5pm on Wednesday, May 27. 

More information and entry details are available through the Ballina Chamber awards website.

Among those encouraging local businesses to take part is Ballina-based support services company Sistability, which emerged as one of the standout performers in last year’s awards program.

The business won Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion and Employer of Choice – Under 20 Employees at the 2025 awards before progressing to regional and state recognition.

Sistability marketing manager Jennica Fernstrom said the awards had become an important way to recognise staff working in demanding roles across the Northern Rivers.

“Our staff often take on some of the most difficult jobs in the community, including hoarding and squalor cleans and supporting vulnerable people who have nowhere else to turn,” she said.

“It’s great coming together on awards night and celebrating with the team.”

She said preparing awards submissions also gave businesses a rare opportunity to step back and look at the “big picture”, reviewing their direction and marking achievements.

“In business, you’re sometimes too busy with the day-to-day tasks and responsibilities that don’t take that time out to look at the overall strategic direction,”  Fernstrom said.

“When I pulled together our awards submission, I really reflected on that and said, ‘Oh my goodness’. We actually have come a long way.”

Sistability recently made the strategic decision to focus entirely on the Northern Rivers rather than continuing to divide resources between the region and Sydney.

“We thought, there are plenty of other providers in Sydney,  so we should really focus on the region that needs us most,” Fernstrom said.

She also encouraged smaller operators not to be intimidated by the entry process.

“All you have to do is start with dot points with key things, and then it turns it into something,” she said.

The Ballina Shire Business Excellence Awards recognise businesses, leaders and employees across a wide range of categories and culminate in a gala awards night on July 11.

Photo:  The Sistability team soaking up that winning feeling at the 2025  Ballina Shire Business Awards:
Krystal Delaporte, Mike Taylor, Jade Taylor (CEO and founder), Olivia Guy, Jenn Robertson, Nicole McElwee, Rebecca Wright.