The incredibly gifted Darren Hayes, who was the lead singer of the iconic 90s and early 2000s band “Savage Garden,” has been awarded a prestigious honor! He received the “Support Act’s Excellence in Community Award” during the 17th annual Music In The House event held in Sydney on August 25th, 2026. This award celebrates individuals in the Australian music industry for their impactful advocacy, leadership, and charitable efforts that extend far beyond mere commercial success.
Throughout his career, Darren has openly discussed his struggles with mental health, his childhood experiences, and the discrimination he encountered when coming out as a gay man and a proud advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in his 2024 memoir titled “Unlovable.” He released a solo album in 2022, named “Homosexual,” which explored his identity and experiences as a gay man.
While accepting the award, Darren had the following to say…
“I’m deeply honored to be recognized by Support Act for my achievements beyond commercial success and chart statistics in the Australian music industry,”
“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 honor. 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 organization.”
During the event, longtime friend Claire Marshall presented Darren with an award, and Osher Günsberg hosted the festivities. The audience enjoyed performances from Tania Doko, Electric Fields, Meg Mac, Michael Paynter, and Sister2Sister, who brought to life songs from Darren’s and Savage Garden’s musical library.
The CEO of Support Act, Clive Miller, had this to say about Darren Hayes:
“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.”
The night marked another significant achievement for Darren, as Savage Garden was inducted into APRA AMCOS’ 1,000,000,000 List after their 1997 hit “Truly Madly Deeply” exceeded one billion streams on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
APRA Chair Jenny Morris awarded Darren with this prestigious honor and she had the following to say:
APRA Chair Jenny Morris awarded Hayes with this prestigious honor. “When the founding publishers of APRA gathered for the first time a century ago in 1926, they could never have envisioned that in 2026 we would be celebrating songwriters and publishers for achieving one billion streams,”
“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.”
Darren Hayes gained international fame alongside Daniel Jones in Savage Garden, with the pair achieving US Billboard No. 1 hits with “Truly Madly Deeply” and “I Knew I Loved You.” Throughout his time with Savage Garden and his later solo endeavors, Darren has sold over 35 million albums globally and has received 14 ARIA Awards along with 10 APRA songwriting awards. In 2019, he was honored as a Member of the Order of Australia for his contributions to the music industry.
Darren is now part of a distinguished group of previous recipients of the Excellence in Community Award, which includes notable artists such as Troy Cassar-Daley, Powderfinger, Marcia Hines, Midnight Oil, Tina Arena, Archie Roach, Paul Kelly, and Jimmy Barnes.
Source: Darren Hayes Receives Support Act’s Excellence in Community Award
Kristin’s thoughts: If anyone is truly deserving of this incredible award, it is Darren. His music has been a blessing in my life during my childhood, teenage years, and adulthood, especially as I navigated through emotional and physical abuse and faced bullying because of my sexuality. I believe his music has positively impacted many others as well. He is a remarkable individual, and I wish him a long, happy, and prosperous life.