Darren Hayes has been recognised for his contribution to the Australian music community, receiving Support Act’s Excellence in Community Award as Savage Garden also celebrated a major streaming milestone.
The Australian singer-songwriter was honoured at Support Act’s 17th annual Music In the House event at The Linseed House in Sydney on Tuesday night (August 25th), with the award recognising his advocacy beyond his commercial success as both a solo artist and frontman of Savage Garden.
Hayes has spoken publicly throughout his career about mental health, trauma and LGBTQIA+ representation, while his 2024 memoir, Unlovable, detailed his experiences with family violence and mental health struggles. His 2022 solo album, Homosexual, meanwhile, explored his identity and experiences as a gay man.
“I’m deeply honoured to be recognised by Support Act for my achievements beyond commercial success and chart statistics in the Australian music industry,” Hayes said while accepting the award.
“I’m grateful to have been a voice advocating for an end to violence against women, homophobia, and racism, and I’m a passionate advocate for removing the stigma associated with mental health. Receiving any recognition from Support Act is an extreme honour. I hope that by highlighting my career, we can shine some of that spotlight on the much-needed funding crucial to the survival of this essential organisation.”
Longtime friend Claire Marshall presented Hayes with the award, while Osher Günsberg hosted the evening. Tania Doko, Electric Fields, Meg Mac, Michael Paynter, and Sister2Sister were among the artists performing songs from Hayes and Savage Garden’s catalogue.
Support Act CEO Clive Miller, said: “Darren Hayes is not only one of the greatest songwriters and performers Australia has ever produced, but he is also a beacon of courage, openness, and empathy. His bravery in speaking out about mental health, trauma, and identity has paved the way for healthier, more compassionate conversations across the music community. We are thrilled to present him with this year’s Excellence in Community Award.”
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The night also brought another career milestone for Hayes, with Savage Garden inducted into APRA AMCOS’ 1,000,000,000 List after their 1997 hit “Truly Madly Deeply” surpassed one billion streams across services including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
APRA Chair Jenny Morris presented Hayes with the honour. “When APRA’s founding publishers first met 100 years ago in 1926, they could never have imagined we’d be here in 2026 celebrating songwriters and publishers for reaching one billion streams,” Morris said.
“It’s an extraordinary achievement, a testament to the staying power and connection of the song. I’m thrilled to announce that Savage Garden’s ‘Truly Madly Deeply’ has reached that major milestone and will be added to our coveted Billions List.”
Hayes rose to global prominence alongside Daniel Jones in Savage Garden, with the duo scoring US Billboard No. 1 singles with “Truly Madly Deeply” and “I Knew I Loved You”. Across Savage Garden and his subsequent solo career, Hayes has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide and collected 14 ARIA Awards and 10 APRA songwriting awards. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for services to the music industry.
Hayes joins previous Excellence in Community Award recipients including Troy Cassar-Daley, Powderfinger, Marcia Hines, Midnight Oil, Tina Arena, Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, and Jimmy Barnes.
