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 2021 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 (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

• Demonstrate the target audience and participants involvement in the event.
• Demonstrate best practice project management and any innovative methods of delivering the event.
• What is the economic, social and environmental benefit of the event?
• What are the obstacles that you needed to overcome and how successful were you in achieving the objectives of the event?
• What partnerships and sponsorship's were achieved? Demonstrate the marketing techniques used.

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.
• Demonstrate best practice in planning and delivery of the initiative.
• Demonstrate how the initiative responds to a need or gap.
• Demonstrate how the initiative contributes to, and enhances, community well-being.
• What is the social value of the initiative?

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 this strategic plan aligns to your organisation's aspiration, vision and objectives, including its integration with Region, state or national strategic planning.
• Demonstrate best practice in planning and implementation. Were any innovative or new technologies used to develop the plan?
• Demonstrate how the recommendations within the strategy/plan will contribute to the communities' overall health and well-being?
• Demonstrate the effectiveness of the engagement process and the endorsement process.
• Outline any obstacles faced and measures put in place to overcome these.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• 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

• Demonstrate how the facility development is integrated into and aligns with the organisational planning framework.
• Demonstrate how the facility differs to others within the industry and is resilient for future generations.
• Demonstrate best practice in planning, project management and delivery.
• Demonstrate how the facility contributes towards environment, economic and community benefits
• Did the facility use new techniques, technologies and/or materials?

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

• Describe the hierarchy of the park, and the role it plays within the park network.
• Demonstrate the benefits to the ecosystem services within the park.
• Demonstrate best practice in planning, project management and delivery.
• Demonstrate excellence in park design, activation, management, community engagement and resilience.
• Describe the extent to which the park benefits the community.

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 communities 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

• Is the playspace an outcome of the organisation's Play Space Strategy? Describe how it aligns and promotes place making within the community.
• Demonstrate the planning, activation, maintenance and replacement program.
• What features, elements and materials make it different from other playspaces and how resilient is it (does it perform numerous functions)?
• Demonstrate the extent to which the playspace provides economic, environmental and social benefits to the region.
• Demonstrate how the playspace achieves excellence (ie. engagement process, partnerships, design and construction methods).
• What is the total expenditure (including variations) for the project?

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

• Is the playspace an outcome of the organisations Play Space Strategy? Describe how it aligns and promotes place making within the community.
• Demonstrate the planning, activation, maintenance and replacement program.
• What features, elements and materials make it different from other playspaces and how resilient is it (does it perform numerous functions)?
• Demonstrate the extent to which the playspace provides economic, environmental and social benefits to the region.
• Demonstrate how the playspace achieves excellence (i.e. engagement process, partnerships, design and construction methods).
• What is the total expenditure (including variations) for the project?
  

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

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 addressed any social, cultural, heritage, environmental or economic issues, and the benefits to the industry.
• Demonstrate any barriers and difficulties and how they have been overcome.
• Demonstrate the sustainability of the initiative and solutions.
• Demonstrate the achievements and benefits to the community and the region.
• Demonstrate how the initiative created partnerships and innovative approaches.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• The extent to which the initiative addresses any social, cultural, heritage, environmental or economic issues.
• Innovative approaches taken.
• Information on the barriers and difficulties and the extent to which they have been overcome.
• Highlight the community members which supported and benefited from the initiative.
• Contribution to lasting solutions and sustainability.
• Information on the achievements and the benefits to the community, the region and the industry.

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.
• Demonstrate the value of the technology to the industry.

General Information

What the judges are looking for:

• Technology application and why it stands out as award worthy.
• Is the technology new and accessible to the parks and leisure industry?
• The extent to which it fulfills a gap within the industry.
• How does it promote efficiencies, impact on resources and ease of application?
• The extent to which the technology is innovative and or improves the practice/progress within the industry.
• What is its return on investment?
• Why you have used the selected technology?

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 the work place, PLA, 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, Region Council or PLA Advisory.
• Personal and professional contributions that have enhanced the standard of the industry as a profession including regularly contributing to region 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 (high resolution jpeg format).