Currently, the Council of Australian Humanist Societies presents 3 different awards annually. The Australian Humanist of the Year, Young Australian Humanist of the Year and the Outstanding Humanist Acheiver award.

The Australian Humanist of the Year was first presented in 1983 to Lionel Murphy who set up the civil celebrant program and brought in no fault divorce. Since then, CAHS has presented the award annually including to people such as Fred Hollows, Phillip Adams, Lyn Allison, Jane Caro, Eva Cox, Peter Singer, Peter Cundall, Tim Flannery and Geoffrey Robertson. The Australian Humanist of the Year of 2016 was presented to John Bell, Shakespearean actor and director. Mr Bell gave an address at the Australian Humanist Convention 2016.

In May, 2016 CAHS was pleased to name Jason Ball as the inaugural Young Australian Humanist of the Year at the Australian Humanist Convention. The Young Australian Humanist of the Year recognises the important role that young people have in help[ing to bring about a more reasoned and compassionate society. Jason Ball, through his efforts as an LGBTIQ+ activist together with his advocacy for student secular organisations on university campuses around Australia, is a very worthy recipient of this award.