- Walkley Award for Cartooning (1994) for her work in The Sydney Morning Herald.
- Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year Award (2001) for her coverage of the September 11 attacks and their impact on Australia.
- UN Media Peace Prize (2003) for her work in promoting peace and understanding through her journalism.
- Order of Australia Medal (OAM) (2010) for her services to journalism and the community.
- Gold Walkley Award (2013) for her body of work and outstanding contribution to journalism.
- Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) from the Australian Journalists' Association.
Deborah Kent's awards recognize her journalistic excellence, her ability to tell compelling stories, and her dedication to promoting peace and understanding through her work.