Target Industry Segment

Students (TAFE or University), graduates, employees and young professionals within the industry.

Eligibility

They may either self-nominate or be nominated by a third party (who is an active PLA member). All TAFE, University PhD students and graduates are eligible to apply. PLA encourage all higher education institutions to nominate as well as encouraging their students/graduates to nominate.

Description

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 (or recently completed) leading to a nationally recognised qualification in the sector throughout Australia or who has made a significant contribution to the parks and leisure industry.

Prize

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

Criteria

• Evidence of pursuit of excellence in career to date and/or commitment to professional development through education and training.
• Relevant personal achievements, effective communication skills and evidence of teamwork.
• Capacity to be an effective ambassador for the parks and leisure sector and awareness of the current issues facing the sector.
• Evidence of contribution to PLA events, State Regional Council, committees and projects.

General Information

• You will be given the opportunity to provide up to three (3) files of supporting documentation which should include letters of support and/or commendation that demonstrate the extent to which the nominee participates, supports and contributes to the industry (the contribution could be through research, volunteering, participation and contribution to projects and or a person who continues to contribute to their education institute within the parks and leisure sector)
• Please include a 50 word summary of achievements for promotional purposes.
• Please provide a profile image of the nominee (in high resolution jpeg format)

Target Industry Segment

Industry organisations (profit & not for profit) and businesses, which promote, organise and deliver major industry events.

Description

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.

Criteria

• State your target audience and participants involved in the event, including a gender breakdown.
• Describe how best practice / leading practice was considered and implemented in management for the event. How did the event apply a gender & inclusivity lens?
• What were the social, environmental, cultural, economic and health benefits of the event?
• What are the obstacles that you needed to overcome and how successful were you in achieving the objectives of the event? Demonstrate the transferability of key learnings.
• Describe the achievement of the event versus the intention as well as the effectiveness of collaboration.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Information that demonstrates innovation and sustainability (economically and with ongoing operation of the event).
• Information that demonstrates the outcomes of its evaluation.
• The benefit it brings to the community or target market.
• The extent to which the event:
• • enhances social connection, participation and celebrates the community in which it is developed.
  • meets its intended target (the main reason for why it was held), its budget target, and if not, why not? What was the budget target?
  • meets its attendance target, and if not, why not? What was the attendance target?
• Information on the risk mitigation strategies you put in place to ensure safety of participants, environment and volunteers.
• Information that demonstrates the sponsorship/ partnerships that enhanced the sustainability of the event

Target Industry Segment

Local governments, community organisations and groups which educate and celebrate our industry through enhanced community connection and participation.

Description

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.

Criteria

• Demonstrate how the initiative is new or different to existing programs/events within the industry and state what aspects contribute to the initiatives excellence.
• Demonstrate how the initiative presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address a specific need or issue.
• Describe the initiative's ability to meet specific target group needs and how it is addressing gaps.
• Describe the extent to which the initiative benefits diverse community groups and enhances community health and wellbeing
• How did the initiative incorporate an individual’s or group’s lived experience and what is the social value? 

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Demonstrates outcomes the initiative achieved.
• The impact the initiative/s has on bringing the community together.
• The extent to which the program celebrates access for all, equity and equality.
• Promotes the diversity and reflects the cultural and heritage of the community.
• Information on how it reduces the impact to the environment and promotes liveability.

Target Industry Segment

State and local governments, consultants, community organisations and state associations.

Description

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.

Criteria

• Demonstrate how the plan aligns with a planning matter of local, regional, state/territory, national and global significance. Outline how the plan advances the importance of planning within your community or sector.
• Provide a clear description of: the approach adopted, innovations and defining features of the plan, the extent to which leading practice is demonstrated in the plan, and which industry networks provided input into the strategy / plan?
• What is the level of commitment to driving change and addressing environmental, social, health and wellbeing concerns within the community?
• Demonstrate how the engagement techniques and methods for the strategy or plan were appropriate, meaningful, and applicable. Outline how the techniques contributed to positive outcomes.
• Demonstrate the size and complexity of strategy/master plan relative to funding and resources for engagement and endorsement.

