Award Programs

The 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award recognises the work of people who care for soil health and who are educating or inspiring others. The Award will accept nominations from individuals, groups or organisations who are actively involved in activities to protect and improve soil health, including landcare groups, farmers, farming systems groups, land managers, extension specialists and educators.

Nominees must demonstrate leadership in natural resource management and a commitment to improving sustainable land management to improve soil health by:

• actively shaping and guiding innovative natural resource management and sustainable agriculture activities to improve soil health 
• applying excellent soil health management practices on–ground 
• educating and raising awareness about the importance of maintaining and improving soil health  
• encouraging action and championing the uptake of sustainable soil health practices 
• communicating knowledge and advocating for soil health management 
• mentoring and/or inspiring others to adopt best practice soil health management practices to restore, enhance and protect the natural environment. 

All award nominations will be assessed by an independent Advisory Panel with an understanding and experience in soil health.

The 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award winner will be presented at the 2025 National Landcare Awards gala dinner. The Award winner will receive $20,000 (ex GST) in funding to complete an agreed soils project. The prize includes a travel package to attend the 2025 National Landcare Awards gala dinner for the award ceremony on Tuesday 23 September 2025 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.   

The 2025 General Jeffery Soil Health Award is funded by the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage Trust. Landcare Australia administers the Award on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). The General Jeffrey Soil Health Award was established in 2020 by the Office of the National Soils Advocate.

As Australia’s longest running and most prestigious tech innovation awards, the iAwards can help take your innovation to new heights and give it national and international recognition.

iAwards submissions are accepted from innovators across Australia, whether you are an individual, a group, a government or private organisation, or a student.

Being part of the iAwards and being recognised for your innovation can help you:

• Gain national and international exposure
• Build new networks, including with investors and mentors
• Hone your pitching skills
• Get your innovation in front of business leaders and government representatives
• Gain expert feedback from industry-leading judges
• Add credibility to your innovation

Each year, national education non-profit Schools Plus, with the support of some of Australia’s leading philanthropists chaired by David Gonski AC, recognise great teachers with the Schools Plus Teaching Awards supported by Commonwealth Bank. 

The Awards aim to celebrate great teachers who are making a transformative impact on children and young people across Australia. Twelve outstanding teachers will be chosen for a prestigious Teaching Fellowship valued at $20,000, including $10,000 for the awardee’s school to plan and undertake a high impact school visit program. This will provide in-situ experiential learning at one or more schools/sites and contribute to advancing school improvement and student learning outcomes. 

Eligibility:

• The Awards are open to registered teachers and school leaders in Australian primary and secondary schools (hereinafter referred to as ‘teachers’) in any Government, Catholic or Independent school with students from Year K or Prep to Year 12.
• A registered teacher is a person who is registered or accredited to perform the duties of a teacher as defined by the relevant legislation in their Australian State or Territory.
• Teachers should be currently practising in a school and to the best of their knowledge should intend to continue teaching in the same school for the next 12 months.
• Teachers working in schools in disadvantaged communities are particularly encouraged to apply.
• The application form is to be completed by the teacher or school leader who is applying for the Awards. Forms completed on behalf of the applicant will be considered ineligible.
• A maximum of one (1) form per applicant will be accepted.
• The form must be submitted between 9:00am (AEDT) on Monday 3 March 2025 and 9:00am (AEST) on Tuesday 8 April 2025.

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 NSW Training Awards are conducted annually by Training Services within the NSW Department of Education to recognise outstanding achievement in the vocational education and training sector. 2025 is the 70th year for the Awards that honour and reward the achievements of students, trainers/teachers, registered training organisations and employers.

Organisation Awards

• Large Training Provider of the Year
• Small Training Provider of the Year
• Industry Collaboration Award
• Large Employer of the Year
• Small Employer of the Year

The annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards (ACVPA) recognise and reward programs that reduce crime and violence in Australia. The awards encourage public initiatives, and assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects which will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.

Any government agency, not-for-profit organisation or individual person making a significant contribution to a project in Australia can be nominated for an award. Projects may address specific groups such as rural and remote communities, women, children, youth, family, migrant, ethnic or Indigenous communities, or specific problems such as alcohol-related violence.

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 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)