Award Programs

The Zanda McDonald Award is one of Australia and New Zealand’s most prestigious leadership opportunities for emerging professionals in primary industries, aged 21–35.

Through exceptional mentoring, influential industry connections and career-defining experiences, the Award helps ambitious people accelerate their careers, broaden their perspectives and create meaningful impact across the primary industries sector.

• Learn from exceptional leaders.

• Connect with the best in trans-Tasman agriculture.

• Experience opportunities few early-career professionals ever receive.

• Grow your capability, professionally and personally

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award is Australia’s leading award empowering and celebrating the inclusive and courageous leadership of women involved in Australia’s rural and emerging industries, businesses, and communities, now and into the future.

The $15,000 grant is awarded to each State/ Territory Winner, providing the financial resources to support a project, business or program that will benefit rural industries, businesses and/or communities.

The grant can be used for formal training in leadership and business management; overseas study tours; establishing business plans or pilot programs; developing educational or promotional campaigns; networking at forums and conferences to grow your knowledge of industries and markets; developing training programs; testing information technology initiatives; developing or testing a new business concept or innovation; and publishing books.

The National Winner will be awarded an additional $20,000 grant and National Runner Up, an additional $15,000. These additional funds can be used for the above-mentioned activities, plus may also be used to assist in meeting national commitments such as speaking engagements as the National Winner or Runner Up.

Additional Benefits for State/Territory Winners 

• Learning and Development course of choice worth up to $7,500
• Access to the Rural Women’s Award Alumni Network with membership of over 450
• Media training valued at $2,000 
• Four day workshop to focus on further professional development skills valued at $2,500
• Long and short biographies written by professional copy writers valued at $1,000
• Access to a Wellbeing Program valued at $2,500
• Professional photo shoot valued at $1,000
• Professional videography created for the Rural Women’s Award Gala Dinner and National Announcement which is available for use after the awards, valued at $10,000
• Guaranteed national publicity, brand awareness and increased visibility for your project including podcasts, print, radio and digital (achieved via an external PR company)
• Travel and accommodation associated with the engagements worth over $5,000

The Rhoda Roberts Trailblazer Award is a new category within Creative Australia First Nations Arts and Culture Awards, established in memory of the late Rhoda Roberts AO, one of Australia's most influential First Nations cultural leaders, broadcasters, festival directors and arts advocates. The award will be presented for the first time in 2027. 

The award honours the legacy, leadership and transformational contribution of Rhoda Roberts AO. Throughout her career, Rhoda demonstrated courage, cultural authority, innovation and an extraordinary ability to create new opportunities for First Nations artists and communities. Her influence extended beyond artistic achievement and advocacy through her work creating pathways for others, fostering innovation, leading major cultural events and festivals, and building national and international connections that strengthened the visibility and impact of First Nations arts and culture. 

The Rhoda Roberts Trailblazer Award recognises a First Nations leader whose visionary work, innovation and influence have transformed the arts and cultural sector through pioneering approaches and the creation of new opportunities for others. It celebrates individuals whose leadership has opened doors, expanded opportunities and driven lasting change for First Nations artists, cultural practitioners and communities. 

The award seeks to recognise individuals whose impact extends beyond their own artistic achievements or advocacy efforts and whose work has made a significant contribution to the development and growth of the sector. This may include creating new pathways and opportunities, leading innovative initiatives, working across multiple artforms and disciplines, building cultural and industry connections, and expanding opportunities for First Nations artists nationally and internationally. 

In recognition of Rhodas' legacy, the award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated visionary leadership and whose contribution has left a lasting impact and effected substantial change across the First Nations arts and cultural landscape, creating opportunities and possibilities (that didn't exist prior) for future generations. 

Open to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, Telstra NATSIAA is a non-acquisitive Award that is free to enter and encourages artists to submit an artwork of their choice in one of the Award Categories. Telstra NATSIAA has no set theme; these Awards celebrate the validity and cultural diversity of contemporary Indigenous artistic expression in all its forms.

Telstra NATSIAA awards a total of $190,000 in prize money each year. The overall Telstra Art Award offers prize money of $100,000 (excl. GST) and is awarded to the Artwork considered by the judges to be the most outstanding Artwork in the Exhibition.

The following Award Categories offer each Award Recipient prize money of $15,000 (excl. GST):

• Telstra General Painting Award

• Telstra Bark Painting Award

• Telstra Work on Paper Award

• Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award (sponsored by Telstra)

• Telstra Multimedia Award

• Telstra Emerging Artist Award

In addition to the above Award Categories is the Telstra People’s Choice Award, which is a non-monetary Award chosen by popular vote. The People’s Choice Award will be open to the public for voting for the duration of the Exhibition.

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.