General Information

• Demonstrates alignment to strategic drivers and initiatives.
• Demonstrates integrated planning: national, state, region and/or local
• Provides a high return on investment.
• Demonstrates your organisation has a better idea of how to allocate resources to align with goals.
• Planning projects which demonstrate that one of its objectives is to enhance the community's ability to respond to chronic and accurate shocks.
• Demonstrates the community engagement process used to endorse the strategy or strategic plan.

Target Industry Segment

Local governments, leisure management groups, architects, designers and contractors.

Description

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

Criteria

• Does the development of the facility seek to address social drivers and or respond to the need and expectations of the community?
• List the innovative and defining features of the facility and the outcomes and impact on the community and sector. Be sure to include to what extent the facility meets specific/target groups needs.
• Describe the size and complexity of facility relative to funding and resources available, including the benefits relative to cost.
• Demonstrate how the facility puts the environment first through climate mitigation strategies and features. Include whether it has been planned and designed through a co design process and any other leading practices of engagement throughout the development of the facility.
• Describe the transferability of key learnings, governance structures applied in decision making and operation, and the extent to which the facility fosters community pride.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

Planning project that demonstrates good governance, project management and implementation which result in the development, redevelopment of changes to the facility.

Promotes good asset management.

Demonstrates the value of the facility to the community.

Reduces the impact to the environment and promotes sound economic operation and promotes inclusive practices.

Articulates the role of the facility within the community and the region.

Target Industry Segment

Local governments, community organisations, designers and contractors.

Description

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.

Criteria

• Demonstrate how the project aligns with a planning matter of local, regional, state/territory or national significance. What is the role, form and function of the park, describe the size and complexity relative to funding and resources available?
• How does the design and development of the Park put the environment and people first, what are the innovative and defining features and benefits?
• Describe the extent to which the Park has achieved outcomes versus intention, what leading practice was applied to the park design, community engagement and delivery.
• Demonstrate how the planning, design and construction of the Park presents a visionary approach or an innovative concept to address a specific need(s) or issue(s).
• Describe the Parks contribution to the community, what achievements and benefits were realised through this project.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Promotes the benefits and the role it plays within the green network.
• Demonstrates measures taken to enhance biodiversity, habitat co-location, liveability and its ability to reduce temperatures, connect and celebrate the community's culture and heritage.
• Articulates the role of the park within the community and the region.
• Demonstrates the role it plays to foster and build community engagement.
• Provides significant value to the community.
• Description of the special features or element/s which resolves or responds to a problem within the park.

Target Industry Segment

Local governments, landscape architects and designers, contractors and equipment suppliers.

Description

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.

Criteria

• How was the project initiated? Describe how it aligns to local, regional, state/territory or national significance.
• Outline how a gender lens has been applied to the planning and design of the play space and how effective it is in addressing social drivers and the voices of the community.
• What features, elements and materials make it different from other play spaces? Include durability of the Park, environmental initiative and the extent of leading practice in the project.
• Outline the benefits of the project to the community, and demonstrate whether the play space has been embraced by the community and meets specific clients/target group needs
• Demonstrate how the engagement techniques and methods for the play space were appropriate, meaningful, and applicable. Outline how the techniques contributed to a positive outcome and achieved excellence.
• Outline the size and complexity of the play space relative to funding and resources

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Developed in accordance to the Local Government's Play Space Strategy and/or Open Space Strategy.
• Demonstrates the development of an asset management and replacement plan.
• The extent to which the playspace features are intergenerational.
• The extent to which the playspace enhances the economic, environmental and social benefits to the region.
• Information on the value it brings to the community, demonstrates how it challenges learning, sensory and development outcomes.
• Description of how it is integrated within its surrounding environment.
• Information on the partnerships developed and the outcomes of the evaluation process.

Target Industry Segment

Local governments, landscape architects and designers, contractors and equipment suppliers.

