Nominations for the 2027 Bob Hawke Landcare Award open August 31, 2026
Celebrating landcare and recognising excellence in sustainable agriculture
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is a prestigious national award that publicly recognises an individual, group or organisation that has been involved in championing landcare and inspiring others to take action on their property or in their community. The award acknowledges the remarkable commitment to improving land and natural asset management, and promotional efforts to share their knowledge and support others. Nominations will close on Sunday 31 January 2027.
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award accepts nominations from individuals, groups or organisations who have demonstrated leadership and a commitment to natural resource management and sustainable land management practices through:
- Actively shaping and guiding innovative farming systems to improve sustainability and the quality of ecosystem services.
- Encouraging action and championing the uptake of more sustainable agriculture practices among landholders, farmers and primary producers.
- Creating awareness of the benefits of landcare to actively care for the land.
- Mentoring and/or inspiring others to adopt best practice conservation land management and sustainable agriculture practices to help restore, enhance and protect natural resources.
- Demonstrating an outstanding commitment in responding to natural resource challenges, taking actionable, community-led solutions for biodiversity conservation, supporting threatened species or sustainable agriculture.
The 2025 Bob Hawke Landcare Award winner will be presented at the 2027 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Tuesday 7 September, 2027 in Adelaide. The award winner will receive $30,000 in funding for a landcare project. The prize includes a travel package to attend the National Landcare Awards gala dinner for the award ceremony.
The Bob Hawke Landcare 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 Bob Hawke Landcare Award acknowledges the role of former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, played in elevating landcare from a grassroots community initiative to a national movement with enduring bi-partisan government support.
In 1989, Bob Hawke declared that 1990 would initiate the Decade of Landcare and he asked the community to join in efforts to achieve an ecologically sustainable future. Bob Hawke continued to champion the landcare movement and Landcare Australia until his passing in 2019.
“I am very pleased to maintain an association with Landcare through this award, named in my honour. The Decade of Landcare initiative I declared in 1989 has now spanned well over three decades. This in itself highlights the need and willingness by community volunteers to continually raise awareness and participation in activities directed at protecting the environment and giving their continued support to ensure that the practice of sustainable farming remains paramount.”
The former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon. RJL Hawke AC.
Bob Hawke Landcare Award Criteria
Criteria
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is open to individuals, groups or organisations that can demonstrate a commitment to natural resource management and sustainable agriculture through being a landcare champion, a remarkable leader and a sustainable farm practice innovator. Each nomination will be judged against all of the following criteria:
Landcare Champion (write up to 300 words)
- Is actively involved in landcare.
- Shows a remarkable commitment to caring for the land.
- Has an outstanding commitment to local communities and drives community activity for the benefit of the environment and landcare.
Remarkable Leadership (write up to 300 words)
- Inspires, educates and encourages others to take action on their own properties or through their involvement in a landcare group.
- Champions the uptake of more sustainable agricultural practices and can demonstrate the adoption of improved practices among landholders as a consequence of this action.
Sustainable Farm Practice Innovator (write up to 300 words)
- Actively pursues, introduces and shapes innovative farming systems to improve sustainability, productivity, profitability, and the quality of our natural resources.
Eligibility
To be eligible, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Individual nominee: Australian citizen actively engaged in landcare and sustainable agriculture.
- Group nominee: An Australian community-led group including landcare groups, landcare networks, farming system groups.
- Organisation nominee: Australian-owned, not-for-profit, non-government entity, demonstrating leadership in natural resource management and sustainable agriculture.
- Involvement: Actively participating in landcare activities and sustainable agriculture initiatives.
- Commitment: Demonstrated dedication to environmental stewardship and promoting sustainable practices.
- No self-nomination. Nominations can only be made by a third party.
- If selected for the short list by the Bob Hawke Landcare Award Advisory Panel, nominees will be contacted via phone and interviewed with the following questions:
- What are the key messages you would like to convey to media and promotional activity, including events and speeches?
- What issues concern you, that if selected as a winner, you would like to communicate.
- If selected as a winner, how would you use the prize funding for further development of landcare, what will your priorities be?
Entry Rules and Conditions
Nomination Form
FAQs
Who can nominate for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award?
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is open to individuals, groups or organisations that can demonstrate a commitment to natural resource management and sustainable agriculture through being a landcare champion, a remarkable leader and a sustainable farm practice innovator.
What is the prize?
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award recipient will be awarded a grant package to the value of $30,000 (ex GST) for further development of their knowledge and skills in sustainable land management to enable an even stronger contribution to landcare. The prize includes a travel package to attend the National Landcare Awards gala dinner for the award ceremony.
The award recipient will be required to submit a project proposal in 300 words or less outlining how they plan to spend the $30,000 (ex GST) grant money to champion landcare and share knowledge about sustainable agriculture practices with others including landholders, farmers and communities.
How do I nominate for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award?
Nominations are made via the Awards Force digital platform. Unfortunately, we can’t accept postal entries.
When do nominations close?
Nominations will close on Sunday 31 January 2027.
How will award nominations be assessed?
All award nominations will be assessed by an independent Advisory Panel. Members of the Advisory Panel have been selected due to their experience in landcare, sustainable farming practices, natural resource management and First Nations perspectives.
When will I hear about my nomination?
People who submit a nomination will be contacted in 2027.
Where and when will the award be presented?
The 2027 Bob Hawke Landcare Award will be presented at the 2027 National Landcare Awards gala dinner on Tuesday 7 September in Adelaide.
Why is the award named after former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke?
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award acknowledges the role that former Prime Minister, the Hon. Bob Hawke AC, played in elevating landcare from a grass-roots community initiative to a national movement with bi-partisan government support that endures today. For more information about the origins of Landcare please read this article on the Landcare Australia website.
What happened to the McKell Medal?
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award supersedes the McKell Medal in line with the Australian Government’s renewed commitment and focus on landcare and sustainable agriculture under the Caring for our Country initiative. The establishment of the Bob Hawke Landcare Award will see a stronger focus on leadership and contribution to Landcare and sustainable agriculture practices in Australia. Past McKell Medal recipients will continue to be acknowledged for their enduring legacy and contribution to sustainable agriculture.
How is the award funded?
The Bob Hawke Landcare Award is funded by the Australian Government through the Natural Heritage. Landcare Australia Limited administers the Bob Hawke Landcare Award on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Is there an Advisory Panel
The Advisory Committee for the Bob Hawke Landcare Award comprises of individuals who have experience in sustainable farming practices, natural resource management, landcare community activities, and First Nations perspectives.
