Award Programs

The purpose of the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards is to acknowledge, encourage and most importantly promote the positive achievements of all young people in NSW & the ACT, 30 years of age and under, as of 31st December each year.

The HESTA Excellence Awards recognise exceptional achievements in a range of settings across aged care, allied health, community services and disability services.

Employers, colleagues, and patients from the aged care, allied health, community services and disability services sectors can nominate or be nominated for the Individual Leadership or Team Excellence categories.

The two categories will each have four winners, recognising excellence in the respective four health and community service sectors.

The eight winners will each receive $7500 for personal or professional development or further development of processes or services in the workplace.

The ATSE Traditional Knowledge Innovation Award celebrates STEM research and development by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples or communities which is based on, or significantly incorporates or builds on, Traditional Knowledge. The Award acknowledges and recognises an individual, team, community, or organisation respectfully and successfully applying Australian Traditional Knowledge in contemporary innovation contexts.

The winning nominee will receive a cash prize and medal.

The Award criteria are:

• Traditional Knowledge and Indigenous innovation: The nominee demonstrates achievement of excellence or impact in any STEM field by incorporating, applying or innovating Traditional Knowledge to address a contemporary issue, problem or challenge. This may include (but is not limited to) academic research, applied research or practice.
• Application of the Traditional Knowledge innovation: The work or innovation of the nominee has achieved or has a clearly articulated a likely path to achieve, success in translation from Traditional Knowledge (knowing) to contemporary practical application (being, doing) within a STEM setting. Contemporary practical application may, but does not have to, include pathways to commercialisation. The work or innovation of the nominee has potential to improve or has improved understanding and awareness of Traditional Knowledge and its modern value.
• Ways of working: The nominee builds meaningful, trusting, respectful and equitable relationships, through the process of sharing and weaving Traditional Knowledge with modern knowledge practices. The work or innovation of the nominee has positive impact and actual or anticipated benefit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and/or communities. This may include, but is not limited to, intellectual property ownership, royalties/commissions/other payments, community health and wealth-building, improved opportunities for educational and career advancement.

 The award is open to: 

• An individual, team (pair or small group), community, organisation (the ‘nominee’) who are Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
• If the work is in collaboration as part of a respectful partnership with another, or non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, individual, team, community or organisation, then that collaborative partner may become a co-applicant. No more than one co-applicant is permitted.
• Who demonstrates excellence, innovation and impact in any STEM field where they have applied Traditional Knowledge in a modern innovation context.
• And demonstrates that they have advanced the understanding and awareness of Traditional Knowledge through modern innovation.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nominees are required to attest to the authenticity of the Traditional Knowledge, including, where possible, identifying the Peoples who are Traditional Custodians, and the moral and intellectual right of the individual, team community, or organisation to build on and apply the Traditional Knowledge.

One award is available per year to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individual, team (pair or small group), community, organisation, for up to one nominee who may or may not have a co-applicant. Co-applicants will be recognised as award winners but will not receive any medal or financial award. No individual, team, community, or organisation can receive more than one ATSE Award in any one year.

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training (VET).  The Awards recognise and celebrate excellence and are an important mechanism for promoting the benefits of VET.

Winners from each state and territory training awards compete for a national award title. Direct entry is also available for some award categories.

Categories include:

Individual

• The Outstanding Achievement in the VET and Skills Sector Award (Direct Entry)
• Australian School-based Apprentice or Trainee of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Vocational Student of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Trainee of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Apprentice of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Excellence in Language, Literacy and Numeracy Practice Award (Direct Entry)

Business

• Small Employer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Large Employer of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Australian Apprenticeships Employer Award (Direct Entry)
• Industry Collaboration Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Innovation in VET Award (Direct Entry)

Registered Training Organisation

• Small Training Provider of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• Large Training Provider of the Year Award (State/Territory Entry)
• School Pathways to VET Award (Direct Entry)

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are an annual program aimed at recognising the incredible dedication, effort and community service of our state’s volunteers, volunteer leaders and volunteer teams. The Awards program has grown to become one of the largest celebrations of volunteering in Australia.

Awards are presented in the following categories:

• Young Volunteer of the Year
• Adult Volunteer of the Year
• Senior Volunteer of the Year
• Volunteer Team of the Year
• Emergency Volunteer of the Year
• Volunteer Leader of the Year
• Not-for-Profit Voluntary Governance Award

The award recognises research in the physical and biological sciences, allowing interdisciplinary and sociocultural research that could straddle the social sciences and humanities, by outstanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PhD students and early- and mid-career scientists. It aims to support their research and/or the expansion and growth of their research networks and international knowledge exchange through visits to relevant international centres of research.

Awards will be for up to $20,000, with additional support provided to attend the Academy's biennial Science at the Shine Dome event.

The Landcare Awards honour individuals, groups and organisations that are making outstanding contributions to caring for the environment in their local communities for the benefit of all Australians today, and for generations to come.

In each state and territory, the Landcare Awards will be granted to recognise the achievements that encompass climate action, environmental leadership, sustainable agriculture, First Nations Peoples, women in landcare, youth, Coastcare and children.

Nominating is free. You can nominate yourself, or you can nominate someone you know who should be recognised for their work to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment in their community. 

Nominating is easy. If you know an individual, group or organisation in your community making a difference to the environment and sustainable land or water use, nominate them for a Landcare Award.

The winners of the nine national Landcare Award categories in each State or Territory will advance as finalists to the 2027 National Landcare Awards.

The Ethnic Business Awards (EBA’s) recognise the outstanding accomplishments of Migrant and Indigenous entrepreneurs. They highlight the contribution made to Australia by these people. As Australia’s longest running business awards, these awards are the most prestigious of their kind.

Indigenous Award
The first of it’s kind. Launched in 2010 the EBA recognises excellence in business endeavours by Indigenous entrepreneurs. The award is open to businesses of all sizes and in the last decade has brought much attention to the growing number of creative, diverse and inspiring Indigenous business men and women.

Migrant Awards
The Migrant awards are open anyone born outside of Australia. There are two categories for the Migrant awards.

• Medium to Large Migrant Business Category (turnover greater than $10 million per annum)

• Small Migrant Business Category (turnover less than $10 million per annum)

Our communities are full of upstanding individuals from volunteers to local sporting heroes to community legends, future leaders and eco-warriors who merit the recognition for their work in our communities and regions.

Residents of NSW are encouraged to keep a look out and nominate remarkable community members of all ages for a NSW Local Citizen of the Year Award in the following categories:

• Citizen of the Year
• Young Citizen of the Year
• Sportsperson of the Year
• Environmental Citizen of the Year
• Young Environmental Citizen of the Year
• Australia Day Award

The NSW Local Citizen of the Year Awards have been a part of the Australia Day in NSW program since 2005, with many Local Government Areas (LGAs) embracing the program to celebrate outstanding citizens and unsung heroes across the state.

Each year award presentations are incorporated into the local council's Australia Day Program with certificates presented by Mayor's and Australia Day Ambassadors.