Description

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.

Criteria

• How was the project initiated? Describe how it aligns to local, regional, state/territory or national significance.
• Outline how a gender lens has been applied to the planning and design of the play space and how effective it is in addressing social drivers and the voices of the community.
• What features, elements and materials make it different from other play spaces and how durable is it and what is the extent of leading practice
• Outline the benefits of the project to the community, and demonstrate whether the play space has been embraced by the community and meets specific clients/target group needs
• Demonstrate how the engagement techniques and methods for the play space were appropriate, meaningful, and applicable. Outline how the techniques contributed to a positive outcome and achieved excellence
• Outline the size and complexity of the play space relative to funding and resources

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Developed in accordance with the Local Government's Play Space Strategy and/or Open Space Strategy.
• Demonstrates the development of an asset management and replacement plan.
• The extent to which the playspace features are intergenerational.
• The extent to which the playspace enhances the economic, environmental and social benefits to the region.
• Information on the value it brings to the community, demonstrates how it challenges learning, sensory and development outcomes.
• Description of how it is integrated within its surrounding environment.
• Information on the partnerships developed and the outcomes of the evaluation process.

Target Industry Segment

Regional and rural communities within Australia, state and local governments, community organisations.

Description

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, repurposing of facilities and environmental initiatives (ie. water saving, habitat development and restoration projects).

Criteria

• Demonstrate how the initiative addresses regional and rural social, cultural, heritage, environmental or economic issues, and what benefits it brings to the community.
• Describe the governance, leadership and decision-making process adopted in implementing the initiative.
• Demonstrate how the initiative presents a visionary approach or innovative concept to address a specific need or issue.
• Demonstrate the achievements and benefits to the community and the region.
• Demonstrate how the engagement techniques and methods for the project were appropriate, meaningful, and applicable. Outline how the techniques contributed to positive outcomes..

General Information

Target Industry Segment

Local Governments, Educational Institutes, IT businesses, Allied Industry bodies and consultants.

Description

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

Criteria

• Demonstrate the technology application and why it stands out as award worthy
• Demonstrate how the technology is new and accessible to the parks and leisure industry.
• Demonstrate the extent to which the technology fulfils a gap within the industry.
• Demonstrate how the technology promotes efficiencies, reduces impacts on resources and the ease of application.
• Demonstrates excellence in the technology's consideration of economic, environmental, and social factors (including a gender lens) and the value to the industry.

General Information

Eligibility

Nominees can only be nominated by a third party who is an active PLA member.

Description

The Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award is the longest standing award and introduced by the Australian Leisure Institute. Laurie Boyd was the first recipient. Named after a formal Federal Minister for Tourism and Recreation, this is the most prestigious individual award bestowed by PLA. 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 endeavours over a substantial period.

Prize

The Frank Stewart Distinguished Service Award winner receives an Honorary Life Membership to PLA and a commemorative plaque acknowledging the awarding of this prestigious honour.

Criteria

• A description of the nominated person’s demonstrated outstanding commitment and service to the parks and leisure industry, both within the state and nationally, taking into consideration their length of contribution and their impact on the industry.
• The contributions that have enhanced the development of colleagues within their workplace, Parks and Leisure Australia, and/or the broader parks and leisure industry, taking into consideration specific achievements and any barriers that were overcome.
• Demonstrated high standard of professionalism and outstanding leadership within the parks and leisure industry (a minimum of 10 years), membership to the National Board, Regional Council, PLA Advisory or other parks and leisure committees.
• Personal and professional contributions that have enhanced the standard of the industry as a profession including regularly contributing to each State Regional Council’s events, committees and projects.

General Information

• You will be given the opportunity to provide up to three (3) files of supporting documentation which should include letters of support and/or commendations that demonstrate the extent to which the nominee participates, supports and contributes to the industry.
• Please include a 50 word summary of achievements for promotional purposes.
• Please provide a profile image of the nominee (high resolution jpeg format).