Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award

Winner 2021: Nick Cox

The award recognises the significant contribution an individual has made to the development, promotion and advocacy of the parks and leisure industry through their personal and professional endeavors over a substantial period at both State and National level. The winner is awarded a life time membership to Parks and Leisure Australia.

David Aldous Young Professional of the Year Award

Winner 2021: Hsar Ju

This award seeks to recognise and celebrate outstanding contributions made by a student or emerging professional (under 30 years of age) in a course of study leading to a nationally recognised qualification in the sector throughout Australia or who has made a significant contribution to the parks and leisure industry.

National finalists receive a ticket to the National Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner, one night's accommodation and return flights. In addition they are awarded a trip to the Recreation Aotearoa (previously NZRA) National Conference (including flights and accommodation) in November 2022 and a 12 month PLA membership.

Major Event of the Year

Winner 2021: St Kilda Film Festival 2020, City of Port Phillip

This award recognises community events which receive third party sponsorship and charge an admission or participation fee. The event is commercial (major sponsorship / partnerships) in nature and promotes community participation through industry related events.

Community Based Initiative of the Year

Winner 2021: YMCA Skate Ambassadors X Skate Melbourne, City of Melbourne & YMCA Victoria 

This award is designed to recognise the combined effort that is required to successfully plan, organise and manage effective initiatives, projects, programs, events and/or festivals which promote and enhance leisure time for a number of social, environmental and economic benefits to the community. Evidence of the success should form a component of the submission

Strategic and Master Planning Award

Winner 2021: Waverley Council's Inclusive Play Space Study, Fiona Robbé Landscape Architects

This award recognises the development of strategies for parks, open space, sport, recreation and leisure opportunities by rewarding outstanding examples of strategic planning that have enriched and revitalised a community.

Community Facility of the Year Award

Winner 2021: The Shed at Conyngham Street, City of Burnside

This community facility award recognises facilities that demonstrate innovative features of design, development and operation.

Park of the Year Award

Winner 2021: Livvi's Place at Edgebrook, City of Casey 

This award celebrates and promotes vibrant, successful well designed and managed new or significantly revitalised parks/ open spaces by recognising and rewarding exceptional examples of best practice in terms of design and management. This includes parks and open spaces that are large, small, linear, along transport corridors, road closures, foreshore and reclaimed urban spaces.

Playspace Award (<$0.5M)

Winner 2021: St Peters Fences, Mike Hewson 

This award is given to a playspace under the value of $500,000 that involves a range of stakeholders, contributes to the creation of a sense of "place'' for its local community and exhibits landscape and/or structural design innovation that delights and aids childhood development.

Playspace Award (>$0.5M)

Winner 2021: Koolangka Koolangka Waabiny Playground, City of Perth & Playce

This award is given to a playspace over the value of $500,000 that involves a range of stakeholders, contributes to the creation of a sense of "place'' for its local community and exhibits landscape and/or structural design innovation that delights and aids childhood development.

Best Regional / Rural Industry Contribution Award

Winner 2021: The Telopea Park RFS Fire Truck Memorial Playground, Wollondilly Shire Council
 

Regional/Rural Australia includes all of the towns, small cities and areas that lie beyond the major capital cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and Canberra), who make a significant contribution through community initiatives which contribute to the parks and leisure industry. These projects can be playspaces, events, tourism, trails, programs, re-purposing of facilities and environmental initiatives.

Research Award

Winner 2021: A Better Approach to Providing Urban Greenspace, The CityGreen Lab Pty Ltd 

This award acknowledges outstanding research achievement by a group or individual, professionals, student or academics who have made a significant contribution to the parks and leisure industry through expanded knowledge enhancement promoting the benefits or importance of the parks and leisure sector in Australian society.

Best Use of Technology

Winner 2021: Putting Sport & Local Government on the Same Page, ActiveXchange Pty Ltd

This award acknowledges outstanding and innovative achievement in the area of technology application and how that application has benefited the industry.